Insomnia is one of the most recurring issues amongst the elderly population. Difficulty falling and staying asleep is one of the more common problems reported by senior citizens, and it is also one of the most frustrating. There are a variety of reasons why this occurs, with poor exercise habits and changing body metabolism being some of the more frequent causes.
But they are not the only causes, and some are more severe problems when it comes to the health of the people that we love and care about. In fact, researchers have recently pointed to the discovery that insomnia is often a long term side effect of a stroke. Someone who suffers from a stroke is likely to have a lifelong struggle with insomnia afterward.
Researchers pointed to this by looking at brain signals in deep sleep states of individuals that were about a year removed from a stroke. It was also found that those who have had a stroke in the past were less likely to take naps during the day to compensate for lost sleep. Unfortunately this is a huge issue because sleep is believed to be one of the main ways that the brain cleans and repairs itself. Because a stroke impacts brain cells, insomnia can prevent some of the process that’s needed for a recovery.
However, researchers did find that there not much of a difference between the amount of sleep received in each of the groups. The biggest difference was the fact that those who had suffered from a stroke received a poorer quality of sleep and were not getting the rest that they needed. This means that the issues were likely not visible to observers.
There are a variety of health issues that the elderly face. Some of them are major and require constant attention, while others are there in the background and have a negative impact on life and its quality, but do not impose an immediate difficulty. Insomnia fits into this latter category. But just because it does not require constant attention does not mean that it is not a difficulty. Having a loved one that is starting to have trouble caring for themselves or getting through their daily tasks on their own can be frustrating and stressful. This is why senior care is such an important concept. There is care possible for both of the scenarios presented above, but each individual is different and needs a different approach. A nursing home could be perfect for one person, but a horrible choice for another.
Whatever health problems your loved one might have, you need to know about them when making care decisions for them. Those basic needs and the difficulties that are faced will play a major role in figuring out which approach to care is best. If you are unsure where your mom or dad fits in here, scheduling a doctor’s appointment for them can be a good start. Insomnia is a health issue, but it might not be the only issue that is being faced.
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