Do you ever visit your elderly grandparents, aunt or uncle, or even parent, and wonder why they're sleeping so much? If you work around older individuals in any capacity, you may realize that sleeping a lot is more common than not. As individuals get older, they are more likely to spend more of their days sleeping. The aging process can be pretty brutal on the body and can easily fatigue one out. Also, elderly individuals experience a decline in their quality of night time sleep. This increases their amount of excessive daytime sleepiness, encouraging them to take more naps during the day to make up that sleep that they're losing. Sometimes they can't really get comfortable because of their aches and pains that they experience. They may have to get up and go to the restroom multiple times because that is also just another part of aging. There are just some of the reasons that elderly individuals struggle to get sleep, therefore they make up what they're missing during the day. This means that they are taking multiple naps, doze off as soon as they sit down, or going to bed really early.

As an onlooker you may be worried if this is too much sleeping. However, if you're elderly loved one seems to be sleeping more during the day, it may or may not be cause for concern. A visit to the doctor may help you uncover some sort of underlying health problem that makes them extra tired. Continue reading learning some common issues that seniors may face that causes them to sleep all day.

Depression

Depression will cause anyone to sleep more than they were before. It causes them to disengage from social activities surrounding them. It also causes them to disconnect from activities that they used to love, family members, and any friends that they may have once spent quite a bit of time with. dDpression, and depression-related symptoms are not a normal part of aging. And it is important that this is recognized early and treated so that way elderly individuals can finish the rest of their lives out positively.

Depression can also cause excessive fatigue. When an elderly woman experiences depression, it's because it can be triggered by a number of things. Death becomes a more normal part of life as they get older, which can be depressing. Especially if one loses all of their close friends and even their spouse, death can be a common starter of depression in elderly individuals. Other causes include boredom, loss of sense and purpose, medication changes, grasping with the reality of impending death, and just loneliness. Depression is a medical psychiatric condition that can be treated with medication, even in the elderly. It's important that if your loved one is experiencing depression, you get them the help that they need ASAP.

It's also important to realize that depression can lead to sleep-related issues, including excessive sleeping and insomnia throughout the night. These are some important symptoms that may key into the fact that your loved one is struggling with depression.

Medication issues

Many elderly individuals may find themselves taking multiple medications for a multitude of chronic health conditions. Some of these medications may not interact well together or may come with undesirable side effects. One of these side effects can be excessive sleepiness. Make sure you remain in contact with your loved ones physician to understand what medications they're on and what potential side effects are.

One of the issues could be the medication itself, or a negative interaction between multiple medications. The average senior takes between four and five medications. The more medications one has, the more likely they are are to experience interactions between one another. Therefore, if you notice your elderly loved one is sleeping a lot, and it may be due to one of the medications, consider asking for either a reduction in the dose, and alternative, or for the medication to be discontinued altogether.

Dementia

There are at least 12 different types of dementias, Alzheimer disease being the most commonly known. Every single type of dementia can cause some form of sleep issue. Deterioration of the brain can lead to significant problems with the sleep-wake cycle as those parts of the brain begin to deteriorate. This can lead individuals to feeling tired during the day and awake at night, almost as if they have returned to infancy. These are not easy issues to solve as many of these problems do not have a cure. However, family members and home staff can help seniors who struggle with dementia by creating a very strict and regimented schedule at night and the day. Night time activity should be sleep inducing, while daytime activities should include things like very engaging therapeutic activities for them to enjoy.

Other health concerns

As always, you can also be on the lookout for a potential underlying cause of excessive sleepiness. It's important to observe any types of changes in your elderly loved one, as things can deteriorate very quickly in old age. One day they can be just fine, and the next day they can be fighting for their life in the ICU due to an infection, fall, poisoning, a multitude of things. Excessive sleepiness should not be ignored as a natural part of aging until more concerning things have been ruled out.

If your elderly loved one is sleeping all day, make sure they are still practicing personal hygiene and getting the nutrition that they need. They should not be in the same position for too long either as bed sores can develop from unrelenting pressure on Bony parts of the body.

If you are concerned about the sleep habits of your elderly loved one, please click the orange button below to take a free online sleep test on their behalf and speak with one of our sleep health professionals.

https://www.homepersonalcareva.com/common-reasons-for-daytime-sleepiness-in-elderly-people/