


 


The quest for a better night’s rest


 is important at any age, but doing so can become tougher as you get older. According to the National Sleep Foundation, older adults often find it harder to fall and remain asleep, experience higher rates of sleep disorders than younger adults and suffer higher rates of insomnia. Research suggests that this is in large part due to


the prevalence of chronic physical and psychiatric ailments older adults experience and side effects from the medications used to treat them. But there can be other causes, as well. Older adults tend to be lighter sleepers and more sensi- tive to noises and changes in their environment. Women going through menopause may wake dur-


 | MATTERS OF HEALTH


ing the night due to night sweats. “There are lots of reasons why older adults have


problems with sleep,” says Michael V. Vitiello, PhD, a professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Ger- ontology and Geriatrics at the University of Wash- ington and Co-Director of the Northwest Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Center. “The important thing is to parse out the causes and treat them.”


 “If you’re having chronic difficulty sleeping, the first thing to do is discuss it with a physician,” says Dr. Vitiello. “If it’s the result of a sleep disorder, you need to get that diagnosed and treated. All sleep


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