Caregiver Series - Module 4 -
Looking after you: Lessons from the airline industry
Caregiver Series - Module 4
Chapter 3: Sleep disturbances
Introduction
I thought I was getting enough sleep – I went to bed at 10 p.m. every night and didn’t have to get up until 6 a.m. Yet I always woke up tired and headachy and was always sleepy in the afternoon.
Sleep, or a lack of sleep, has a huge impact on our lives. Adequate sleep helps us to stay healthy and function well. If you are caring for someone at home, your sleep may be disturbed, and you may not be getting enough sleep.
Is your sleep affected?
Do any of the questions below apply to you? Click the arrows to see.
Has there been a change in how long or how well you sleep?
Do you have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep?
Are you waking earlier than usual or not feeling rested in the morning?
Do you feel sleepy during the day?
Caregivers often minimize their sleep problems and hesitate to talk about them with the healthcare team. You may feel your sleep is less important than what is happening with the person who is ill, or you may think you can get by with limited sleep
and catch up in the future. Unfortunately, this lack of sleep is more likely to catch up with you.
