Getting a good night’s rest can help caregivers stay healthy and maintain a high quality of life. In fact, sleep can be just as necessary as healthy eating and exercising. Here are some of the reasons proper sleep is important for family caregivers.
1. Encourages Better Eating Habits
Lack of sleep can disrupt appetite hormones, making caregivers dependent on unhealthy snacks. Family caregivers need to sleep more for their bodies to produce higher levels of ghrelin, a hormone that stimulates appetite. Ghrelin also lowers the production of leptin, which is a hormone that suppresses the appetite.
Caring for a senior loved one can be rewarding, but it can also be overwhelming for family caregivers who have other responsibilities they need to focus on. For these families, the perfect solution is respite care. Green Valley families rely on our caregivers whenever they need time to rest, work, run errands, and even go on vacation.
2. Increases Energy Levels
If you don’t get a good night’s rest, you may feel tired and irritated throughout the day. Getting plenty of sleep each night can help you perform your caregiving duties with greater ease. Family caregivers who are well-rested have better reaction times, make fewer mistakes, and maintain good mental health. When you get enough rest, you are more likely to be active during the day, have better grip strength, and perform your caregiving duties with greater success.
3. Boosts Heart Health
Managing your caregiving duties may make you susceptible to stress and anxiety. However, getting a good night’s rest can alleviate these negative emotions and reduce the risk of developing heart disease, depression, and strokes. When you sleep, your body rids itself of the harmful stress toxins that have accumulated throughout the day.
4. Strengthens Immunity
Family caregivers who are not in good health will likely have a difficult time caring for their elderly loved ones. If you have developed an infection, you may need to stay away from your loved one until your body heals, which could disrupt the caregiving schedule you share with other family members. However, getting plenty of rest can boost your immune system and make it easier for your body to fight off the flu, common colds, and serious health conditions such as cancer.
Caring for a senior loved one can be challenging for families who don’t have expertise or professional training in home care, but this challenge doesn’t have to be faced alone. Family caregivers can turn to Green Valley Home Care Assistance for the help they need. We provide high-quality live-in and respite care as well as comprehensive Alzheimer’s, dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s care.
5. Enhances Relationships
Getting a good night’s rest can boost your mood and make you less irritated during the day, which could help you maintain a positive relationship with your loved one and make your caregiving duties easier to manage. Get at least eight hours of sleep each night to enhance your relationship and social interactions with your loved one.
6. Prevents Accidents
Family caregivers need to be alert at all times. When you are able to concentrate, you can prevent many issues that put you and your loved one’s safety in jeopardy. With a clear and well-rested mind, you can perform your duties with confidence.
Hiring a professional caregiver is one of the best ways to take a break from your caregiving duties to get some rest. If you are the primary caregiver for a senior family member and want additional assistance from a professional elderly caregiver, Green Valley Embrace In-Home Care is here to help. Our caregivers are available for a few hours a day to help seniors with daily tasks, and we also offer 24-hour live-in care for those who need more extensive assistance. To learn about our premier in-home care plans, give us a call at (520) 625-2050 today.