Statistics say that 35% of Americans report sleep quality of poor or only fair. So, more than a third of the country is sleep deprived. It's even worse for personal caregivers of terminally ill patients. Studies show that caregivers for a terminally ill patient have more difficulty sleeping. However, sleep improves after hospice is initiated.

The National Sleep Foundation (www.sleepfoundation.org) recommends 7-9 hours of sleep a night. How can we improve our sleep, or get more sleep? The NSF suggests that practicing good "sleep hygiene" can improve sleep. Here are some suggestions.

Maintain a sleep schedule. Bedtime rituals. Lighting, sounds, etc.Avoid naps, exercise dailyAvoid alcohol, and heavy meals, and caffeineAvoid electronics. Laptops, iPads, tablets, phones.

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