“Sleep is the golden chain that ties health and our bodies together.” – Thomas Dekker
Recently, the Great Plains QIN team offered a WebEx on the importance of sleep as one of the most important services that can be offered to nursing home residents. Resources, tips and best practices were shared for long-term care staff, but are applicable for all. By eliminating or minimizing night-time interruptions, we can encourage more of the restorative sleep each one of us needs to maintain and enhance our quality of life.
Sleep expert, Sue Ann Guildermann, discussed the etiology of sleep and wake and its effect on health, disease and illness; she explained the top 10 disturbances that contribute to lack of good sleep hygiene and overall wellness and shared operational actions and interventions to prevent sleep disturbances. Guildermann also correlated proper sleep practices with a reduction in falls.
“Every educational event, presented by Guildermann, is top-notch and always receives positive comments. She offers practical suggestions that one can implement in their home right away. If you are passionate about quality care for your residents, promoting restful uninterrupted sleep is key to not only reducing falls and pain, but can lessen the challenging behaviors in those with dementia. I highly recommend you keeping this training at your fingertips,” stated Lori Hintz, RN, Quality Improvement Advisor, Great Plains QIN.
This WebEx was recorded and can be accessed via our Web site. In addition, we have added several resources and handouts offered by Guildermann, including a Reference List and a Sleep Vitality Checklist.