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Sleeping Habits in the Elderly

Many teenagers and young adults can sleep for eight or more hours per night without interruption. As you age, however, your sleep patterns change. Elderly people have significantly different sleeping habits than their younger counterparts. Hormonal changes, health and circadian rhythm differences cause the elderly to have altered sleep patterns.

  1. Length

    • Elderly people sleep for shorter amounts of time than younger adults. A 2008 study by Elizabeth Klerman at Harvard Medical School allowed older and younger adults to sleep uninterrupted for as long as they wanted. The researchers found that the elderly slept about 90 minutes less than young adults. Although older people often complain of being unable to sleep through the night, this may be due to a decreased need for sleep rather than an inability to sleep. The elderly may need only seven or eight hours of sleep to feel fully rested, while younger people often need nine or more hours.

    Quality

    • Many elderly people report that their sleep is fitful or restless. Older adults are more likely to wake up in the middle of the night or experience insomnia when trying to go to sleep. Sleep difficulties may be due to chronic medical problems, mental health issues, pain, need for frequent bathroom breaks or other common ailments among the elderly. Older adults often take naps during the day to make up for lost sleep at night.

    Sleep Disorders

    • Certain sleep disorders are more common in the elderly, affecting their sleeping habits. Sleep apnea affects 25 percent of people 60 years and older. People with sleep apnea have breathing problems during sleep, causing them to have poor sleep quality. Elderly people may also experience periodic limb movement disorder, in which frequent muscle twitches keep them awake. If you feel chronically tired and do not sleep well, consider visiting a sleep clinic for an evaluation.

    Considerations

    • Although elderly people tend to sleep less and have poor quality sleep, certain lifestyle changes may improve your sleeping habits. Limit your caffeine intake to one or two servings in the morning. Try to eat healthily throughout the day and avoid eating a large meal late in the evening. Performing moderate physical activity every day may help you sleep through the night. If these lifestyle changes do not help your sleep problems, talk to your doctor. Certain medications for chronic medical conditions may cause poor sleep patterns.

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