Helping an Elderly Loved One Stay in Good Health: Advice

Posted on: 13 June 2017

To ensure that you lead a healthy lifestyle as an adult, it is imperative that you get somewhere between seven and nine hours of sleep each night. When you fail to get the proper amount of sleep, it can lead to sleep deprivation, which can cause a number of health issues. When you are responsible for caring for someone else, it is that much more important to make sure that you are getting the sleep that your body needs because you need to take care of yourself in order to take care of them. Here are four reasons why it is so important that you're getting those seven to nine hours of sleep each night when you are a caregiver:

It Helps You Stay Physically Healthy.

When your body becomes deprived of sleep, it is less likely to be able to successfully fight off common infections, such as the flu. In addition, if you suffer from any health problems, such as high blood pressure or diabetes, they are likely to worsen when you get less than the appropriate amount of sleep each night.

It Reduces Your Overall Risk of Mental Health Issues.

Research shows that there is a link between sleep deprivation and mental health conditions in that sleeping problems can increase the risk for the development of certain mental disorders. In addition, the less sleep that you get at night, the more likely that you are going to have trouble remembering things and thinking clearly when faced with a stressful situation. Now, whether you want to admit it or not, a caregiver's job is not an easy one and can be stressful at times.

It Improves Your Emotional Health.

It can be incredibly emotional being a caregiver, especially if you are providing care to a family member or someone close to you. In many cases, particularly if you are not getting an adequate amount of sleep at night, you may find it difficult to cope with your feelings. You could find yourself getting irritated or angry and/or acting completely out of character with the individual that you are taking care of.

It Helps You Provide the Best Possible Care.

When you are not getting enough rest at night, it goes without saying that you are going to be exhausted during the day. This can take a huge toll on the care that you are providing to the person in need. Depending on the severity of your exhaustion, you may begin to question your ability to provide them with adequate care and possibility even their safety under your direct care.

Sooner or later, the lack of sleep will catch up to you. Therefore, it is best to make sure that you are getting ample sleep every single night to ensure that you don't experience caregiver burnout and unnecessary stress. If you aren't getting proper sleep, speak to your physician and possibly see if there is another caregiver that can come in and relieve you of your caregiving duties every now and then.