{"id":6100,"date":"2020-07-16T08:00:17","date_gmt":"2020-07-16T15:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aparadiseforparents.com\/?p=6100"},"modified":"2024-04-09T12:19:46","modified_gmt":"2024-04-09T19:19:46","slug":"sleep-deprivation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aparadiseforparents.com\/sleep-deprivation\/","title":{"rendered":"The Consequences of Lack of Sleep in Elderly People"},"content":{"rendered":"

Everyone knows that getting a good, restful night of sleep is very important for your health.\u00a0 When we\u2019re young that doesn\u2019t seem to be too much of a problem. It\u2019s amazing how some teenagers can sleep for 14-16 hours at a time with no problem.\u00a0As we age, it seems like we have to work harder to make it 7-8 hours. Elderly people are frequently up many times during the night. Sleep deprivation can be a real problem for them. There can be some bad consequences of lack of sleep in elderly people. Sleep deprivation in elderly people can contribute to chronic diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Diabetes<\/a> and Heart Disease<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In order to figure out how to improve our sleep, it\u2019s important to understand how sleep works. The three main keys to sleep are:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Duration<\/li>\n
  2. Intensity<\/li>\n
  3. Timing<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Duration seems to be obvious \u2013 how long you sleep. It\u2019s also how long you spend in different stages of sleep. Medical recommendations say that the elderly should still sleep at least 7 hours each night. Light sleepers understand intensity. Even if you sleep for 8 hours a night but don\u2019t go into a deep sleep, you won\u2019t feel rested. Much less than 7 hours is cause for concern about sleep deprivation in elderly people. Timing is important to sync your body with the day\/night cycle. Timing is one of the toughest with seniors \u2013 especially when they have conditions like Sundowner\u2019s<\/a>. Being on a different schedule as everyone else can lead to consequences of lack of sleep in elderly people such as more stress.<\/p>\n

    Sleep Deprivation in Elderly People by the Numbers<\/h2>\n

    Sleep deprivation in elderly people is becoming more and more of a problem. Many people are sleeping a lot less today than they did 30-40 years ago. A Gallup poll from several years ago found Americans are sleeping around 6.8 hours<\/a> a night. That\u2019s down an hour from the 1940s and it continues to decline. A lot of the decline is longer work times, commute times, and just general stress. And we are seeing the consequences of lack of sleep in elderly people.<\/p>\n

    Another poll<\/a> from the National Sleep Foundation found that the best sleepers had their timing down. They were very disciplined about falling asleep at the same time each night. Following a routine is important for maintaining good sleep health.<\/p>\n

    That means keeping the same schedule on the weekends as well as during the week. No trying to catch up after a long week.<\/p>\n

    It also is important for caregivers to think about a routine for both the people under their care AND themselves. It can definitely be hard at times, but definitely worth trying.<\/p>\n

    How to Avoid the Consequences of Lack of Sleep in Elderly People<\/h2>\n

    One of the keys to preventing sleep deprivation in elderly people and the intensity of sleep is the amount of Melatonin you produce. Melatonin is a hormone produced by your Pineal Gland<\/a> that helps your body prepare for and go into a good sleep pattern. It sends a signal to your brain to:<\/p>\n