• Topic
• Later life >> Sleep problems in later life >> Strategies for good sleep >> Strategies for good sleep

Strategies for good sleep

• Clip
• Later life >> Sleep problems in later life >> Women aged 65-74 >> Carol - Interview 18 >> Carol’s suggested strategy for a good night’s sleep is to not do what she does.

Carol has noticed her sleep has changed as she has got older. In particular she now finds she has to get up to go to the toilet in the night, sometimes as often as six times, which she finds very disturbing. Now Carol is retired, she finds her days vary from being very full and busy to having little planned, and she wonders whether she doesn’t sleep so well on the days when she has been less active.

• Later life >> Sleep problems in later life >> Women aged 65-74 >> Margaret - Interview 32 >> Margaret wonders whether drinking coffee and wine in the evening might be affecting her sleep.

Margaret is a retired Day Centre Manager and formerly a social worker. She spent long periods of her childhood in hospital where part of the routine was to put children outside in the fresh air. Margaret believes this still influences her now as she likes to wake up to daylight in her room. Margaret noticed her sleep started to worsen about 10-15 years ago, and used to worry about not having enough sleep, but has now found a way to cope and feels content with the amount of sleep she gets.

• Later life >> Sleep problems in later life >> Men aged 75+ >> Daniel - Interview 28 >> Daniel, who is trying to lose weight, believed it would stop him sleeping well if he ate later at night, but his practice nurse has told him it doesn’

Daniel is a retired social worker, having spent a large part of his working life with children and teenagers. He was diagnosed with sleep apnoea when his snoring at night was making him feel very drowsy during the day. His sleep is quite broken at night, and he often finds he dozes off during the day.

• Later life >> Sleep problems in later life >> Women aged 75+ >> Audrey - Interview 39 >> Audrey believes sleep is very important and would love to be able to go to bed and sleep well.

Audrey feels her sleep has deteriorated a lot in the last ten years. She rarely gets more than a few hours a night, and a really good night would be when Audrey sleeps for 4-5 hours. She would really like to sleep longer.