A Peaceful Child A Relaxed Parent
Weight blankets are recommended by Sensory Integration Therapists, Psychologists and Physiotherapists. A child wrapped in a Weighted Blanket will feel safe and warm it is something that can replace hugging for him/her. A Weighted Blanket allows your child to calm down and make him/her feel more confident on his/her own. Thanks to this, parents can get some time for themselves
Learn more about the use of childrens Weighted Blankets.
Will Medicare Pay For A Weighted Blanket
The good news is, while it does depend on the coverage and the plan, Medicare and other insurance might pay for the blanket. Medicare.gov reports that, Medicare Part B covers medically necessary durable medical equipment if your doctor prescribes it for use in the home.
However, before you just assume the weighted blanket is covered, we recommend that you get in touch with a Medicare representative to ask, Will Medicare pay for a weighted blanket? If the rep says it is covered, a medical professional who is enrolled with Medicare as a DME provider could write a prescription for the blanket.
This might be the persons primary care doctor, a physical therapist, or other medical person the key is that they must be enrolled as a Medicare provider.
With prescription in hand, the senior will need to find a DME supplier who is also enrolled with Medicare. Suppliers that provide things like walkers or wheelchairs, canes, etc would also likely be able to provide a weighted blanket.
But, be sure they are enrolled as a supplier with Medicare or the blanket will not be covered.
Keep in mind that the senior will still have to pay 20 percent of the Medicare-approved amount and the Medicare Part B deductible will apply to the purchase.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Children with ADHD may experience difficulty falling asleep. Anecdotal claims suggest that weighted blankets provide sensory feedback that helps promote calm and improve sleep in children with ADHD.
A 2016 review investigated whether the use of a weighted blanket could improve sleep in children with ADHD. Due to the lack of research into this area, the review consisted of a single study from 2010. The results of this study suggested that children who used a weighted blanket fell asleep more quickly and showed a 10% improvement in attention and activity levels in the classroom.
The authors of the review note that further research is necessary to examine the potential benefits of weighted blankets for children with ADHD.
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Adaptive Utensils Curved Spoon With Non
This adaptive weighted spoon makes it easier than ever to lift and eat the food for people suffering from essential tremors, Parkinsons, arthritis, and trembling hands.
The handle of the spoon is wide, soft, and has a good grip that allows maximum user control with minimum effort.
The spoon comes with an angle adjustable feature. The angle of the head can be adjusted by 360-degree with a rotated bead to meet different needs.
The great thing about this spoon is that it comes with a wrist belt attached to the handle. This feature makes this spoon stand apart from other spoons for two reasons. First, it helps the patient to hold the spoon firmly. Second, it makes it easy to pick up the food from the plate, it wouldnt make your table dirty like other normal spoons.
The spoon is made from high quality stainless steel and polypropylene material. Like other heavy weighted spoons, it can easily be washed with hands by using soap or any dishwashing detergent. You can also wash it in the dishwasher machine.
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Parkinsons Disease Weighted Blanket: Yes Or No
Another condition that has a role in reducing a seniors movement, but in a totally different way, is Parkinsons disease. This disorder of the nervous system decreases dopamine in the brain. The condition can begin with small hand tremors and evolve into balance problems, bodily stiffness, and reduced movement and speed.
As with dementia, Parkinsons patients often experience anxiety that can keep them awake at night. Their pain and stiffness can also inhibit sleep, much like the case with those who suffer from osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.
As you can imagine then, a weighted blanket suits a senior with Parkinsons quite well. Their sensory processing , may improve after sleeping under a weighted blanket. Their anxiety might decrease as well, all leading to a better nights sleep.
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Mood Swings Stress And Depression
Losing control over your basic cognitive functions can be challenging for anyone, more so for the elderly. Adults with dementia, especially Alzheimers, often display erratic behavior owing to their mood swings. Treatment, in such cases, is a combination of prescription drugs including mood-stabilizing medicines, antidepressants, and counseling. But the medicines have their own side-effects and dont work well for everyone.
Weighted blankets work towards the same goal albeit in a natural and safe manner. The happy hormones released through deep pressure therapy help in regulating mood swings. This also controls the excessive secretion of cortisol , encouraging feelings of happiness and calm. Using a weighted blanket can feel like a warm hug which works great for people suffering from dementia, who crave constant closeness of their loved ones.
How To Use And Where To Buy
If youre wondering where to buy weighted blankets, you can purchase them online or in stores.
What are the best weighted blankets? The best weighted blankets are the correct weight for the user.;How much should your weighted blanket weight? A common recommendation is to choose a blanket that is 10 percent of your body weight plus an additional pound or two.
Take note of what a manufacturer recommends in terms of ideal weight because recommendations do vary. For example, you may want to leave off the extra pound or two if youre going to use your weighted blanket in combination with your usual duvet or comforter.
Ideally, a weighted blanket should lay comfortably snug around your whole body so it can provide gentle, even pressure all over. It should fit the width and length of your body. Weighted blankets are not typically meant to replace your current comforter, but they are available in larger sizes that match mattress dimensions. If you opt for a weighted blanked that is the size of your bed, it should not hang off the side because then it can easily slide off the bed while youre sleeping.
Weighted blankets can be entirely filled with a material liked pellets, beads, discs or even flaxseeds. They can also be filled with a mix of one of these materials and a lighter, softer material like cotton. If youre looking for a more traditional feel, you may want to opt for a blanket that has a blend of fillings.
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Is There A Better Option
In addition, keep in mind there may be better, evidence-based solutions out there for your sleep struggles, particularly when it comes to chronic insomnia, which is defined as having trouble falling or staying asleep for at least three nights a week for three months or more.
“For insomnia, the first-line recommendation now is a specific form of cognitive behavioral therapy and relaxation techniques, practices that are supported by evidence from controlled trials,” says Dr. Cusin.
CBT is typically administered in a four- to 10-week program that helps you make lasting changes to your sleep habits, including limiting the amount of time you spend in bed. This helps to train you to avoid being in bed unless you are sleeping. CBT can be challenging and typically works best when performed by a professional.
Weighted Blankets In Dementia Care
Dementia is heartbreaking for the friends and family of a senior, as they have to watch their loved one change into someone unrecognizable. While dementia is incurable, its possible to alleviate some of the symptoms that come with it through the use of a weighted blanket.
One of those more common symptoms is moodiness or agitation. The senior may also experience sleep disorders and anxiety. This Journal of Sleep Medicine & Disorders report found that when subjects used a weighted blanket, they noted better sleep quality, faster sleep, and feeling more rested the next day. This could undo the insomnia that can be caused by the anxiety and depression associated with dementia.
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Quility Premium Adult Weighted Blanket
Another weighted blanket many of my clients enjoy using is the Quility Premium Adult Weighted Blanket. They love this blanket because it comes with a removable minky duvet cover. Minky material is good for those with sensory issues. It is also super soft and comforting which is essential for adults, who suffer from anxiety, ADHD, insomnia, or chronic pain.
Another benefit of this blanket is that it comes with ties, which prevent it from sliding around on the bed. And, although this blanket adds pressure or weight to the body, it doesnt feel smothering like some of the other weighted blankets for adults.
Some clients remarked how quiet this weighted blanket is, as opposed to some of the other weighted blankets they have used in the past. They also like that the blanket isnt bulky and can lay flat on the bed.
A couple of clients even reported to me that the Quility Premium Adult Weighted Blanket helped them fall asleep quicker, reduced their tossing and turning, and helped them feel better the next morning.
Others reported that the blanket makes them feel tighter and more secure in the bed, so they were less inclined to play on their smartphones or tablets all night. It also calmed their minds, so they didnt feel the need to shoot up and start doing things in the middle of the night like before.
Especially Designed for Adults Who Suffer From:
- ADHD
Pros
Cons
Should You Use A Weighted Blanket
While there is no robust evidence that weighted blankets are truly effective, for most healthy adults, there are likely few risks to trying one other than price. Most weighted blankets cost at least $100 and often more than $200.
But Dr. Cusin says that there are certain people who should not use a weighted blanket or should check with their doctors before doing so, including people with
-
sleep apnea
-
certain other sleep disorders
-
respiratory problems or other chronic medical conditions.
Also, check in with your doctor or a trained therapist if you are interested in trying a weighted blanket for a child.
If you do decide to try a weighted blanket, be realistic about your expectations and realize that results may vary.
“Blankets may be of help for anxiety or insomnia,” says Dr. Cusin. But just as swaddling works for some babies and not others, weighted blankets won’t be a miracle treatment for everyone, she says.
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What Does It Feel Like To Have A Weighted Blanket On Top Of You
A weighted blanket feels like a warm hug on top of you. It can also feel like a hug from a loved one or a warm, snuggly blanket enveloping you. The DTP is relaxing, calming, and soothing. The most effective weighted blankets for adults provide balanced DTP across your body to ease chronic pain, reduce anxiety, and provide better sleep.
A 2015 study found that weighted blankets can help those, who suffer from sleep disorders and insomnia fall asleep more quickly and stay asleep for longer periods. Results suggest that weighted blankets can positively affect sleep quality.
Participants of the study reported that the weighted blankets were not only extremely comfortable but also helped them fall asleep more quickly and provided them with better sleep throughout the night.
According to a 2008 study, approximately 63% of the participants reported a decline in anxiety after using a weighted blanket. Also, approximately 78% of participants reported that their weight blankets were not only comfortable but also calming.
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Are Weighted Blankets Harmful To Seniors
Many people besides just the elderly rely on weighted blankets each night for their stress-busting properties, including healthy adults. Even children may like the security and feel of a weighted blanket.
Children are the most at-risk group when using these blankets, especially very young kids. They could suffocate if theyre three years old or under and the blanket is improperly weighed and/or used.
Teens, adults, and even seniors should not be at risk of suffocating, however, unless they were to pull the blanket over their head or face. We always advise people to avoid covering their head and face with a blanket, for safetys sake.
That said, according to an article from Harvard Health Publishing ,; there are certain people who should not use a weighted blanket or should check with their doctors before doing so, including people with:
- sleep apnea
- certain other sleep disorders
- respiratory problems or other chronic medical conditions.
One issue that could afflict seniors is something we touched on earlier in this article. While weighed blankets are not used as a restraint, that doesnt mean a senior will always feel like they have full range of motion if they sleep under one.
If you get a blanket thats too heavy for the senior, they could panic about all the weight on their chest or back, which could induce feelings of anxiety.
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Weighted Blankets Are Popular Sleep Aids So I Bought Two
Sleep.
It used to be something that came to me as natural as breathing. Now, it eludes me, and I struggle to get the rest my body needs.
My body is exhausted, but my mind does not agree. I think about what I should have done that day but didnt get to and what I need to do tomorrow. Something always keeps the hamster running on the wheel.
Eventually, my mind cooperates, but sometimes it is too late. My legs wake up, they jig and jive, and anxiety follows. Sleep and anxiety are not friends. They do not peacefully coexist.
After reading good things about sleep and weighted blankets, I purchased one. Weighted blankets are promoted as having calming and beneficial effects for ADHD, autism, and many other conditions including Parkinsons. My hope was to find relief for my restless legs and the anxiety that comes with them.
If you are unfamiliar with weighted blankets, they are weighted with glass beads, plastic pellets, or other fillers. The blanket provides gentle pressure over your body. In a way, it feels like a hug. The effect can be both comforting and calming.
The concept sounds simple. However, I quickly discovered a few things with my first blanket that led to the purchase of my second blanket.
All weighted blankets are not created equal and they are not one size fits all.
So, how do you know which blanket will work best for you?
What Does A Weighted Blanket Do
Similar to a massage, a weighted blanket offers deep pressure therapy, or deep pressure touch, which helps the body release serotonin. Deep pressure touch helps decrease anxiety, increase happiness, improve sleep, improve focus, improve someones ability to tolerate their current environment.
In an exploratory study, researchers found that 63 percent of study participants reported lower anxiety after using a weighted blanket, and 78 percent said the blankets were a preferred method of calming. The study was small, but it also determined that weighted blankets were safe for most users.
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What Conditions Are Weighted Blankets Good For
As we explained in the intro, there are a handful of conditions that affect seniors for which weighted blankets can be especially useful. For instance, if your elderly parent or loved one has depression and anxiety, they should try a weighted blanket. Restless leg syndrome symptoms may be lessened through one of these blankets, as well.
Although there havent been many studies done on weighted blankets, there have been a few and they show these blankets can be beneficial, in some cases. For example, a study reported on by Health Med at Indiana University found that the physical signs of stress and anxiety in the test subjects were reduced by 63 percent after using a 30-pound weighted blanket.
If used properly, weighed blankets may benefit the elderly in the following ways:
- Lessening the symptoms of some conditions
- Reducing depression and anxiety
- Increasing the quality of sleep
- Cutting down on stress
Relationship Between Weighted Blankets And Disorders
Weighted blankets have benefits such as reducing anxiety, lowering heart rate, and decreasing blood pressure. For this reason they have the potential to alleviate certain disorders, although this isnt a guarantee and heavily depends on each persons individual case. Here are some of the disorders a weighted blanket may help relieve.
- Sensory disorders
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What Is The Purpose Of Weighted Blankets For Adults
The purpose of weighted blankets is to help ease anxiety and pain, so you can fall asleep more quickly, sleep more soundly, and awaken feeling refreshed. This type of blanket improves your quality of life and sense of well-being, so you can accomplish your tasks for the day work, housework, child-rearing, etc.
Faith Factor Youth Make Weighted Blankets As Service Project
KIMBERLY Faith Factor participants are making hugs for hospice patients as one of their 2017 service projects. Sewing weighted blankets was one of the projects during the July 17-20 event in the Fox Valley.
Holy Spirit parishioner Karen Sutter assists Ian Mettelmann of St. Mary Parish in Appleton with sewing cloth strips to be made into weighted blankets for hospice patients. The three-day service project sponsored by Faith Factor, a youth ministry program made up of youth in grades six to 12 from the Fox Valley area, took place at Holy Spirit Church in Kimberly.
According to Sarah Elmer, coordinator of youth ministry at Holy Spirit Parish , the weighted blankets will go to patients in ThedaCare Hospice. Many of these patients have Parkinsons Disease, Alzheimers or other types of dementia, she explained. The weighted blankets are meant to calm tremors.
Its like a big hug, she said. While it is known that the blankets bring comfort and help these patients, they are not considered necessary medical equipment so they are not covered by insurance. Many families at this point are strapped for money, so our donation helps them out. The blankets help patients die with dignity, she said.
Elmer said the project grew out of an idea from her husband, who works with ThedaCare. I asked him for an idea of what we could do as a social justice project, she said. The hospice workers suggested the blankets and said there were eight to 12 people in hospice who could use one.
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