We have officially sprung one hour forward for Daylight savings! While having longer days is great, the time change can adversely affect some people, especially seniors.
- Sleep
One of the biggest problems is that sleep patterns may be interrupted. Even minor changes in sleep schedules can cause grogginess and loss of mental acuity. Besides sleeping at night, you should also consider naps. If your senior loved one has a napping schedule, it is important to stick to the schedule and not over or under nap.
- Driving
Tired drivers and an increase in people late for work become a hazard on the roads right after daylight savings.
- Meals
It is important to keep elderly loves ones on a fixed eating schedule. It can be difficult to convince some seniors to eat when they are not hungry, but skipping meals can prolong the adjustment period. Try to maintain a regular schedule, even if you decide to go with smaller meals or lighter fare.
- Medications
Taking prescription medications at the proper times is crucial to senior health. So make sure that schedules are adjusted to account for the time change.
While most people most people can adjust after a few days or extra cups of coffee, it may take longer for seniors to get used to the time change. Keeping to their usual routine will greatly reduce any negative affects the change may have.