It’s a common occurrence in homes everywhere. The family member is napping peacefully in the recliner. It looks so harmless – just another nice long snooze after lunch. But, when that snooze becomes a nightly occurrence, it is likely to trigger alarm bells for caregivers.
Although recliners provide comfort and relaxation, utilizing them as a nightly sleep option can present numerous health-related risks. To help you determine what could be causing your senior to prefer reclining over other options, why it occurs and some ideas for transitioning your senior to a healthier sleep arrangement follow:
Why Do Seniors Like Sitting in Their Recliner?
To better comprehend why seniors enjoy sitting in their recliner, we need to look beyond its comfort level. Many seniors experience difficulties with getting into and out of a normal bed due to lack of strength or flexibility.
Ease of Getting In & Out of a Recliner
Getting into and out of a recliner is significantly less strenuous than a bed. Many modern recliners are equipped with an electric lifter which makes exiting the chair simple and easy.
Difficulty Breathing
Some seniors suffer from conditions such as COPD or sleep apnea. Lying flat in bed causes difficulty breathing because their airway is constricted. Sitting upright helps to open up their airways and provides greater ease of breathing.
GERD/Acid Reflux Relief
Sitting at an angle helps prevent acid reflux by using gravity to reduce the amount of stomach acid being pushed upwards through the esophagus. Additionally, elevated positioning reduces the likelihood of stomach acid flowing upward into the throat during sleep.
Reducing Chronic Pain
For seniors who suffer from chronic pain, particularly in their backs or joints, sitting slightly angled can aid in reducing joint stress and pressure.
Hidden Health Dangers Associated With Using a Recliner
While using a recliner for a short period may provide temporary comfort; spending eight to ten hours per day in most standard living room recliners creates multiple health concerns over time.
Negative Effects on Posture
Recliners were designed specifically for resting/lounging purposes, rather than for extended periods of sleep. Most do not include specific lumbar support to promote healthy spinal alignment for a complete night of rest. Prolonged use of recliners can result in worsening posture problems affecting both the back, neck and shoulders.
Reduced Blood Flow & Increased Risk of Swelling
When sitting for hours in a recliner, the hip flexion is constant creating compression on blood vessels located near the groin area. This compression limits the ability of blood to travel from the lower extremities (legs) back to the heart. This results in swelling (fluid retention) occurring in the ankles/feet. In extreme situations, this increased pressure can lead to formation of deep vein clots (DVT), a serious condition caused by blood clotting.
Increased Risk of Developing Pressure Sores
As a recliner does not evenly distribute weight across the body surface, prolonged sitting will create high-pressure areas on the posterior surface (tailbone, buttock and heel). Lack of pressure relief created by prolonged sitting can eventually damage the skin layer resulting in development of pressure ulcers (pressure sores).
Helpful Strategies For Caregivers
You cannot force someone to go to bed. Instead of fighting with your loved one to move them into bed, attempt these helpful suggestions to assist them in obtaining a safer environment to relax/sleep.
1. Upgrading Seating Options
Instead of placing your loved one in regular furniture, consider purchasing specialized medical seating. Patient lift recliners can greatly improve overall comfort and ease of movement. These medical-grade recliners utilize advanced foam technology that assists in relieving pressure points along with offering a motorized system that safely lifts the user forward enabling them to easily stand without assistance.
2. Upgrading Sleep Environment
In order to encourage your loved one to return to their bedroom, you should create an identical sleeping environment that replicates the comfort they experienced while sleeping in their recliner.
Using bed wedges:
Wedge-shaped pillow inserts made from firm foam can elevate the upper body or knees of your loved one.
Utilizing Adjustable Beds:
Adjustable beds enable users to remotely adjust the position of the bedhead and footboard, allowing them to achieve an equivalent position as their preferred recliner.
3. Using Specialized Medical Equipment
There are no laws against renting equipment for home use. Medical beds are available for rent, even within cities such as the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Renting a Medical Bed for Home Use offers many benefits including:
Renting provides a way to test whether adjusting your sleep environment resolves your issues prior to investing financially in new products.
Medical beds rented today can provide an affordable alternative for supporting your loved ones’ comfort and health requirements.
4. Establishing Comfortable Bedtime Routine
Sleeping in the living room is sometimes related to remaining close to activity. Creating a bedtime routine is an effective strategy for helping seniors develop a consistent sleep schedule and preparing themselves for bed. Dimming the lights in the living room one hour before bedtime, encouraging them to retire to their bedroom and ensuring the bedroom remains cool and well-lit will attract them to their bedroom at bedtime.
Closing Thoughts
Seniors frequently fall asleep in their recliner simply because their traditional bed no longer meets their physiological demands. Although it may appear simpler to permit them to continue sleeping wherever they choose, it is essential to address their circulatory, skin care and spinal column needs. Understanding your senior’s physical limitations and incorporating solutions that meet these requirements — whether through replacing their current lift chair with a more supportive unit or through renting a fully adjustable medical bed — will assure that they receive adequate sleep each night.