The Importance of Sleep

Getting a good night’s rest is crucial in waking up feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. This is particularly important for elderly individuals, as the benefits that sleep provides can actually improve some of the health conditions that seniors often face.

Many home care professionals will encourage seniors to get at least eight hours of sleep each night. The senior care professionals who provide their services to Maya in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, recommended that she get a solid night’s sleep after she began to feel tired and stressed. For two weeks, Maya worked on setting herself to a healthy sleep schedule and, by the time her body was used to the routine, she began to feel healthier, more relaxed, and more rested when she awoke each morning.

Here are some of the benefits that a good night’s sleep can provide:

1. Physical Recovery: As you sleep, the cells of your body are able to recover from the damage they have sustained over the course of the day.
2. Heart Health: Sleeping reduces inflammation and stress, which are linked to heart disease and even strokes. As a result, a good night’s sleep can assist in the management of blood pressure and cholesterol.
3. Stress Reduction: Sleep can also help lower stress hormones and help you feel more relaxed.
4. Improved Memory: When sleep deprived, you may feel a mental fog that makes it extremely difficult to remember things. For elderly individuals who suffer from memory loss, this side effect of insufficient sleep can prove extremely worrisome. By getting enough sleep, seniors allow their brains the time they need to organize their memories.
5. Weight Management: Getting the proper amount of sleep each night allows your body to regulate the hormones that affect appetite and weight.
6. Decrease in Risk of Diabetes: Without enough sleep, your body may start to process glucose improperly, which can lead to type 2 diabetes.
7. Improved Mood Disorders: A great night’s sleep can ward off agitation and moodiness, as well as the depression and anxiety associated with insufficient sleep.

If your senior isn’t sleeping well, call on the expertise of elder care providers to assist in creating healthy sleep habits.