Night Care For The Elderly

A bed rail is great for sleep safety and getting in and out of bed.
Falls are a serious concern for the elderly. A fall can result in the need for additional care, medical expenses, and much more. Many falls occur at night, when seniors get up to use the bathroom, get a drink, etc.

What are some things you can do to improve night care for your elderly?


Step one: Eliminate the need to get up.

A huge way to take care of your elderly during the night is to eliminate as many of the risks as you can. The best way to do this is to eliminate their need to get up and out of bed at night. For example, providing your senior loved one with bathroom assistance such as adult diapers, bed pads, bed pans, and the like, can help them avoid leaving the bed at night to use the restroom. You can also do things like invest in bedside organizers and pouches, to help create a place for things like medications, the television remote, and other things they may need at night, if they can’t sleep.

Step two: Make it safe when they do get up.

While the ideal is to stay in bed at night, many elderly require getting out of bed; thus, the next step is to make their trips from bed at night as safe as possible. The best way to do this is to consider their needs, and make changes accordingly. The following may be very useful depending on the situation:
  • Rails- A bed rail is great for both sleep safety, and for helping with getting in and out of bed. 
  • Motion sensor lights- When a loved one needs to navigate their home at night, having motion sensor lights can really eliminate potential hazards. Or, consider using some night light plug ins to keep hallways and walkways illuminated, even during the night. 
  • Clear pathways- It is really important to keep pathways clear of items, including clothes, shoes, and other clutter, but also of furniture. Create clear, and intuitive pathways to and from the bedroom and bathroom, bedroom and kitchen, and anywhere else your senior loved one may need to go during the night. 
  • Independent living aids- Help make getting up and about at night easier with independent living aids, from canes, walkers, caddies, and more. You can find a wide selection of great products to help with night care for the elderly. 
Step three: Consider an emergency monitoring system

Because a lot of emergency situations for seniors happen at night, it may be wise to look into a monitoring system that your senior loved one can use to keep themselves safe, even at night. If a senior falls during the night on a trip to the bathroom or kitchen, it could be several hours before any kind of help arrives. Fall protection monitors, as well as other safety options can help reduce risk and protect your senior loved one.

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About The CareGiver Partnership. The CareGiver Partnership helps caregivers and their loved ones with answers to their caregiving questions, including information about home health care products and supplies, from our Wisconsin-based team of Product Specialists who are all current or former caregivers. The company’s Web site provides the largest online library of resources on subjects most important to caregivers — from arthritis to assisted living, and Parkinson’s to prostate cancer — as well as access to more than 3,000 home care products for incontinence, skin care, mobility, home safety and daily living aids. The CareGiver Partnership was founded in 2004 by Lynn Wilson of Neenah, Wisc. Visithttp://www.caregiverpartnership.com to learn more or call 1-800-985-1353.

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