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Are you an older adult struggling with sleeping? These tips can help you with age-related sleep difficulties, overcome insomnia, and get a good night’s rest. As we age, we experience regular changes in our sleep patterns. You could become sleepy earlier in the day, wake up earlier, or feel you are not getting a good night’s rest. However, insomnia symptoms and waking up tired every day are not a normal part of aging. Sleep remains just as vital a part of your mental and physical health as you age.  

When we sleep our body has the opportunity to repair any cell damage and refresh the immune system. A good night’s sleep also helps you mentally by improving concentration and memory formation. If aging adults do not sleep well, they are likely to feel depressed and suffer from memory and attention problems, nighttime falls, and excessive daytime sleepiness.

It is essential you figure out the underlying causes of your sleep difficulties. We hope the following tips will help you overcome and identify age-related sleep issues and improve your waking life as a result.  

How much sleep do aging adults need?

According to an article on www.caring.com (a website dedicated to helping with senior care), older adults need 7-9 hours of sleep a night. However, if you wake up feeling rested, yet you slept less than the recommended hours, that is more important than the hours you sleep. Indicators you are not getting enough sleep are feeling tired during the day and waking up not feeling rested. 

Tip 1: Identify the underlying issues causing your insomnia

  • Do you struggle with chronic worrying or anxiety? 
  • Have you recently been through a traumatic experience? 
  • Do you have pain or health problems affecting your sleep? 
  • Are you under immense stress? 
  • Do you feel depressed? 
  • Are you on any medications that affect your sleep? 

If you answer yes to any of these questions, seek help from a therapist and your doctor. They understand the importance of sleep and can help you work through problems, change your medication, or advise on medical issues interrupting your sleep. 

Tip 2: Develop better sleep habits.

Naturally, boost your melatonin levels by turning off the computer or television an hour before bed and decreasing artificial lights. You could even switch to low-wattage bulbs in lamps if you can still see well with the lower lighting. 

Make sure your bedroom is cool, dark, and quiet. As you get older, you become more sensitive to heat and light. You can wear a sleep mask to shut out light and invest in a sound machine if complete silence bothers you. You should also make sure your bed is inviting and comfortable. Good linens, soft pillows, and a warm comforter can make a huge difference. 

Set up a bedtime routine. By practicing deep mediation and deep breathing techniques or taking a warm bath every night before bed, your body will begin to relax each evening naturally at bedtime. 

Invest in a bed rail. If you worry each night, you could fall out of bed and hurt yourself, it is hard to fall asleep. Install a bed rail to give you better peace of mind. 

Tip 3: Remember diet and exercise help improve sleep.

  • Avoid caffeine and chocolate late in the day. 
  • Do not go to bed hungry. Have a light snack before you get into bed. 
  • Decrease sugary foods from your diet. 
  • Minimize the amount of liquid you drink before sleep. About an hour before bedtime, be mindful of how much fluid you drink, so you do not wake up often to use the bathroom at night. 

We hope these tips will help you feel more rested each day. At Next Day Access, we work to help aging adults every day by offering products that help you stay safe and comfortable while living independently. If you are in need of accessibility devices such as bedrails, or mobility equipment like scooters or wheelchairs, we are the place to call. We will even come to your house for a complimentary consultation. Feel free to contact us today. 

Each year, the United States dedicates the month of March to Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Awareness, and the week of marzo 13- 19 is Multiple Sclerosis week. You might see orange ribbons with a butterfly attached to lapels during this time. Orange is the official color of MS awareness. When a person sees if they have Multiple Scelrosis, they undergo a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) procedure. When MS is confirmed, a butterfly shape appears on the MRI scan which is why butterflies are often assoicated with MS awareness.

What is Multiple Sclerosis?

Multiple Sclerosis is a disease of the central nervous system. Researchers believe it is an autoimmune condition, where the immune system mistakenly attacks normal tissue instead of only infected tissue. The immune system will attack the myelin sheath found in the brain. The myelin sheath protects nerve fibers in the brain, optic nerve, and spinal cord. Over time, the myelin sheath is destroyed. The destroyed sheath results in scar tissue (Sclerosis) disrupting electrical impulses between the brain and other body parts.  

Unfortunately, there are no known factors that cause MS or ways to prevent it. Many people diagnosed with MS have no known risk factors

In marzo 2019, the journal Neurology estimated the number of people living with MS in the United States now reaches as high as 1 million people whereas years prior, the number was half that. Researchers, while working on a cure and treatment plans, are currently trying to figure out why there has been a significant increase in new cases.  

This Year’s Awareness Theme

The theme from 2020-2022 for Multiple Sclerosis week is “Connections.” Advocacy groups have asked people diagnosed with MS to share their stories of connecting with their community, themselves, healthcare team, family, and friends after receiving the diagnosis. Once people share their stories, advocacy groups ask people to use the hashtag #MSConnections. The hope is this will spark a dialogue and bring attention to the disease and provide more funding for research.

An MS diagnosis changes ones’ life forever. Since they cannot control their nerve impulses, many people with MS have difficulty with mobility. At Next Day Access, we offer a wide variety of solutions to help people with mobility issues stay safe and more comfortable in their homes or on the go. Whether you need a wheelchair, handrails, walker, or more, we are here to help. Contact us today.

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