Senior Services at The Miriam Hospital
The GENESIS Program
(Geriatric-friendly Environment through Nursing Evaluation
and Specific Interventions for Successful healing)
Helping Patients Sleep Better
Older patients often have difficulty sleeping in the hospital
due to noise or interruptions. Sleeping pills can be effective,
but often have in side effects. The GENESIS program strives to
promote better sleeping patterns while avoiding the use of sleeping
pills.
Common problems resulting from lack of sleep include:
-
Decrease energy
- Increased confusion or delirium
- Poor Appetite
Some Side effects of sleeping pills are that:
- The patient may be sleepy the next day
- The patient may become dependent on sleeping pills
- They may cause confusion
- They cause falls or imbalance
As an alternative to sleeping pills, nurses in the GENESIS program:
- Offer a warm drink
- Offer a back rub
- Play soft, slow music
- Adjust room temperature
- Dim the lights
- Make sure the patient is in a comfortable position
- Avoid giving the patient drinks containing caffeine and foods
with large amounts of sugar
- Avoid waking up the patient to take vital signs or give medication,
if possible.
For more information about the GENESIS program, please call Lisa
Baumhover, RN, geriatric clinical nurse specialist, at 401-793-3616.
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