Insomnia in Seniors

One of the biggest, yet often overlooked issues impacting the senior community today is undoubtedly insomnia. This sleep ailment is more than just the occasional bad night of sleep. It is a serious issue that can prevent any senior from getting the rest they need, and it comes with a bevy of very serious side effects. The average senior needs between 7-9 hours of sleep per night. When a senior is unable to get that much sleep, it can severely impact their overall health and well-being. It can cause issues with irritability, compromise the immune system and even lead to depression.

Understanding insomnia, it's underlying causes and the available treatments. While more than half of seniors today report issues with falling and staying asleep, insomnia is not a normal part of aging and it doesn't have to be part of the average senior's life.

What is Insomnia?

Generally speaking, insomnia is classified as either a problem falling asleep within 45 minutes of laying down to rest, or a problem with staying asleep during the night. Some seniors only deal with one type of insomnia, while others deal with both. When either of these sleep issues occur, it ultimately impacts the individual's ability to get on a normal sleep cycle and it prevents the body from getting the rest that it needs.

When insomnia occurs nightly for a month or more, it is known as chronic insomnia. Seniors who simply struggle with sleep every once in a while have what is known as transient insomnia. Many seniors are unaware that they have a serious problem forming and may just think that their struggles with sleep are normal. This is why it is so important for caregivers and loved ones to be on the lookout for some of the different symptoms of insomnia.

• Waking up early in the morning and being unable to fall back asleep
• Changes in mood
• Irritability
• Depression
• Wandering at night
• Late night eating
• Night falls
• Drowsiness
• Falling asleep during normal daytime activities
• Complaining about being up all night
• Accidents from confusion or sleep deprivation
• Trouble concentrating
• Memory loss

For seniors who are staying in an assisted-living facility or nursing home, it is important that their family members and loved ones are speaking with a nurse on staff about potential sleep issues. The symptoms of insomnia can vary from person-to-person and can sometimes be confused with aging, memory loss or dementia. This is why proper investigation and ultimately a proper diagnosis from a medical professional is so important.

What Causes Insomnia?

In most cases, particularly those involving seniors, insomnia is actually a secondary-condition or a disorder that occurs because of another health problem. In some situations, handling the primary health issue will ultimately cure the insomnia. Sleep issues such as insomnia, night terrors and sun-downing can also be associated with dementia or Alzheimer's disease, and while the primary cause of this insomnia may not be curable, there are treatments that can help those with dementia get the sleep that they need.

One of the reasons that seniors are so prone to insomnia is due to the natural changes that occur in the brain as the body ages. As we age, the internal clock in the brain starts to naturally shift to an earlier sleep cycle. This is why so many seniors joke about eating early and going to bed early. However, these shifts can sometimes take the opposite effect and make it difficult for seniors to fall asleep.

With more and more seniors taking medications for a number of health issues, many researchers are finding that certain prescriptions, or mixtures of prescriptions may be to blame for sleep problems. However, in most cases, there are environmental factors that ultimately lead to issues with insomnia. The good news about these environmental factors is that they can often be changed, meaning the insomnia can be treated without medical attention. Here are some of the environmental issues that may be causing insomnia in many seniors:

• Irregular scheduling, such as eating, napping and waking up at different times every day.
• Stress, depression and anxiety.
• Alcohol consumption.
• Poor hygiene.
• Drinking liquids before bed that causes frequent urination.
• Consuming stimulants such as coffee or nicotine before bed.
• Pain.

Taking care of these common issues can many times remedy a senior's sleep problems and help them get the regular rest that they require.

How Can Insomnia Be Treated?

There are a number of different ways that today's medical professionals will ultimately approach insomnia treatment. However, most will begin with a proper diagnosis. A physical exam that includes information on medical history, a sleep diary and even a professional sleep study may be conducted in order to get a better idea of the actual sleep problem and how severe the insomnia is.

Typically, most medical professionals will begin by suggesting natural approaches to improving sleep cycles. This may include changing environmental factors, helping seniors get on a pre-bed routine or changing their diet. When approaches such as this don't work, other medication may be prescribed. While some over-the-counter sleeping aids can provide a temporary relief for sleep challenges, most medical professionals do not recommend these among seniors as they don't provide a real solution to the problem. Sleeping pills may also negatively interact with other medications.

There are some prescription grade-medications that doctors can prescribe to help treat some of the issues surrounding insomnia. Typically, these medications are some type of benzodiazepine hypnotic, non-benzodiazepine hypnotic or a melatonin receptor. These medications are typically effective, but again can come with side effects and are typically not long-term solutions.

The good news is more and more doctors are considering cognitive and behavioral treatments such as relaxation training, breathing exercises, meditation and behavioral therapy. These therapies can take a while to work, but they are typically very safe and very effective. Many times, these approaches are effective in safely helping seniors overcome their sleep troubles and finally get the quality night rest that they need to be their healthiest.