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Sleep problems in later life

People's stories

Men aged 65-74

Peter - Interview 19

Peter - Interview 19

Age at Interview: 66
Sex: Male
Background: Married, 2 children, retired Systems Engineer

Brief outline:Peter sometimes finds it difficult to get to sleep and stay asleep because of a shoulder injury and lower back pain. He only very occasionally dozes off during the day, but sometimes might if he has been active, or has gone for a long run. Peter feels that there are times in his life when he has more to worry about, and this will most likely affect how he sleeps.

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Peter would only go to his doctor about problems sleeping if he wasn’t able to do all the things he needed to during the day.
Print How bad will it have to be for you to go to the doctor and say I need help now? Peter: I don’t know. Is it more about the length of time or the disturbance? Peter: I think it would be a case that I wasn’t coping in the day. Right. Okay. Peter: Coping with what I wanted to do in the day. Wasn’t able to drive or walk somewhere I needed to go. Wasn’t able to study. I started to read and I fell asleep too often. Then that would be your trigger say for going to the doctor. Peter: Yes. I think so. You know, if I am not doing what I want to do. I am not able to generally cope I think that would be the trigger. Not the sleep itself. I don’t see why a lot of elderly people complain about not sleeping at night. If they are getting enough sleep and able to cope I don’t see the problem. Your Dad used to complain didn’t he and I thought what is he doing, what's the bother? He can doze in the day, just doze in the day, why bother about sleeping at night? Heather: It wasn’t stopping him doing anything he wants.

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