It’s a common misconception to think that seniors need less sleep than younger adults. Like younger people, older adults require seven to nine hours of sleep per night. At any age, sleep is essential to your physical health and emotional well-being. Seniors, however, are more prone to sleep disorders. In fact, one out of every two seniors suffers from sleep deprivation.

Sleeping less than seven and a half hours per day may be associated with future risk of heart disease for older people, particularly when it occurs with elevated nighttime blood pressure, according to a report in the Archives of Internal Medicine. Seniors’ sleep patterns should be checked, especially for those with high blood pressure. A combination of little sleep and overnight elevated blood pressure appears to be associated with an increased risk of disease. Getting adequate sleep is essential to preventing health conditions such as obesity and diabetes as well as several risk factors for cardiovascular disease including sleep disordered breathing and night-time hypertension (high blood pressure).

Aging itself doesn’t cause sleep deprivation. Rather, ailments associated with aging—such as arthritis, physical disabilities, respiratory problems and depression—are likely to blame. Seniors’ sleep cycles can also be disrupted by physical inactivity during the day, depression, anxiety and stress. Also, some prescription medicines taken by seniors may rob them of sleep.
Age Old Solutions For Sleep Loss

• Stay active during the day. Seniors should maintain a moderate level of exercise or activity during daytime, especially outdoors. Studies show that people who get natural daylight sleep better at night.
• Avoid consumption of caffeine and alcohol.
• Consuming coffee, tea, chocolate, sodas or alcohol in the evening can interfere with nighttime sleep, especially in older people. Ending the ritual of a “night cap” will make the night more restful. Avoiding liquids before bedtime also reduces the need to use the bathroom at night.
• Improve the sleeping environment: Experts advise that a good sleep environment is one that is quiet, dark and on the cool side. Lumpy, sagging or worn mattresses may also be part of the problem.
• Sleep separately from restless partners. People who share a bed with partners who are restless, snore or have an illness are likely to be sleep deprived. When necessary, moving to a separate room can help both partners sleep better at night.

Some causes of insomnia may be due to medications, to depression or to medical conditions that are treatable with medications. Therefore, if sleep problems persist, it pays to seek a doctor’s advice.