Weighted Blankets for the Elderly

Few products in recent years have generated as much excitement and buzz as the simple weighted blanket. This thick blanket is gaining popularity as a tool to help manage stress and get a better night's sleep because of its unusual construction, which is thought to flood the user's body with feel-good chemicals like serotonin and dopamine. However, one demographic in particular—older adults—may be excluded from this prevailing trend.

As they approach their "golden years," seniors may encounter particular health concerns, such as poor sleep quality and deteriorating mental and cognitive performance. While some medical disorders only produce slight discomfort, others can be quite crippling and drastically reduce a person's quality of life. Weighted Blankets might offer some relief without adding to the already overflowing pillboxes of our elderly loved ones.

Why Age Is Often A Factor In Sleep Issues

You may have heard that people simply require less sleep as they get older whether you have an elderly loved one or if you are an older person yourself. This is false, according to the National Sleep Foundation. Age-related sleep requirements for older persons range from seven to nine hours per night on average.

Unfortunately, a lot of elderly people don't get enough sleep. In comparison to persons in younger demographics, people 65 and older routinely report experiencing higher rates of sleeplessness in surveys. The percentage of insomniacs in the 65+ age group was 39%. Insomnia affected 24% of people between the ages of 18 and 29.

The elderly endure insomnia more frequently than their younger counterparts for a variety of reasons. As they grow older, some people unavoidably endure a change in their circadian rhythm. When scientists looked at the brains of persons who had passed away, they discovered that those who were under the age of 40 showed "typical" circadian rhythms in their brain tissue. In contrast, people over 60 showed changes in their brains that suggested a different kind of circadian rhythm.

Other factors, in addition to age-related alterations in circadian rhythm, can have a deleterious impact on sleep in older people. It might be challenging to fall or stay asleep when you have a medical condition or illness. In some individuals, a decrease in physical activity results in a less healthy lifestyle overall, which then affects sleep. Additionally, certain drugs have negative effects that interfere with sleep.

Let's examine some of the many advantages of Weighted Blankets for the elderly in more detail.

Age-Related Insomnia: 6 Ways A Weighted Blanket May Be Of Assistance

But being older does not always indicate that we will always have terrible sleep. There are various things you can do to treat insomnia if you're an older adult or you have an aging loved one in your life.

While some people use over-the-counter or prescription sleeping pills, others choose a more natural approach. Additionally, some sleep aids should not be used by those who are already taking other prescription prescriptions.

Weighted Blankets have long been linked to disorders like sensory processing disorder and autism. However, everyone can benefit from Weighted Blankets. They function by exerting strong but moderate pressure on the body; this sort of therapy is known as from stimulation or deep touch pressure therapy. They are made with roughly 10% of a person's body weight. It can be compared to a soft, whole-body hug. The advantages of a weighted blanket may be something you've already experienced if you've ever cuddled up under a down comforter. They claim to make users feel more at ease, at ease, and less worried.

Here are six ways a weighted blanket could be able to assist you if you'd want to sleep better or if you're seeking a technique to aid an aging parent or loved one enjoy more restorative sleep.

1. Enhances Sleep

It becomes more challenging to acquire a restful night's sleep as we age. In fact, studies reveal that older folks take a little longer to fall asleep and spend less time in REM and deep sleep than younger adults. Since deep sleep is when our brain clears out dangerous proteins that raise the risk for neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's, the gradual decline in deep sleep is particularly troubling. Weighted Blankets may aid older persons in falling asleep more quickly and staying asleep longer by increasing the synthesis of the sleep hormone melatonin and reducing the levels of cortisol, the body's main stress hormone.

2. Help With Restless Leg Syndrome

People of various ages might experience restless legs syndrome. In the United States, the illness affects about 3 million people, with more women than males being affected. Older folks are also highly susceptible to it. According to research, up to 35% of adults 65 and older suffer from restless legs syndrome.

Some people who have the disease say they have an overwhelming impulse to move their legs; others say it feels like "pins and needles" or "creepy crawly." Although these unpleasant sensations can occur at any time of the day or night, many sufferers claim that just before bed is when they are most severe.

Many people discover that the downward weight of Weighted Blankets helps them relax and achieve deeper, more comfortable sleep. Weighted Blankets apply deep pressure to the body. This hug-like, strong pressure on the legs may assist to reduce the restless leg syndrome's pins and needles feelings.

3. Reduces Anxiety and Stress

Contrary to common opinion, anxiety and worry don't magically go away when you retire. In between 10% and 20% of the elderly population, anxiety disorders are rather prevalent. Among other things, many older persons worry about the cost of living, their deteriorating health, losing their independence, and passing away.

Weighted Blankets are a great adjunctive therapy for unrestrained stress and anxiety disorders. The parasympathetic nerve system (PNS), one of the body's two primary divisions of the autonomic nervous system, is activated by the weighted blanket's pressure. Your breathing and pulse rate will slow down when this system is turned on, enabling your body to attain a deep state of calm. It essentially reverses the effects of the sympathetic nervous system, which is the section in charge of the fight-or-flight reaction in response to a stressful environment.

4. Reduces Depression Symptoms

It's easy to understand how a weighted blanket can assist the elderly in coping with symptoms of depression given its special capacity to simulate the sensation of being held or cuddled. We feel comfortable and secure when we are wrapped in a snug cocoon of Weighted Blankets. Scientifically speaking, Weighted Blankets cause the body to produce mood-enhancing chemicals like serotonin and dopamine, which make us feel content and happy.

5. Lessens Prolonged Pain

Our chance of getting illnesses that might lead to persistent discomfort rises as we age. Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and fibromyalgia are some of the conditions that cause chronic pain in the elderly the most frequently. Weighted Blankets have demonstrated excellent promise as an alternative treatment for chronic pain. Researchers discovered that the use of Weighted Blankets among individuals with chronic pain was connected with decreases in pain perception in a 2021 study that was published in the Journal of Pain.

6. Does Not Interfere With Medications

The capacity of Weighted Blankets for elderly people to relieve discomfort without interfering with medication may be one of their most underappreciated advantages. Older persons frequently use many medications at the same time, a practice known as polypharmacy, which carries a higher risk of negative medical outcomes due to drug interactions. Weighted Blankets offer older people a low-risk option to get treatment from particular medical ailments because they don't interact with their current drugs.

Wrapping Up

Are you now considering purchasing a weighted blanket for an elderly relative? Try it out! Weighted Blankets are not only great presents for elderly family members, but they also have a lot of advantages. Give the senior in your life the gift of improved sleep by browsing the whole weighted product selection at Better Sleep's Blankets. Better sleep offer incredible Weighted Blankets for the Elderly.