Challenges of treating seniors with sleep problemsA graying population makes the issue of insomnia in the elderly an increasingly important topic for physicians, nurses, and assisted living facility staff. Researchers and doctors have difficulty determining how much of a psychiatric dimension there to insomnia, which is both a symptom of other disorders and a psychosomatic entity in its own right. A Gallup Poll in 2005 found that 25 percent of seniors think they have a sleep problem. Most people told the pollsters they were concerned about sleeping aids because of the risk of developing dependency. They also understood that sleep is important for both health and subjective quality of life. The most common sleep problem for older people is sleep maintenance insomnia. This is a complicated issue, and it's often overly simplistic to assume that insomnia has just a psychiatric or medical or psychological cause. It's pretty routine for people to experience changes in sleep architecture and circadian rhythms as they get older. Older people also frequently have other medical problems that affect sleep and require medication that may affect sleep. People have both physiological and psychological changes as they age. Sleep disruption related to dementia is of particular interest to clinicians involved with patients in long-term care facilities. Light therapy and behavior therapies are important in multimodal treatment of insomnia, and sleep hygiene includes both regular physical and social activities to preserve entrainment of circadian rhythms affecting sleep. Studies have suggested that sleep apnea and nocturnal myoclonus are especially prevalent among the elderly. People who have sleep apnea and/or nocturnal myoclonus typically have significantly less REM sleep, significantly more stage 1 sleep, and significantly more awakenings than normal sleepers. Older WomenMore women have insomnia several times a week than men. Senior women are more likely to report sleep problems over the previous several years than senior men. Sleepiness leads to weight gain by discouraging physical activity. Depressed REM sleep leads to overeating. Social expectations of women may contribute to the greater prevalence of sleep disorders. They are more likely to be the primary caregiver than men and more likely to shoulder a larger share of the housework. Researchers have also found that on average women get 5% less deep sleep on average than men. Postmenopausal women (but not premenopausal women) with sleep apnea have been found to have changes in heart EKG patterns. The changes may indicate a higher chance of heart problems.
Related article: How much sleep does a person need.
Related: Sleep Aids for Seniors The Experience of Insomnia Among Older Women Research finds abnormal sleep patterns particularly dangerous for older men
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Sleep Disorders
"It’s been a hard day’s night (John Lennon and Paul McCartney)
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