Dealing With Residents/Patients With Insomnia

Sleep is very important in terms of living beings staying healthy and for repairing and recharging our bodies. But what happens when sleep becomes an issue, as in a sleep disorder? As a result of a lack of sleep and interruptions in sleeping habits, there ate many chronic health issues to deal with, such as a low quality of life. There are different types of sleep disorders, ranging from sleep apnea to narcolepsy and parasomnias, just to name a few. Insomnia is another type of sleeping disorder.

Did you know that approximately ninety-five percent of Americans have suffered from insomnia at a point during his/her lifetime? This is a fact.

What Is Insomnia?

Insomnia refers to a sleeping condition in which a person is having difficulty sleeping and/or staying asleep when they get in the bed. People suffering from insomnia are usually very uncomfortable with his/her sleeping habits and have one or more of these symptoms:

• Fatigue
• Very moody
• Very low productivity
• Very low energy
• Have a difficult time concentrating and focusing

In the case of residents/patients (depending on the healthcare setting), you may notice a change in his/her behavior as a result of insomnia, as in a lack of energy. Some residents/patients may want to talk to the Certified Nursing Assistant about his/her sleeping issues, such as waking up multiple times throughout the night. Certified Nursing Assistants must document the conversation he/she had with the resident/patient about their sleeping problems and notify the head nurse. It is also very important to notify the family members about their loved one's sleeping issues; this prevents the resident's/patient's sleeping problem from becoming chronic, which will have a negative impact on his/her health.

Causes of Insomnia

Insomnia can be the result from an array of medical conditions, psychiatric conditions, poor sleeping habits, and biological factors, etc.

Causes of Insomnia From Medical Conditions

There are different medical conditions that can cause the development of insomnia, which may be:

• Lower back pain
• Chronic pain with any part of the body
• Asthma
• Allergies
• Arthritis
• Gastrointestinal Reflux Disease (GERD)
• Neurological diseases (e.g. Parkinson's Disease)

What If The Resident/Patient Becomes Depressed As A Result Of Insomnia?

Very often, depression is the result of sleeping difficulties. Severe cases of insomnia tends to be higher in people who are already suffering from a major depressive disorder. Research shows that insomnia tends to trigger the onset of depression.

There are some steps that Certified Nursing Assistants can take to help their residents/patients if depression is suspected:

• Become the patient's/resident's advocate for his/her family and friends
• Take the patient/resident for a walk frequently
• Ensure that they are keeping a regular meal schedule
• Encourage them to keep in touch with family and friends regularly.
• Educate yourself about depression and caring for patients/residents suffering from depression

Whatever is the cause of the resident's/patient's sleeping disorder, if insomnia becomes an ongoing issue, then the Certified Nursing Assistant should encourage him/ her to get in contact with their physician and their physician and their trusted family member(s) about possible treatment.

Are you dealing with or have you dealt with patients/residents who is suffering or suffered from insomnia? Please feel free to share your thoughts in the Comments box.