Sleep Challenges In Disability Care: How Disability Support Workers Can Help

Sleep challenges can be overwhelming for individuals with disabilities. Here are measures and how to help as disability support workers.

Resting is essential during or after daily activities. It keeps you refreshed and enables you to set out for the next day in a good shape. As such, it becomes a problem when you are unable to sleep. Or get the needed rest.

People with disabilities can also face similar challenges. That affects their quality of life and living. This can include the inability to take short sleep during the daytime or fully at night. Which in turn affects their overall behaviors and health.

One of the roles of support workers is enabling rest options for care recipients. And help improve sleeping conditions in addition to basic support provided. Even when it is minor or major.

If you are unfamiliar with why you have sleep challenges, we have broken them down below. This article also covers what can be done by your carer. Aside from the core services offered as disability support workers.

What are the Causes of Sleep Challenges in People Living with Disability?

People with disabilities can experience sleep challenges like every other person. It can result from a change in everyday activities or emerging medical-related conditions.

You can also experience sleep difficulties. During the day or at night when you expect to have more sleep.

While this challenge can be associated with disability conditions, there are various other factors that can influence the state.

Medications

Medications and treatment procedures are factors that contribute to sleep challenges. In people living with or without disabilities. The disturbance could occur as a side effect of prescriptions. Or the disruption of the physiological system, such as hormones that control sleep.

Some medications can induce sleeping or prevent adequate rest while still in the body system. This can occur from both the use of over-the-counter drugs. Or prescriptions to treat health conditions that are not disability related.

Due to their effects, the inability to sleep could become prolonged. Or continue to interfere with sleeping schedules unless dissolved from the body.

Disability Types

There are various disabilities with associated conditions in individuals. And their physiological effects vary. Some may cause an inability to sleep as part of their sidelines.

Below are common conditions that affect sleeping rate.

?Autism

Autism spectrum disorders can be associated with challenges in sleeping. It is a neurological brain disorder that affects the brain.

?Down Syndrome

For individuals with Down syndrome, they can experience disruption in their sleeping schedule. Due to facial anatomy which could be obstructive.

?Cerebral Palsy

This is one of the medical conditions affecting sleeping rate and pattern. It could cause disruption in the body functioning. Some of which include circadian rhythm disorders and sleep apnea. Insomnia can also be an associated condition in some individuals.

Stress

Individuals with disabilities may not be subject to excess stress. But a shift from daily routines or the ability to engage in certain activities can contribute to the challenge of sleeping. Whether as a young individual or an adult.

Often, anxiety and concerns cause worrying and affect sleeping schedules. Also, stress may result from stretching your body beyond what it could take severally.

Some anxieties may be due to the inability to achieve certain goals. Being exhausted from an activity and overwhelmed can also contribute to stress and the inability to sleep.

Underlying Health Conditions

Aside from diets or medications, underlying health conditions can pose a sleeping challenge. And cause you to experience little to less sleep.

While it is often not put into thought or consideration, people with disabilities are not immune to other adverse health conditions. That may cause a prolonged inability to sleep.

Some conditions like heart disease and diabetes can be sleep disruptive. While their symptoms may not be evident, they contribute to rest. And may worsen sleeping schedules if left untreated.

A more common condition is the restless leg syndrome, which causes uncomfortable sensations. With a striking urge to continuously move them.

How Can Disability Support Workers Help with Sleep Challenges?

There are various ways through which disability support workers can help with sleep challenges. These include:

Identify the Condition

One of the ways through which support workers can help with sleeping challenges in disability care is by identifying the cause. That is, understand the basics. And work on ways to solve the condition.

Ordinarily, sleeping challenges can result from various conditions. It could be natural due to disability challenges or as a side effect of your treatment process. However, support workers can help you to identify the cause. And help with the necessary care steps to take.

In some instances, sleep challenges can be resolved naturally, such as adjusting medications and changing a lifestyle. Where it cannot be self-fixed or evaluated, you can explore the services of medical professionals or disability support workers. To proffer solutions to the lack of sleep you experience.

Set Up a Sleep Routine

Setting up a sleep routine is a natural means for a healthy sleeping plan. It is also a way to help you as a care recipient by a disability support worker. To manage your daily lifestyle. And effect corrections to improve on lesser sleep time.

This can be brought about by helping clients have a regular sleeping and wake time. Both on the weekdays and weekends.

The sleep routine can be initially set up to a few hours and later extended to more hours. This helps your body’s internal clock adjust gradually to the usual sleeping times. And regulate the release of sleep hormones.

The sleep routine can also be induced by promoting more activity. During the day and limiting them towards the period of the sleep routine. Or when it is time to go to bed. Another effective technique is also managing your screen time to prevent interruption in the routine.

Assist with Exercises/Relaxation Techniques

While it can be challenging for people with disabilities to take part in exercises, disability support workers can assist you with the process. And help overcome sleep disturbances.

Exercise and relaxation influence sleeping patterns and challenges. Minor exercises, such as a consistent few walks around can improve sleeping experiences. It also helps to clear the mind. Including situations or scenarios that may cause anxiety, stress, or sadness. And prevent a seamless sleep.

With support workers, you can overcome sleeping challenges as a disability care recipient. By encouraging relaxation techniques. This can be through helping you with a deep breathing mechanism or muscle relaxation. Or assisted movements around your immediate environment.

Create a Sleep-Friendly Environment

The environment contributes to the rate at which individuals sleep. Whether as a disabled individual or otherwise. The human body naturally craves a comfortable place for rest. And it can cause a sleeping challenge on occasions when it isn’t comfortable.

From the bedroom to the bed, creating a sleep-friendly avenue contributes to breaking out of sleep challenges. And with an extra conducive place, the body becomes more relaxed to sleep.

Support workers can evaluate your environment for needed changes. Or various factors that affect your sleep, including excessive lighting. And consider reforming the space to become more accommodating for sleeping.

These may involve reviewing and modifying your room temperature. Or noise levels and distractions during bedtime.

Encourage Healthy Lifestyle

The daily lifestyle of individuals with disabilities contributes to sleeping challenges. As disability support workers, a way to provide help is by monitoring and providing necessary guides - from diet to basic activities. And help make changes geared towards a healthier living.

Support workers can help you set up a healthy lifestyle through diets. Such as a balanced diet during the day and non-heavy meals at sleeping hours. This also includes filtering out stimulants or unhealthy cravings. That induces or prevents sleep which may affect your natural sleeping condition.

Also, carers can help you work on a healthy lifestyle by disengaging you from tiring activities. That causes immense stress on your body. This can involve promoting more physical activity. And limit spending much time in a position.

Consultations and Appointments

Consulting medical professionals or other services can be stressful for individuals with disabilities. As such, support workers and your care provider can help you schedule appointments and explore services. Especially when your sleep disturbance is disability-related and can be catered for under NDIS disability-related health support.

You can receive funding support as a NDIS participant to resolve your medical condition. And receive recommendations or treatments from medical professionals that may last for weeks or months to treat the sleeping disorder. With the aid of your carer.

This care also includes assistance with the use of prescribed medications as an alternative treatment. And for treating sleep challenges or deprivation.

Recommendations for Getting Good Sleep

Sleeping well at night is subject to different recommendations. And the habit you frequently adopt when it is time to go to bed.

Below are major recommendations for a good sleep. During the day and at night.

Sleeping Habit

It is important to make yourself comfortable while going to bed to naturally observe rest. And not depend on external factors. Except when there are challenges.

Getting a natural sleep helps put you in a stable state of mind. And contribute to a healthy life as much as possible. Also, planning a workable routine or schedule for your bedtime is helpful. Over time, it becomes the natural time to go to bed.

As an individual with disability or disability support workers, limiting the stress or activities during bedtime also cuts down on sleeping challenges. And help form good sleeping habits.

Sleeping Hours

Short naps are good for taking a break from the day’s activities. However, it is appropriate to get ample hours of sleep daily. Whether as an individual with a disability or not.

Besides repairing cells, long sleep hours make you feel better. And contribute to the expected effect of medications used for disability-related challenges.

Ordinarily, it is ideal that you get seven to nine hours of sleep at night. This can be an addition to afternoon naps or as required by your body system.

It feels relieving when you sleep and your body is at ease after waking up in the morning. Although inadequate rest can be a discomfort and challenge - sleeping for hours without getting relieved could be a sign of an underlying medical condition.

Comfortable Space

Resting and sleeping in a comfortable space is essential as an individual with a disability. That is, a space that lets you spread out and relax your body comfortably, including muscles.

Sleeping enables relief and is therapeutic. And it can only be enjoyed as such when you rest in a comfortable medium. Even so, your rest space determines the overall sleeping duration.

A typical space for resting should be ventilated and not constricted. This further contributes to a good sleeping session. Whether for only a few hours or an extended period of time at night.

The Importance of Rest and Sleeping

Sleeping is one of the ways to stay healthy and refresh your physiological structure every day. It is an important practice for individuals with disabilities. And those having sleeping challenges. It is also a part of daily living and recuperation.

While resting hours may not be static, sleeping is essential for the brain and mood control. Some disabilities cause fatigue. However, inadequate rest can worsen the tiredness.

Sleeping adequately promotes rest. And allow you to do more in your day-to-day activities. It also limits mood changes. And ensures increased cognitive ability while reducing the risk of health disorders.

Conclusion

Sleep is important and cannot be overlooked when you are unable to rest. Every individual requires adequate sleep. To maintain a positive physical and mental state.

Support workers can help disabled people navigate sleep disorders. And walk you through the challenge, whether it is acute or chronic.

You can always speak with your carer, detailing your sleeping condition. Or find reliable disability support workers near you to help resolve the challenge if you do not have one.