As we age, it is essential to make sure your loved one’s sleepwear suits his or her needs. How many times have you made the nightly visit into your elderly loved one’s room only to find them perspiring under their covers? While they might not be feeling the cold, it doesn’t mean that they are comfortable without proper sleepwear. You can help relieve these problems by choosing sleepwear for your loved ones that makes it easier for them to stay comfortable all night long. Here are some tips to keep in mind when picking out sleepwear for your elderly loved one.
Identify Likes and Dislikes
This sounds simple, but it can make a big difference. Find out what kind of sleepwear your loved one liked best in their youth. They may want to wear something similar, or it might be completely different than what they wore as a young adult, young teenager, and so on. Maybe they enjoyed gowns when they were young, and now that they’re elderly, they’d like something more conventional like nightgowns and robes that aren’t too frilly or flimsy.
Choose Comfortable Items
If your loved one’s sleepwear isn’t comfortable, they will not use it. Some adults in their golden years have sensory problems and don’t like things that feel scratchy on their skin. Hence, always go for soft fabrics. The best fabrics for sleepwear are cotton or flannel. Satin feels good on your skin but make sure it is 100% pure satin and not a polyester blend!
Assess Your Loved One’s Health condition
You need to know if your elderly loved one has breathing problems. The same goes for other physical ailments like arthritis. Is your loved one liable to pull at their clothes? Then anything with a tight collar or fastener should be avoided—choose loose clothing instead. Does your loved one have dementia? What do they sleep in already? Does it work well for them? Do they perspire easily? These are all important things to consider when choosing sleepwear for an elderly person.
Consider Type of Fabric
In many instances, it’s very easy to see that a person is wearing sleepwear. Depending on what they wear while they are asleep, however, your loved one might not be comfortable with you or others knowing that they are wearing these items. No matter what type of sleep clothing you select for your loved one, make sure that it fits well and looks good on him or her. A pair of pajamas made from terry cloth fabric has properties that provide both warmth and comfort to your loved one.
Choose the Right Size
Knowing a loved one’s clothing size is important when choosing sleepwear. As people age, it is vital to make sure their clothes fit them properly and make them feel comfortable. A good quality nightgown or gown should be loose enough to allow easy movement but not so oversized that it hangs loosely off their body. When trying out different styles and sizes of garments, remember to pick out something they can see themselves regularly wearing as well as when they go on vacation.
