Maintaining an active lifestyle is something that many seniors want to do in order to stay healthy. It’s also an important part of helping seniors to sleep better. As seniors grow older, sleep patterns shift. Seniors may have more trouble falling asleep or staying asleep at night. Staying more active during the day can help them get to sleep and have better sleep quality. Companion care at home is a great way for seniors to get socialization as well as more activity throughout the day.
Activity and Better Sleep
When seniors are more active in general, it’s easier for them to sleep better. One of the reasons they start to have sleep trouble is because they become less active in general. After seniors retire, for instance, they’re no longer getting up and going to work, walking around, and doing a lot of different activities. If they’re way more sedentary than they used to be, they’re not burning off as much energy as they did in the past. Bumping up activity levels can help reverse that problem as long as their doctors agree that it’s okay.
Companion Care at Home and Increased Physical Activity
When seniors know that home care providers are going to visit, they may be more physically active. Companion caregivers might go on walks with seniors, for instance, or engage in other fun activities that involve moving more. Seniors may also do things like focus more on household tasks, tidy up, and get more active before caregivers stop by.
Promoting Mental Engagement
Mental engagement via conversations, games, and other activities also burns some energy. Socialization is excellent for aging adults, particularly for brain health. Reading, talking, or throwing impromptu dance parties are all ideas that can boost mental engagement and encourage seniors to get more activity in. Keeping the brain stimulated and happy throughout the day can help it to be calmer at night when it’s time for seniors to get some sleep.
Building Balanced Routines
When companion care at home is a regular part of seniors’ daily and weekly routines, they’re able to build in consistent periods of rest, socialization, and activity. Setting up a schedule that includes time for meals, hobbies, sleep, and more helps seniors to see what they’re doing and what they want to be doing. Gentle activities in the evening that help them wind down for sleep also help.
Social Interaction and Emotional Wellness
Having the right amount of social interaction is so important for senior emotional wellness. When seniors feel isolated or lonely, they’re more likely to have trouble in other areas, like sleeping poorly. Spending time with companion caregivers and engaging in conversations, sharing meals, or trying new activities helps seniors get the social connections they need.
Companion care at home can help seniors to gradually and subtly increase their activity levels in a variety of different ways, which can lead to better sleep and better quality of life overall. Experimenting with different combinations helps seniors to troubleshoot what’s happening and find the solutions that they enjoy and benefit from the most.
If you or an aging loved one is considering companion care at home in Eden Prairie, MN and the surrounding areas, please contact the friendly staff at CareBuilders at Home Minnesota. Call today 612-260-2273.
