1. Make Changes in the Bedroom
Family caregivers should make sure their loved one`s bedroom is the most comfortable place for them. Your loved one`s sleeping area should be comforting and all the outside lights should be blocked by using curtains which may not cause sleep disruption.
2. Don`t Consume Heavy Meals
Eating heavy meals and high fat foods may leads to a distressful sleep in some seniors. Your loved ones can choose whole grain foods, smoothies, and drink more water which may provide a comforting sound sleep.
3. Avoid Electronic Device around the Bed
Seniors may have a hard time sleeping if they have a TV or laptops in their bedroom. These electronic devices may distract your loved one`s sleep and may change their sleeping patterns. These devices may also enhance stress level of your loved ones.
4. Create a Routine before Going to Bed
To enhance melatonin which is a sleep inducing hormone, your loved ones may create soothing changes every night before going to bed. Yoga may help some seniors in getting their body and mind relaxed. Family caregivers can also suggest their loved ones to have a warm shower which may boost a comforting sleep.
5. Avoid Stimulants if Not Necessary
Caffeine, alcohol, energy drinks and high sugar foods are some of the stimulants which may cause insomnia in some seniors. Drinking coffee or black tea may prevent your loved ones from having a good night sleep. If your loved one has a habit of drinking tea everyday then he or she can consume it 6 hours before going to bed. In this way their habit may not cause sleep disruption.
6. Reduce Stress
Minimize the things which may cause stress and anxiety in your loved one`s life. Family caregivers should not put things in their loved one`s bedroom which are work reminders or sleep distracters. Stress and depression may also cause insomnia in some seniors and may make it difficult for them to sleep longer.
7. Consult a Doctor
One of the best ways to decrease insomnia in seniors is to consult a doctor. In this way your loved ones can receive an expert`s advice on treating insomnia and may reduce the stuff that is enhancing it. The doctor may go through your loved one`s medications and can provide a tailored routine and lifestyle changes for them to follow to decrease insomnia.
8. Limit Sleeping During Daytime
Senior adults who may face difficulties in sleeping at the night can limit their afternoon sleep. This may help them in feeling sleepier during the night. Your loved ones can avoid daytime sleep entirely which may make them more likely to sleep longer at night.
9. Exercise
To reduce insomnia in seniors, exercise may help in regulating their sleeping patterns. Your loved ones can start aerobic exercises such as running, cycling, and doing sports which may assist them in decreasing insomnia.
10. Adapt Ways to Slow Down Brain Activity
Your loved ones can avoid mind stimulating things like TV, computer, work load pressure, and stress to ensure good sleep and to tackle insomnia. Seniors can perform calming activities before going to bed which may help in turning off their brain.
Monday, September 18, 2017
Tuesday, September 5, 2017
5 Things You Need To Know Before You Sign Up For Home Hemodialysis
As with the majority of treatments for kidney disease and failure, patients have the option to include home hemodialysis as part of their daily regimen. The ability to maintain a life outside of a dialysis center can almost inspiring for some patients, especially those that feel as though their independence is being hindered by their treatments.
However, because hemodialysis is going to be taking place in someone's home, the patient and his/her caregiver (if applicable) will be responsible for maintaining the treatment. This is no small task, and while it does grant a patient a major boost in confidence because they are a part of the process, it does ask a lot of them as well.
Before deciding that home hemodialysis is right for you, consider the following:
1. The history of hemodialysis does lend itself to having a place at a patient's home. Within ten years of hemodialysis being used as a treatment, nearly half of these patients received treatment at home. For a patient considering home treatment, this is good to hear.
2. There will be an initially large amount of anxiety for involved in the process. Remember, many of the patients taking on their hemodialysis at home do not have a background in medicine. Their caregiver, who is usually a spouse, also may not have medical experience, so both of you will experience some level of hesitation and worry about making sure everything goes right so as to not make the patient vulnerable.
3. There is less social interaction experienced by patients who manage their hemodialysis at home. Dialysis centers are set up for the comfort of patients who, at times, must be at the center multiple times a week for hours at a time. It becomes a new normal, however, and patients sitting next to one another become close because they have a common bond. Patients receiving treatment at home may either interact with their caregiver or, if they live alone, possibly no one unless they receive visitors.
4. Per the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), "Hemodialysis is a treatment for kidney failure that uses a machine to filter your blood outside your body." In short, this treatment is necessary for your kidneys to do their job, which is essential to you staying alive. You and/or your caregiver will also need to undergo weeks of training to make sure you can handle treatments at home. There is a major 'if' attached to that because if you and/or your caregiver cannot handle the steps in treatment, then a safe environment cannot guaranteed.
5. The law requires that patients must be notified that they have a choice regarding at-home hemodialysis treatment. They must receive information regarding where they can go to receive training on the process, as well as where they can receive general education on treatment options.
Home hemodialysis can be a fitting way for a patient becoming accustomed to a new way of life to feel as though they still have independence and are not being hindered by their kidney failure. However, this independence does have quite a large amount of responsibility, and it is the job of all parts of the healthcare team, including the patient, to understand this responsibility and choose the treatment option that is optimal for their health.
However, because hemodialysis is going to be taking place in someone's home, the patient and his/her caregiver (if applicable) will be responsible for maintaining the treatment. This is no small task, and while it does grant a patient a major boost in confidence because they are a part of the process, it does ask a lot of them as well.
Before deciding that home hemodialysis is right for you, consider the following:
1. The history of hemodialysis does lend itself to having a place at a patient's home. Within ten years of hemodialysis being used as a treatment, nearly half of these patients received treatment at home. For a patient considering home treatment, this is good to hear.
2. There will be an initially large amount of anxiety for involved in the process. Remember, many of the patients taking on their hemodialysis at home do not have a background in medicine. Their caregiver, who is usually a spouse, also may not have medical experience, so both of you will experience some level of hesitation and worry about making sure everything goes right so as to not make the patient vulnerable.
3. There is less social interaction experienced by patients who manage their hemodialysis at home. Dialysis centers are set up for the comfort of patients who, at times, must be at the center multiple times a week for hours at a time. It becomes a new normal, however, and patients sitting next to one another become close because they have a common bond. Patients receiving treatment at home may either interact with their caregiver or, if they live alone, possibly no one unless they receive visitors.
4. Per the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), "Hemodialysis is a treatment for kidney failure that uses a machine to filter your blood outside your body." In short, this treatment is necessary for your kidneys to do their job, which is essential to you staying alive. You and/or your caregiver will also need to undergo weeks of training to make sure you can handle treatments at home. There is a major 'if' attached to that because if you and/or your caregiver cannot handle the steps in treatment, then a safe environment cannot guaranteed.
5. The law requires that patients must be notified that they have a choice regarding at-home hemodialysis treatment. They must receive information regarding where they can go to receive training on the process, as well as where they can receive general education on treatment options.
Home hemodialysis can be a fitting way for a patient becoming accustomed to a new way of life to feel as though they still have independence and are not being hindered by their kidney failure. However, this independence does have quite a large amount of responsibility, and it is the job of all parts of the healthcare team, including the patient, to understand this responsibility and choose the treatment option that is optimal for their health.
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