Improving Sleep in the older adults

Improving Sleep in the older adults in long Term Care Setting

Aging and Sleep

The number of older adults in the United States is expected to grow significantly over the next several decades. In fact, while people over 65 made up about 15% of the U.S. population in 2016, they’re expected to make up over 21% of the population by 2040. This trend is also playing out globally, as the United Nations estimates that the amount of people over 60 will double by 2050 and triple by 2100 (United Nations). Aging is tied to numerous health concerns, including sleep difficulties. In fact, poor sleep can contribute to many of these problems, reducing quality of life in people over 65. Sleep is important for your body, from the brain, heart, and lungs to energy, protection against disease, and mood. It also affects your ability to function during the day. A good night’s sleep can help you learn, pay attention, create new memories, make decisions, respond quickly, be creative and solve problems (NIA, 2020).

Sleep:  Sleep is a sedentary state of mind and body. It is characterized by altered consciousness, relatively inhibited sensory activity, reduced muscle activity and reduced interactions with surroundings. Sleep is characterized by a decreased ability to react to stimuli. However, during sleep, the brain continues to display different active brain patterns. Though it may seem simple, sleep is a complex process in which multiple parts of the brain work together to produce signals that prepare the body for sleep. Your circadian rhythm, the body’s clock, provides the timing for sleep. Sleep - wake homeostasis, a state of balance, is the body’s drive to sleep that increases the longer you are awake. The signals in your body lead to sleep, including melatonin, a hormone your body releases when it gets dark that makes you feel sleepy and adenosine, a chemical that builds up in your brain while you’re awake and gets broken down while you’re asleep. A good night’s sleep depends on sleeping when your body is prepared, sleeping seven to nine hours, and getting enough of each type of sleep (NIA, 2020).