Difficulties with sleep are common as patients near the end of life for many reasons. Thankfully, hospice is able to alleviate insomnia and sleep disorders, helping patients to get their much-needed rest. Here are some of the ways that hospice can improve sleep.

- Hospice can treat symptoms that are keeping the patient awake. One of the reasons that sleep is challenging for many patients who are approaching the end of life is because symptoms causing pain and discomfort are keeping them awake. Hospice can treat those symptoms, alleviating them. This can make it easier to fall and stay asleep.
- Hospice can directly medicate for better sleep. Sometimes, treating other symptoms is enough to help patients sleep. But if it is not, or if the insomnia is a primary symptom rather than a secondary one, hospice can administer sleep medications to patients. If one of a patient’s medications is what is keeping them awake, hospice can also help them explore alternatives that may be less disruptive to their rest.
- The patient can sleep where they are most comfortable. For many people, it is much easier to sleep at home than it is in a hospital room or other setting. The majority of hospice care takes place at the patient’s home, letting them remain in that restful environment. In fact, many patients are able to spend more time at home once they have started hospice than they were spending before.
- Through holistic care, hospice can ease anxiety. Something else that can keep patients awake at night is racing thoughts and anxieties. Hospice is a holistic care service that treats the body, the mind and the spirit. Counselling services can help patients to work through their challenging emotions and unresolved issues in life. This can sometimes improve sleep.
- Hospice can also help caregivers get more rest. Before a patient enters hospice, the primary caregiver(s) are generally family and friends. However enthusiastic caregivers may be, there is no denying that caregiving is hard work that takes a toll. Both the time involved, and the stress can erode caregivers’ sleep. Hospice staff take over a lot of care duties, which helps free up caregivers’ time and reduce their stress. In addition, one of the levels of care in hospice is called respite care. Through respite care, the primary caregiver can take a few days off to rest and recharge while hospice temporarily takes over their duties.
Learn How We Can Help You and Your Loved Ones
Good sleep is important both for functioning, and for quality of life. Promoting healthy sleep is one of the many ways that hospice care can improve situations for patients and their families.
To find out more, please give us a call at (470) 395-6567. We provide care to patients and
their loved ones throughout the Atlanta metropolitan area.