Seniors and Sleep Problems

Our sleep patterns change as we age, and seniors have a harder time falling asleep and staying asleep. When your older adult must get up in the middle of the night, you may have to get out of bed as well to ensure they don’t fall while going to the restroom or try to go outside. This causes a disruption in your sleep as well.

Here are some of the most common reasons for senior sleep problems:

• Side effects from medications
• Needing to urinate more frequently
• Irregular sleep/wake schedule
• Daytime napping
• Discomfort from medical conditions
• Too much time in bed

To improve their sleep, you may need to try some different solutions. Just make sure you implement them one at a time with enough time to adjust to the change, so you know which ones work and which ones don’t.

First, write down when they fall sleep and every time they wake up for about a week to see the sleep pattern. Ask their doctor about their medications and see if the dosages can be increased or decreased. Ask if disrupted sleep could be due to pain from a medical condition and if a light pain reliever at bedtime would help them sleep better.

Limit their caffeine intake, especially during the afternoon and evening. If they like to drink tea, try to switch it to decaf. Also limit the amount of water they drink close to bedtime and make sure they try to use the restroom before retiring for the night. If it seems like they wake up because they are concerned about having an accident, suggest wearing adult diapers to bed just in case.

Keep your loved one on a regular schedule; going to bed and waking up at the same time. Limit the amount and length of naps they take; try not to let them nap in the afternoon. I know most seniors like to watch the 10 or 11 o’clock news but doing this can leave their mind racing and they will never fall asleep. Try to play some calming music or some other type of calming method prior to bedtime.

Make comfort a priority! Ensure their mattress is supportive and comfortable. Make sure they have enough blankets to keep them warm; seniors tend to be colder than we are so please keep that in mind when setting the air conditioner temperature. If it seems they are scared at night, try getting them a stuffed animal to sleep with; holding the animal may help them feel more secure and not alone. If they are having difficulty due to pain, try using pillows to prop under them and ease the pressure on the sore area(s).

Sleep is so important for everyone, and we need to ensure our loved one gets enough. If they sleep through the night, we should sleep through the night as well. Try the different techniques if they are having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep and keep a journal to see what works and what doesn’t.