Not getting enough sleep can cause a number of challenges for anyone, regardless of who you are, your age, your profession, or how many hours of sleep you ‘claim’ you need each night. For most people, 7 to 9 hours of sleep every night is optimal, even though some people claim they can get by just fine on three or four or five. It may not be healthy, even if they can physically manage it. Instead of struggling with sleepless nights and worrying about what might happen, consider respite care during those overnight hours at a quality assisted living community for elderly care services.
Seniors may need even more sleep than they did in their younger years, depending on health factors, for one thing. When a senior or their primary caregiver (which is often a spouse or adult child) is not getting the right amount of sleep, it can not only impact their overall ability to focus on the tasks at hand, but it can be potentially dangerous.
The risks of inadequate sleep.
When a person doesn’t get enough sleep each night, they may become unfocused. They may have a more difficult time remembering certain things. They can easily get distracted.
To understand some of the basic risks, let’s look at a simple example: driving. If a person has been running on inadequate sleep for many days (or even just one), and they get behind the wheel to head on a trip, perhaps a few hours away, there’s a risk they could become drowsy.
Even if they don’t fall asleep, drowsiness can look a lot like impaired driving due to drugs or alcohol. Their senses are not tuned properly. They are not paying attention. Their mind is likely wandering.
If an aging senior is not getting adequate sleep, they could have the same type of impairment, but in their immediate personal life, at home. They may get up to go to the bathroom, forget where they’re headed, take a bad step, and tumble down the stairs.
They could put something on the stove, walk away and completely forget about it. There are hundreds of examples that happen to seniors every day, which is why elder care is such a great option to consider.
Assisted living is one of the best elderly care options available.
For seniors who may be having trouble sleeping or their spouse or adult child is struggling to get by on just a few hours every night, it’s going to catch up to them.
That doesn’t mean the senior has to move into an assisted living facility full-time because there may be respite care options that involve overnight stays.
This means a senior can be dropped off in the evening, sleep at the assisted living facility (surrounded by experienced and dedicated staff members in the event they need assistance at any time), and then be picked up in the morning by their family, friends, or a designated caregiver.
Instead of struggling with sleepless nights and worrying about what might happen, consider respite care during those overnight hours at a quality assisted living community.
If you or an aging loved one is considering a move to an Assisted Living Facility for Elderly Care Services in Marietta GA please contact the caring staff at Woodland Ridge today. 770-431-7055
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