Background: Insomnia is common among frail older people living in nursing homes, and many are often prescribed medication. However, it may be beneficial to consider using a weighted blanket as an alternative intervention. 

Aim: The aim of the study was to explore how frail older people with insomnia experience the use of a weighted blanket when living in nursing homes. 

Methods: The study was conducted in nine nursing homes in five municipalities in the southwest of Sweden. Nineteen people were included aged 67 and older, four men and 15 women. The study had an inductive qualitative design. The semi-structured interviews were analysed with qualitative content analysis. 

Results: The results formed four categories: Experiencing proximity which raised older people's experiences of the weighted blankets' proximity that gave a sense of comfort or discomfort. Experiencing changes in sleeping patterns, raised older people's experiences of the weighted blanket influence in change sleep patterns. Experiencing conditions for use, frail older people experienced the right conditions surrounding and handling the weighted blanket. Experiencing stimulating senses: frail older people experience changes in their senses of worry, anxiety, and pain., 

Conclusions: Frail older people experience that weighted blankets can provide comfort, positively influence sleep patterns, and reduce anxiety. This intervention can be considered valuable and offers a possible alternative to medication for frail older people with insomnia. 

Purpose

The most common treatment for resident’s health problems is pharmacological. Little research has been done on how an intervention with a non-pharmacological method, such as a weighted blanket, Through the nursing staff view, we can learn how weighted blankets influence resident’s health in nursing homes. The aim of this study was to explore nursing staff’s experiences of how an intervention with weighted blankets influenced resident’s expressions of health.

Methods

The study had a descriptive qualitative design with semi-structured interviews with 20 nursing staff working in nursing homes, and an inductive content analysis was applied.

Results

The nursing staff expressed that the weighted blanket positively influenced resident’s health in the areas of sleep, physical activity, and psychological behaviour. The weighted blanket made them fall asleep faster, sleep was uninterrupted andthey felt more rested in the morning. The nursing staff observed an increased level of activity as the resident became more energetic . The nursing staff also experienced reduced negative psychological behaviours like anxiety and worrying.

Conclusion

This study indicated that the weighted blanket changed the health expression of resident in several crucial areas. Deep pressure treatment indicates an alternative health-improved treatment for resident in nursing homes. © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Background: An increasingly aging population is a global phenomenon. While considered a positive step forward, vulnerability to age-related health problems increases along with the ageing population. The aim of the study was to investigate weighted blankets’ effect on health regarding quality of life (QoL), sleep, nutrition, cognition, activities of daily living ADL and medication in older people living in nursing homes. Methods: In total, 110 older people were involved in an intervention with weighted blankets, and 68 older people completed the intervention. Measures before and after were performed regarding quality of life; QoL-AD, EQ-VAS, sleep; MISS, nutrition; MNA, cognition; S -MMSE (ADL) and medication. Comparative statistical analyses were applied. Results: After intervention with weighted blankets, health in general, such as QoL, improved. Sleep also improved significantly, especially with respect to waking up during the night. Nutrition was enhanced, health as a cognitive ability improved, and medication in the psychoanaleptic group decreased. The effect size varied between small and large. Conclusions: A weighted blanket seems to be an effective and safe intervention for older people in nursing homes, as several improvements were made regarding the health of older people. © 2022 by the authors.

Objectives: Sleep problems are a common issue among frail older people living in nursing homes. Among other causes, these problems can be due to age-related changes and chronic medical conditions. Weighted blankets can be used as an alternative to medication in treatments aimed at improving the sleep of frail older people. This study aimed to investigate the effect of weighted blankets on sleep patterns in frail older people living in nursing home.

Methods: A quasi-experimental design was adopted. The study included 65 frail older people > 65 years of age who lived in nursing homes in southwestern Sweden. Sleep was measured using actigraphy, which helped monitor time in bed, total sleep time, sleep onset latency, wake after sleep onset, sleep efficiency (in per cent) and the number of nocturnal awakenings. Health was self-rated using the EuroQol visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS), and insomnia was self-rated using Minimal Insomnia Symptom Scale (MISS).

Results: Frail older people in nursing homes benefited from the use of weighted blankets to improve their sleep quality. Frail older people experienced fewer nocturnal awakenings and fell asleep faster. Weighted blankets also improved overall experience of health.

ConclusionS: Weighted blankets can improve the sleep quality and overall health of frail older people in nursing homes. More research is needed to understand the full effects of these blankets and establish individual guidelines for their use.