Is it True That Seniors Sleep Less?
March 14, 2025
It’s a common belief that seniors just naturally sleep less than they did when they were younger. Unfortunately, this is pretty much a myth for most people. Some seniors do sleep less than before, but there might be some big reasons that’s happening. Home care assistance can do a lot to help seniors notice what’s happening with their sleep habits and work with them to develop better sleep habits.
Sleep Patterns Do Change
Sleep patterns don’t stay static over the span of someone’s life. They do change, especially as hormone levels change, and seniors have different needs in terms of sleep. There isn’t one single recommendation for every senior, either. Some seniors may need less sleep than others, so it’s a highly individualized number for everyone.
Circadian Rhythms Change
The body’s internal clock, or the circadian rhythm, can change with age as well. Seniors may find that it’s harder to stay asleep at night or to go to sleep when they want to. When seniors don’t have good routines around sleep, as can happen when they stay up too late and nap too long during the day, their circadian rhythms can feel out of sync.
Mental Health is Important
Seniors may be experiencing more mental health issues than they have in the past, like anxiety and depression. Isolation and loneliness can also lead to sleep problems. If seniors don’t have a way to cope with those issues, then they’re more likely to keep experiencing trouble with sleep quality. Elder care providers can help seniors cope with many of these issues, even if what seniors need most is companionship during the day.
Physical Health Can Affect Sleep
Chronic health issues, like diabetes and heart disease, can also affect sleep quality. Sleep apnea, in which seniors stop breathing periodically during sleep, can also cause sleep issues. Getting these health issues under better management can do a lot to help seniors get not only more sleep but also better quality sleep. If seniors take medications for health conditions, side effects from the medications may be playing a role in their sleep problems. Ruling out problems with any of these factors can help seniors get the sleep they want.
Addressing Sleep Changes
One of the things that seniors need to be aware of is that changes to their sleep patterns and habits may indicate other issues. If they are suddenly sleeping less or experiencing poor-quality sleep, it’s a good idea to mention it to their doctors. Ruling out bigger health problems is important to help seniors stay as healthy as possible. Home care assistance can help seniors keep track of their sleep in a diary or log, which is a great source of information for doctors and healthcare providers.
Just because seniors sometimes sleep less doesn’t mean that it’s normal or they should just accept these changes in their sleep patterns. Home care assistance offers seniors a variety of different types of support, including noticing changes and recommending solutions that might help.
If you or your loved one is looking for Home Care Assistance in Sunnyvale, CA, please call Familiar Surroundings Home Care.
Santa Clara County: (408) 979-9990
San Mateo County: (650) 353-9777
Santa Cruz County: (831) 480-3990