Irregular sleep in bedridden patients.How patient caretaker is helpful.

Irregular sleep in bedridden  is very common especially in elderly, it simply means there is a random pattern of sleep during day or during the night. There are many reasons which are associated, why bedridden patients have this kind of pattern.

In Home health care services , we have observed that this kind of pattern gives rise to number of health problems. For example diabetes, obesity and blood pressure.

Causes of irregular sleep in bedridden.

• It is seen that as age increases or we grow older sleep timings reduces. 
• Continues lying on bed for whole day can affect patients physically and psychologically. 
• Frequent daytime naps is other main reason for this kind of random pattern. 
• Limited exposure to outside can make patients difficult to judge about the timing of day. Many other reasons like frequent urination during the night time disturb sleep a lot. 
• Elderly who are in continuous habit of using CPAP can also find difficulty in sleeping.

What are the risk factors associated with Irregular sleep? 

Irregular sleep in bedridden can give rise to neurological problems like dementia and Parkinson’s disease. 

Severe low backache is very common among bedridden as constant pressure is building over the same area during the whole time. 

Chronic fatigue syndrome in this patients always feel fatigue, lack of energy. 

What is the role of patient care taker in maintaining a regular sleep pattern? 

• Patient caregiver can involve their clients in general bed exercises which will definitely helps in burning some of the calories. 
• Medical attendants can take their patients out during the daytime so that there is a sunlight exposure which is good for patients overall health.
• Those who complained of frequent urination must restrict the water intake after 5 PM, patient attendants can counsel them for water intake. 
• Patient caregivers should always try to keep a record and maintain a chart for the wake up time and sleeping time.