A Good Night’s Sleep Can Make Your Day!

Getting a good night’s sleep is important no matter what your age is including seniors as it impacts both our physical and mental health.  HelpGuide.org explains that not getting enough sleep can contribute to negative health conditions and put you at risk for heart disease, heart attack, heart failure,  high blood pressure, stoke and diabetes.   

Research has found that insufficient sleep can cause the release of insulin that leads to an increase of fat storage and a higher risk of type 2 diabetes.  It may also make people more susceptible to depression, fatigue, and premature aging of the skin. Other problems can include an impaired attention span as well as difficulty in problem solving, reasoning and concentration.  In addition experts suggest chronic fatigue may contribute to weight problems and even breast cancer in women.   

However when we routinely get good sleep, it can improve concentration and memory formation.  Help Guide reports that restful sleep gives the body time to repair any cell damage that may have occurred during the day and to refresh our immune systems, which may help prevent disease. 
So how much sleep do we need?  Studies find healthy adults should get around 7.5 to 9 hours of sleep each night; however, it is less about the actual hours and more about whether you feel rested.   Tips to improve your sleep habits include limiting caffeine late in the day and avoiding alcohol before bedtime. If you are hungry, eat a light snack that avoids sugary foods and those high in refined carbs.  Also avoid drinking liquids about an hour and half before bed. 

At the gorgeous MorningStar of Santa Fe senior living community, our 56 assisted living suites offer residents comfort, safety and wellbeing.  We also have another 29 secure suites devoted to the individualized care of residents with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. MorningStar is a private pay community and we do not accept Medicaid.  Please visit our website to learn more about luxury senior living in Santa Fe.    

MorningStar of Santa Fe offers the very best in senior living with our distinct mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.”  Our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve to create a true “home” for residents.  We encourage you to contact us for more information regarding unparalleled senior living in Santa Fe.

Source: https://www.helpguide.org/articles/sleep/how-to-sleep-well-as-you-age.htm