{"id":5367,"date":"2022-03-15T20:54:35","date_gmt":"2022-03-15T20:54:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.comfortkeepers.ca\/orangeville\/blog\/seniors-and-sleep-how-much-do-they-need\/"},"modified":"2026-06-08T16:51:52","modified_gmt":"2026-06-08T16:51:52","slug":"seniors-and-sleep-how-much-do-they-need","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.comfortkeepers.ca\/orangeville\/blog\/seniors-and-sleep-how-much-do-they-need\/","title":{"rendered":"Seniors and Sleep: How much do they need?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Seniors and Sleep: How much do they need?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Seniors and Sleep: How much do they need? | If you or your loved one is over age 65, it\u2019s likely that getting enough sleep has become an issue. Seniors typically take longer to fall asleep, and often wake up during the night numerous times. These are two main reasons many seniors don\u2019t get as much sleep as they need. In fact according to an article on www.agingcare.com<\/a>, studies of adults over 65 indicated 13% of men, and 36%of women need more than 30 minutes to fall asleep.<\/p>\n

Why do seniors have more trouble sleeping?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>Several factors contribute to difficulty sleeping as one ages. Dr. Lim Li Ling, a consultant neurologist for the Singapore Neurology & Sleep Centers at Gleneagles Medical Centre, offered these as the most common reasons:<\/p>\n

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  1. The natural aging process. <\/em><\/strong>As we age, our bodies make less of the chemicals and hormones that help us sleep well, such as Melatonin. Some seniors develop sensitivity to environmental factors affecting sleep such as noise.<\/li>\n
  2. An increase in neurological and other medical conditions<\/strong>. <\/em>The parts of the brain that control sleep are affected by conditions such as Parkinson\u2019s disease or stroke. Arthritis can also play a role in sleep quality due to chronic pain. Additionally, Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD) causes one to kick involuntarily during sleep, and that contributes to daytime sleepiness.<\/li>\n
  3. The effects of medication. <\/em><\/strong>The medications that treat conditions associated with aging, and the fact that seniors are more likely to be on multiple medications, interfere with the duration and quality of sleep.<\/li>\n
  4. A higher prevalence of sleep disorders<\/strong>. <\/em>In this case, Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is the most common. OSA causes blockage in the upper air passage during sleep. Two additional sleep conditions that contribute to seniors getting less sleep are Restless Leg Syndrome and Insomnia. For men, prostate conditions cause the need to urinate frequently throughout the night.<\/li>\n
  5. Mood factors such as anxiety and depression. <\/em><\/strong>Most seniors are affected to varying degrees by the loss of loved ones, spouses and close friends. Also, as seniors face retirement and other significant life changing events, they are more likely to have trouble sleeping.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The dangers of inadequate sleep for seniors<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    \u00a0<\/strong>It\u2019s when we are sleeping that our bodies regenerate cells and clean our blood by circulating it through the liver. The need for sleep is as basic as that for water and food. Many people think it\u2019s OK to go without sleep\u2014to \u2018power through\u2019 the day anyway. But doctors warn that, just because you\u2019ve gone without enough sleep for a big part of your adult life, doesn\u2019t mean it won\u2019t impact you as you get older.<\/p>\n

    Senior adults are already prone to some illnesses, as well as falls, accidents and balance deficiencies. Not getting enough sleep just increases all these risks. There is compelling research that indicates too little sleep contributes to an increased appetite and weight gain.<\/p>\n

    While many senior adults do struggle with depression and anxiety, those without these conditions are more prone to developing them if they don\u2019t get enough sleep.<\/p>\n

    Related Article: Enhancing Seniors Well Being<\/a><\/h4>\n

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    How much sleep do seniors need?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    \u00a0<\/strong>There are differing theories in answer to this question. Much data, including information from the National Institutes on Health, suggests seniors can remain healthy with less sleep than the general population. For example while the average amount of required sleep is about seven to nine hours nightly, some sleep experts say a bit less than that\u2014maybe about 7 and a half hours on average\u2014is adequate for seniors.<\/p>\n

    Other experts report that seniors need as much sleep as they always have to function at their best. Either way, experts typically agree on three things: first, most seniors are sleep deprived; second, the sleep cycles of aging adults change; and third, the best indicator of achieving enough sleep is how one feels during the day.<\/p>\n

    According to an article written by Jennifer Dixon for WebMD, older adults slip into what is called an advanced sleep phase. When this happens the body\u2019s natural \u2018clock\u2019 desires both earlier bed and wake times. Seniors who have always been \u2018night owls\u2019 and keep their same sleep habits, may be at risk of sleep deprivation and all the health risks associated with it.<\/p>\n

    As we age, we tend to get less \u2018deep sleep,\u2019 according to an article for EverydayHealth.com, reviewed by Pat F. Bass III, MD, MPH. Additionally, Ling said it\u2019s more common for senior adults to spread their sleep out over a 24-hours period, sleeping 4-5 hours per night and taking additional naps during the day. Ling believes this habit is perfectly fine as long as the total amount of sleep is adequate.<\/p>\n

    Ling also warns that seniors should not accept a lack of proper rest and daytime sleepiness as a normal process of aging. If you or your loved one has experienced trouble sleeping for more than two weeks, a trip to the doctor is warranted.<\/p>\n

    Take steps to support healthy sleep for seniors<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    \u00a0<\/strong>Doctors suggest numerous ways to help seniors get enough sleep, and many apply to people of all ages: avoid caffeine close to bedtime, avoid large meals near bedtime, and rise and go to bed at the same time every day.<\/p>\n

    EverydayHealth.com <\/a>advises these additional habits to help foster adequate sleep:<\/p>\n