If you have elderly people at home, you may have seen them tossing and turning in their beds at night. It is possible you may have heard them grumbling about how they couldn’t sleep. In such cases, you must take them to see a doctor because there is a high possibility they may be suffering from a sleep disorder.

1. Rest problems responsible for
disrupting sleep in elderly people

2. If you have elderly people at home, you may have seen them tossing and
turning in their beds at night. It is possible you may have heard them
grumbling about how they couldn’t sleep. In such cases, you must take them
to see a doctor because there is a high possibility they may be suffering from
a sleep disorder. To know about the rest disorders that disrupt sleep in old
people, read this article.
What are the common sleep disorders in older adults?
Obstructive sleep apnea:
This is a sleep disorder where the person experiences a pause in breathing
while resting at night. The condition occurs because of blockage in the upper
airway and may lead to health complications. While OSA may affect people of
any age, crossing the threshold of 40 increases the chances of this sleep
problem.

3. • Restless leg syndrome:
• The condition makes you experience an overwhelming urge to move your
legs when asleep. It may develop in people of any age but is more severe
during the late years. Middle-aged and older people experience the
sensation more frequently and for longer periods at night.
Circadian rhythm sleep disorder:
In this sleeping disorder, the sleep-wake cycle gets disrupted because of a
problem with the body’s internal clock. As people grow old, the body’s clock
turns less efficient and makes you sleep late and wake early.

4. REM Behaviors sleep disorder:
After you reach a certain age, it is possible that the brain chemical that
paralyzes your muscles during sleep stops functioning. As a result, you may
start acting out dreams which can be dangerous if you are having a
nightmare. A study observed that out of 456 participants with Parkinson’s
disease and over 60 years of age, 7.7% of people had REM behaviour sleep
disorder.
Insomnia:
If somebody is experiencing trouble falling or staying asleep and wakes up
early in the morning, it is possible he may have insomnia. The condition is
quite common in older adults and may result from certain medications or
underlying health conditions.

5. Periodic limb movement disorder:
Although experts are yet to figure out the cause of periodic limb movement
disorder, it is highly suspected that it originates from the central nervous
system.
What are some causes of sleep disorders?
Health Conditions:
In many people, health problems like Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s,
cardiovascular problems, gastronomical conditions, chronic pain, and lung
conditions cause trouble. They prevent you from experiencing a good night’s
rest.

6. Medications:
Generally, older adults are on medications for some health problems. Some of
these drugs may disrupt your sleep cycle. These include oral corticosteroids,
levodopa, antihypertensive drugs, diuretics, antidepressants, and anti-anxiety
meds.
Other reasons:
• Experts outline consuming alcohol, taking caffeine around nighttime, and
taking nicotine as some other plausible causes for experiencing sleep
problems.
So, these are a few sleep issues that are common in older adults.

7. Thank You