Noise: Residents need a restful environment, free from unnecessary noises, particularly at night when they are trying to sleep. Losing sleep can make it difficult for frail older people to recover from illness and fight off infections. One study of patients in a nursing home found that noise was one of the most important reasons for their not being able to get enough sleep.
Elderly people often have what is called sensorineural hearing loss, meaning that they can hear sounds but can’t always make out what is being said to them. Background noise can make the problem worse, so residents need a quiet environment to be able to understand conversations.
Additional Reading: Communicating With The Hearing Impaired
Night workers who are used to chatting with other workers at the nurses’ desk need to understand that it is best not to make noise in rooms where patients are trying to rest. This goes for day staff as well if patients are napping or watching televisions, talking on the telephone, reading, or just visiting with other residents or visitors. Keep talking to a minimum, using it only to communicate professionally.
When other patients have visitors, sometimes the noise level is high enough so that their conversations can be heard next door and across the hall. When that happens, it can be helpful to have visitors move their chairs closer to the patient they are visiting, so that they are not raising their voices to be heard from a distance. If the television or radio is on, ask the resident if it is alright to turn it off while the visitors are there so that they do not feel it necessary to raise their voices to be heard over the media. If that does not do the trick, respectfully ask them to speak a little more quietly.
When one resident complains about the noise from his or he neighbor’s television or radio, respectfully tell the latter that his or her television or radio will have to be turned down a little, and turn down the volume. If he or she insists on keeping the volume high, try moving the television or radio closer to the resident. If this does not help, bring the problem to the attention of the nurse in charge. Keeping the volume high could mean that the resident has a hearing problem, and might need to have his or her ears cleaned or see an audiologist for hearing aids.
If noise from the street is a problem, it is best to keep the windows closed. Some hospitals have signs that ask drivers not to make too much noise, and if your hospital does not have such a sign, and you feel that it is needed, suggest it to the charge nurse.
Lighting: Good lighting is important to prevent falls. Nursing home residents often have eye problems such as macular degeneration or cataracts, which keep light from entering their eyes. Bad vision puts them in danger if lighting is not bright enough. Report any burned out bulbs or lamps that don’t work to your supervisor. At the same time, glaring lights can hurt residents’ eyes, so make sure to report any missing or broken lampshades. If the glare from a streetlamp shines into your resident’s room, be sure to close the curtains or shades at night.
Natural sunlight can be cheering, free and ecologically sound, so open blinds and curtains when your patient is dressed. Getting natural light during the day can help residents to feel more rested when they wake in the morning. Sunlight helps us all with what is called circadian rhythm, meaning the times that we normally are awake and asleep. Getting sunlight during the daytime can help the circadian rhythm so that residents are able to sleep well and wake up feel refreshed.
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