Tips on Night Care for Aging Adults

By Susan Myer, RN, BSN, CCRN, CDP | November 19, 2018 |

It’s common for the family caregiver of an aging loved one to spend day and night addressing their needs. One might think that family caregivers don’t have as challenging a time at night as they do in the day. The truth is that night care for aging adults can be a series of conditions that means they are up many times in the night. Family caregivers cannot afford to miss that much sleep and then function fully the next day.

Here are some tips on providing night care for aging adults and how to reduce the number of times they awaken in the night.

Home Care Services Somerset County NJ – Tips on Night Care for Aging Adults

Identify Health Issues

Many seniors awaken in the night due to health issues, so if those can be identified and treated, there might be less middle-of-the-night needs. Common health issues that can affect sleep include urinary tract infections, chronic pain, leg cramps, sleep apnea, overactive bladder and acid reflux.

Create an Atmosphere

The body picks up signals on when it is time for sleep, so family caregivers can help seniors do this. They can turn the lights to low and ensure the room is a comfortable temperature. Avoid television screens and smart phones just before bed and make sure they have plenty of water.

Boost Comfort Levels

Seniors should feel comfortable when falling asleep, so family caregivers need to get them into clean pajamas. The bed should be firm enough to support them, so if it is not comfortable, it may need replaced. Seniors may need help with positioning to reduce pain, such as a pillow between the legs to alleviate back pain.

Hire Home Care Services Providers

It’s possible that the elderly adult simply needs help at night and there’s nothing that can be done. However, the family caregiver doesn’t need to sacrifice sleep, so they hire home care services providers. These experts know how to take care of an elderly person in the night.

Prevent Wandering

Some seniors with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia may become disoriented or confused if they wake in the night. Family caregivers and home care services providers can quickly orient the senior at night and help them relax and get back to sleep. Having a home care servies provider can prevent the dangerous activity of wandering out of the house, which is not uncommon in seniors with dementia.

Getting a good night’s sleep is important for both elderly adults and family caregivers. When sleep is scarce around the house, it may be time to hire a home care services provider to assist. Not only can they help the elderly relative rest and relax, but they can also give the family caregiver a boost by taking over night care.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring professional Home Care Services in Somerset County NJ, please talk to the caring staff at Generations Home Health Care today. Providing Home Care in Somerset, Essex, Union, Morris and Hunterdon Counties. Call us today at (908) 290-0691 or (973) 241-4534.

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Susan Myer, RN, BSN, CCRN, CDP

Co-Owner at Generations Home Healthcare LLC

Susan is the Co-Owner of Generations Home HealthCare and has 35 years of business experience and entrepreneurship. For the last 10 years she has been a Registered Nurse working at St. Luke’s Hospital (Bethlehem, PA) in the Neuro/Trauma Unit and as a critical care nurse at Hunterdon Medical Center. She has a B.S. from Rutgers University and a BSN from Moravian College in Bethlehem, PA.Susan is currently in the process of obtaining her Master’s in Gerontology. Susan is married, has 2 children and 2 grandchildren.

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