Let's Sleep!

In this day in 2025, it is so easy to take a pill, obtain a prescription, even perhaps, take a drink of something alcoholic to sleep!

What if I told you that sleep can come easy without all the pills, drinks, or concoctions?!

Sleep is healing for our bodies and minds and while most people know the five covenants of a balanced life, sleep is the top of the list. Even though this is focused on adults with Alzheimer's or another form of dementia, we can all benefit from this.

I have heard quite a few older adults state "I only need a few hours of sleep and I am good!" I would like to add to that sentence "....today". Lack of sleep takes years off ones life.

Lack of sleep:

~Increases mortality

~Increases aging effects as wrinkles, dry skin, droopy eyes (to name a few)

~Increases cognitive decline, memory loss, plain forgetfulness

~Increases inflammation in the body and physio-impacts

~Increases risk of vascular events

to name a few.

Sleep, to me, is the greatest luxury in my life. I revel in sleep! My bedroom is calming, soothing, and my bed is the height of comfort. Every night, as I tuck myself in (and I mean every night) I say to myself (and sometimes out loud) I love my bed!

While not everyone has a luxurious bed or sheets and goosedown comforter, we can make our bedroom, in any capacity, a safe haven for sound sleep.

The majority of adults with Alzheimer's experience impact to sleep. Now, this is separate from Sundowners, this is impact to the REM sleep, sound, body relaxed, sleep.

Alzheimer's impacts the circadian rhythm and when that happens, sleep is disrupted for the adults with Alzheimer's ...and the caregiver.

The majority of my patients that came to me with mild/moderate/severe Alzheimer's, all were taking prescriptions for sleep. Why? A quick fix for sure, however is it?!!!! NO.

Prescriptions for sleep are short term, in the day, There is no change long term or treatment. I won't even get into the words "treatment" or "therapy" that the medical profession applies, incorrectly I might add.

We want a healing treatment or therapy. Healing includes getting to the root cause and fixing it, is possible.

It is not possible to explain all there is about sleep in this posting and I hope you will join one of our Master Classes on sleep.

There are a few basics to consider before you reach for a pill:

~Avoid sugar or caffeine for you or your loved one. EVEN ENSURE OR THOSE DRINKS! I WISH THEY WERE OFF THE MARKET. THE HIGH SODIUM AND SUGAR AND COLORING, ADDITIVES, PRESERVATIVES, SUPPLEMENTS, CAUSE ONE TO NOT SLEEP.

~Stretch and calm the body, even if your loved one is immobile or has atrophy, massage, or help stretch (work with physical therapist, and they are covered by insurance)

~Avoid Calming teas. Often ashwaganda can cause heart palpitations, and licorice increases heart rate.

~Drink a little warm chamomile tea or try a bit of turmeric, cinnamon and nutmeg (before you try anything check drug impacts)

~move the body during the day so the body is exhausted at night. Sitting or lying all day does not promote sleep. I see this in LTCs where there is not enough movement during the day.

~massage gently the face, sinus areas, temples, calming the body

~Adults with Alzheimer's often enjoy a stuffed animal to cuddle (heck, I enjoy that too)A sweet seal my patients love

~check with pharmacist on prescriptions and interactions causing sleeplessness

~Yes, the brain does change with Alzheimer's and the alchemy is never the same however I urge you to try alternatives rather than prescriptions.

Join us for a full two hours on Obtaining Sleep for Adults with Alzheimer's (and well, for all adults)

Let's get sleep today!!