My 94-year-old mother wants nothing more than to sleep. I wake her up to eat (she eats one full meal per day and drinks water in the morning), and she gets up to use the restroom. I get her into her chair, and she falls asleep in it. If her small body is exhausted, I was instructed to let her sleep. We're talking about 18 to 20 hours of sleep at times. It's become normal for her to sleep so much.
The problem is that she's developing health issues due to lack of sleep. She has high blood pressure, which is being treated with medication, and she has diabetes. All three conditions can be managed if she sleeps regularly. A study published in the journal Sleep found that people who slept less than five hours a night increased their risk of dying over a four-year period compared with those who got seven or more hours of shut-eye. For each hour less people slept, they increased their risk of death by 15 percent.
It's important for your mother to get the sleep she needs. Make sure she gets 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night by turning down the lights, removing phones and tablets from the bedroom, and making other changes that will help her sleep better. You could also consider getting a sleep aid such as a sleeping pill or anti-anxiety drug if necessary.
If she won't change her habits, talk to your doctor about whether any medications she takes could be causing or contributing to her excessive daytime sleepiness.
Ensure that your mother receives enough exercise during the day so that she is weary by evening. Encourage your mum to avoid napping throughout the day as much as possible. Avoid big meals and caffeine use for many hours before going to bed. These things will help her get some rest at night.
Now, if you want your mom to stop sleeping through the night, then these ideas are not for you!
Your mother probably wants the same thing you do: to be able to sleep through the night. However, some people can't sleep when others around them are awake. This is especially true for young children who may have a hard time falling asleep without their parents' help. If this is the case for your mother, then she will need to make some changes to her lifestyle to allow herself this necessary rest. Be sure to talk with her about this issue so that you are on the same page with each other.
It's important for mothers to get adequate sleep because they are responsible for making sure everyone in the family is taken care of. Whether it's getting ready for school or work in the morning, preparing dinner, doing the laundry, cleaning the house--even playing with your son or daughter when they need attention or discipline--mothers must be able to function properly during the day. They cannot do this if they are exhausted.
Exercise at regular intervals throughout the day, but not within three hours of going to bed. Large meals should be avoided close to night since they might keep you awake. Avoid coffee and alcohol late in the day. Caffeine (found in coffee, tea, soda, and chocolate) is a stimulant.
It's debatable how much sleep elderly folks require. Several experts, including Morin, feel that seniors' sleep demands are the same as they were when they were younger. It's just that they have a harder time sleeping.
It's debatable how much sleep elderly folks require. Several experts, including Morin, feel that seniors' sleep demands are the same as they were when they were younger. It's just that they have a harder time sleeping.
In some circumstances, daytime drowsiness may not be an indication of a medical condition—perhaps the person is simply bored with life. Boredom is a big problem for seniors, and they may begin sleeping more if their mental, physical, and emotional requirements are not met. Boredom can cause a variety of emotional problems, including...