Falling and Staying Asleep

Falling Asleep

One of the most common difficulties reported by people over age 65 is that they have trouble falling asleep. About 13 percent of men and 36 percent of women report it takes them more than 30 minutes to fall asleep. A number of physiological changes may contribute to this problem.

Staying Asleep

Older people also often report problems staying asleep. As we grow older sleep becomes more shallow, fragmented and variable in duration. Older adults wake more frequently during the nighttime than younger people. Older people are more likely to have a variety of medical problems that can interrupt, delay or shorten sleep. For example, arthritis can cause nighttime aches and pain that disrupt sleep. An enlarged prostate or prolapsed bladder causing more frequent trips to the bathroom can contribute to sleep disturbances.

For women, menopause is often another source of sleep problems. During menopause, 75 percent of women suffer from hot flashes for an average period of 5 years. Estrogen replacement therapy can reduce the symptoms of menopause and improve the quality of sleep.

Restful Sleep

Almost everyone has an occasional night of poor sleep. However, as we grow older a good night's rest may become more elusive. Studies consistently show that up to 40 percent of people over the age of 60 report that they sleep poorly (Middlekoop, Smilde-van den Doel, et al., 1996). Overall, women report significantly poorer quality of sleep, having more difficulty falling asleep, awakening more often during the nighttime, less napping, and more frequent use of sedative or hypnotic drugs when compared to men (Middlekoop et al., 1998).

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