Many senior people suffer from sleep disorders. This condition is often labelled as insomnia, with over 30% of older people experiencing things like infrequent sleep patterns and being awake in the middle of the night.
Constant insomnia in your client will have several unpleasant side effects. These include depression, decline of health and constant fatigue.
Often a person will fall asleep for longer during the day because they simply cannot sleep well at night.
As a live-in carer, this almost always poses other problems such as extra night calls for no real reason and wanting to stay up later at night because they have been asleep most of the afternoon.
Undoubtedly, there are conditions where your client may sleep far more, such as the approach of end of life. This is a different type of sleep and you will know the difference because clients at the end of life simply seem to sleep more and more.
Reasons for insomnia
Insomnia and any sleep disorders can be caused by a variety of issues, particularly if your client is worried about things to do with coronavirus.
Stress
Anxiety about not being able to see loved ones may be one of the reasons for staying awake at night. Your client may be concerned that no one can come to visit, and it is understandable that there is anxiety about whether the family are well or ill.
Chronic pain
If your client suffers from any type of pain, it will be more obvious to them in the middle of the night when they are alone and awake. This may be the reason for extra calls in the night when there seems to be nothing majorly wrong.
Previous illnesses
These, and the thought of them, can also cause worry about whether they will return, and if so, what to do about them.
In this case, you should consult the doctor to see if medication can be altered to make the nights better and the pain bearable.
High dosage medication
Often the cause of insomnia may be nothing more than a medication which is too high a dosage or one that reacts with another to cause wakefulness.
If you suspect that this is the case, then it is important for both you and your client’s sanity that you discuss it with the GP.
Lifestyle changes
During this time of lockdown, it may seem to your client that their life is in confusion. Nothing is as it was, and no future date as to when things will get back to normal for them.
Family don’t visit, because they can’t, walks up and down the street are not allowed, shopping isn’t happening... and the list goes on. Little wonder that your client is distressed and confused.
All these things can play a part in sleep disorders and if not handled in a timely manner, may cause permanent sleep disruptions in your client.
What can I do?
· Check the medication. See if there are any adverse side effects to this and if so, discuss with the doctor. There is very often an alternative which can be given to your client.
· Set a routine. Even though your client may have been awake in the night, if you try as best you can to stick to a pattern, the body will be better able to adjust.
· Limit afternoon naps. These should be no more than an hour, then rouse your client with a drink. Keep awake until they would normally go to bed. While this may be difficult at first, it may work to set a proper sleep pattern again.
· Stop evening drinks early. If your client goes to bed after drinking alcohol or caffeine they will definitely be awake in the early hours. Set a time when there is no more drinking and explain the reasons clearly.
· Try a book instead of television. Reading a few pages from a book is a far better way to get into the sleep routine than watching tv which may be noisy and bright. Bright lights are designed to keep us awake. If possible change to a book at bedtime.
In conclusion
There is nothing worse than waking up tired in the mornings, especially after your client has called you several times for no reason other than they are awake.
If insomnia seems to be getting out of hand with your client, you may want to talk to the doctor or the district nurse.
Sooner or later your client’s insomnia will start to influence you and your work – and not in a good way!
Dealing with insomnia and any sleep disorders as soon as possible will give you a change of nipping things in the bud, possibly returning the sleep cycle to how it was, and both getting a decent night’s sleep.
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