• Sleeping Stages and Need
• Airway Pressure Advantages
• Sleep Apnea Diagnosing
• Sleep Apnea Causes & treatment
• Sleep Apnea Treatment
• Causes of Excessive Sleepiness
• Child Settling Problems
• Sleep Disorders
• Sleep Disturbances
• Dreams Psychology
• What Happens During Sleep
• Excessive Sleepiness Trouble Shooting
• Common Factors Producing Insomnia
• Family Bed-Sleeping with Baby
• Teach Child Good Sleep Habits
• Know about How Babies Sleep
• How Long to Sleep and Need
• Idiopathic Hypersomnia Reasons
• Insomnia Causes
• Insomnia Treatment
• Insomnia Definition and Cause
• International Health Problem
• Medications Helps Child Sleep Better
• Medications Improves Sleep Cycle
• Hard to Get up in the Morning
• First Move Against Insomnia
• Narcolepsy Sleep Attacks
• How Narcolepsy is Diagnosed
• Know About Night Waking
• Nightmares & Terrors
• Nightmares to Frightened
• Nocturnal Myoclonus Movement
• Restore Normal Breathing During Sleep
• Oral Appliances Treatment Options
• Overcome Common Aging Sleep Problems
• Parasomnia Exam and Tests
• Pre-School Children Problem
• Factors Reducing Treatments Effects
• Restless Legs Syndrome
• School Age Children Sleep Problems
• Sleep Problems for Elders
• Sleep and Aging Problems
• Relief Social Stress by Insomnia
• Sleep Disorder FAQ
• Sleeping Related Glossary

Sleep Problems for Seniors and Elders

Several factors may contribute to the inability to sleep well as you get older. Some of the common causes include:

• Poor sleep habits - Irregular sleep-wake patterns can affect your circadian rhythm timing and make it difficult to maintain a regular sleep schedule. Other sleep hygiene issues, such as consumption of alcohol before bedtime, increased wakeful time in bed or daytime napping, can also negatively affect your ability to sleep.
• Medical illness - Certain medical conditions can also affect your quality of sleep. Specific conditions known to affect sleep include (but are not limited to): arthritis, osteoporosis, heartburn, menopause and Alzheimer's. Symptoms may make it hard to sleep or cause you to awaken frequently, ultimately shortening the duration of sleep.
• Medications - Similarly, certain medications may impair your ability to sleep well and even prove to stimulate wakefulness at night.
• Sedentary tendencies - Sedentary tendencies, common in the elderly, increase chances of experiencing insomnia. Walking or any other form of exercise during the day can help provide relief.
• Psychological distress or disorders - Psychological disorders, such as depression and anxiety, or significant life changes like the death of a loved one, moving from a family home, or physical limitations due to illness, can cause stress and keep you from a good night's sleep.
• Sleep disorders - Sleep disorders such as Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS), Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD), sleep apnea, and REM behavior disorder occur more frequently in older adults.