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• Later life >> Sleep problems in later life >> Worries >> Worries

Worries

• Later life >> Sleep problems in later life >> Going to the doctor or chemist >> Going to the doctor or chemist

Going to the doctor or chemist

• Later life >> Sleep problems in later life >> Attitude to sleep >> Attitude to sleep

Attitude to sleep

• Clip
• Later life >> Sleep problems in later life >> Men aged 75+ >> Les - Interview 27 >> Les often wakes in the night worrying about his many health problems, and how his wife will manage if he has to go into hospital.

Les has had several very interesting and different jobs in his lifetime, ranging from being in the army, to being a theatre manager, working in the Sudan, and being a driver. He only retired finally when he was 80. Les has several health problems which contribute to making his sleep very disturbed, but he won’t let his poor sleep affect what he does during the day.

• Later life >> Sleep problems in later life >> Women aged 65-74 >> Juliet - Interview 07 >> Juliet describes how her physiotherapist suggested she take a nap in the afternoon to help her cope with her health problems.

In addition to her formal career, Juliet has had a range of voluntary jobs such as Chairman of the Preschool Playgroup Association. Juliet was also employed as an Ofsted Lay School Inspector. Juliet is an avid silver surfer and thoroughly enjoys online shopping and writing emails. She has had rheumatoid arthritis for about 15 years and has also been diagnosed with diabetes, both of which interfere with her sleep.

• Later life >> Sleep problems in later life >> Men aged 75+ >> Les - Interview 27 >> Les believes sleep is as important as food, because not having sufficient sleep or food affects your health.

Les has had several very interesting and different jobs in his lifetime, ranging from being in the army, to being a theatre manager, working in the Sudan, and being a driver. He only retired finally when he was 80. Les has several health problems which contribute to making his sleep very disturbed, but he won’t let his poor sleep affect what he does 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.

• Later life >> Sleep problems in later life >> Women aged 65-74 >> Anne - Interview 33 >> Anne knows that if she doesn’t have enough sleep she is very grumpy in the morning.

Anne is married and has three children, and six grandchildren. Anne retired from teaching some years ago and now works hard at keeping active, particularly enjoying spending lots of time in her garden. Anne feels that sleep is a waste of time and would much rather have more time to do the things she enjoys doing, such as writing and doing research.

• Later life >> Sleep problems in later life >> Men aged 65-74 >> Mike - Interview 12 >> Mike did mention his poor sleep to his doctor whilst he was attending an appointment during a check up, but didn’t feel it important enough to pursue.

Mike works part-time as a test centre administrator. He has noticed a change in his sleep as he has got older, noticeably that he has periods of deeper sleep, but he doesn’t believe he sleeps any longer than he used to. Mike noticed his sleep changed when he first had children, and finds that pattern has continued.

• Later life >> Sleep problems in later life >> Men aged 75+ >> Robert - Interview 06 >> Robert’s first place to go for help with sleep would be his doctor, not the chemist, because he feels they know more about him and his health.

At the time of his interview Robert had recently lost his wife and was still trying to cope with the aftermath of her illness and his subsequent bereavement. Robert has found that he wakes up quite a lot in the night and hopes that, with time, his sleep pattern will settle back into the routine he had before his wife was ill. Robert likes to keep very active and enjoys engineering problems and making things. He has recently started to cycle again.

• Later life >> Sleep problems in later life >> Women aged 65-74 >> Mary - Interview 02 >> Mary also wasn’t sure whether it was the menopause that was the start of her sleeping problems, or having to be alert listening for her children.

Mary often finds it very difficult to get to sleep, sometimes taking up to an hour to fall asleep. Mary finds that relaxation and meditation exercises help her to fall asleep, and help her get back to sleep if she wakes up in the night. Even if she has not had a good night Mary finds it impossible to take a nap during the day, although she may put her feet up in bed to have a rest instead. Mary hasn’t been to the doctor about her sleep, but has tried some over the counter remedies.

• Later life >> Sleep problems in later life >> Women aged 65-74 >> Juliet - Interview 07 >> Although Juliet did have her sleep disturbed at night by pain, she also felt that hot flushes made her toss and turn at night.

In addition to her formal career, Juliet has had a range of voluntary jobs such as Chairman of the Preschool Playgroup Association. Juliet was also employed as an Ofsted Lay School Inspector. Juliet is an avid silver surfer and thoroughly enjoys online shopping and writing emails. She has had rheumatoid arthritis for about 15 years and has also been diagnosed with diabetes, both of which interfere with her sleep.

• Later life >> Sleep problems in later life >> Earlier times of poor sleep and their impact on sleep now >> Earlier times of poor sleep and their impact on sleep now

Earlier times of poor sleep and their impact on sleep now

• Later life >> Sleep problems in later life >> Men aged 75+ >> Les - Interview 27 >> Les believes getting enough sleep and eating the right kind of foods are equally important in terms of health.

Les has had several very interesting and different jobs in his lifetime, ranging from being in the army, to being a theatre manager, working in the Sudan, and being a driver. He only retired finally when he was 80. Les has several health problems which contribute to making his sleep very disturbed, but he won’t let his poor sleep affect what he does during the day.

• Later life >> Sleep problems in later life >> Health, illness and pain >> Health, illness and pain

Health, illness and pain

• Later life >> Sleep problems in later life >> Women aged 65-74 >> Anne - Interview 33 >> Anne strongly believes in a link between eating well, getting enough exercise and sleeping well, but is disappointed with her sleep at the moment.

Anne is married and has three children, and six grandchildren. Anne retired from teaching some years ago and now works hard at keeping active, particularly enjoying spending lots of time in her garden. Anne feels that sleep is a waste of time and would much rather have more time to do the things she enjoys doing, such as writing and doing research.

• Later life >> Sleep problems in later life >> Men aged 75+ >> Les - Interview 27 >> Les believes getting enough sleep and eating the right kind of foods are equally important in terms of health.

Les has had several very interesting and different jobs in his lifetime, ranging from being in the army, to being a theatre manager, working in the Sudan, and being a driver. He only retired finally when he was 80. Les has several health problems which contribute to making his sleep very disturbed, but he won’t let his poor sleep affect what he does during the day.

• Later life >> Sleep problems in later life >> Women aged 65-74 >> Anne - Interview 33 >> Anne strongly believes in a link between eating well, getting enough exercise and sleeping well, but is disappointed with her sleep at the moment.

Anne is married and has three children, and six grandchildren. Anne retired from teaching some years ago and now works hard at keeping active, particularly enjoying spending lots of time in her garden. Anne feels that sleep is a waste of time and would much rather have more time to do the things she enjoys doing, such as writing and doing research.

• Later life >> Sleep problems in later life >> Women aged 65-74 >> Jacqui - Interview 35 >> Eating well, exercising and sleeping well are all important to Jacqui for being able to do the things she needs and wants to do.

Jacqui lives with her partner and works part-time as a care worker. She slept well as a child, but noticed a dramatic change in her sleep when she became a stewardess, and when she got married. She believes the different shifts she worked and jet lag caused a change in her sleeping pattern. Eventually she went to the doctor for some mild sleeping tablets, which she took occasionally over the years. Currently Jacqui is sleeping much better and has not taken any sleeping tablets for a few years.

• 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.

• Later life >> Sleep problems in later life >> Retirement and current employment >> Retirement and current employment

Retirement and current employment

• Later life >> Sleep problems in later life >> Men aged 65-74 >> Ronald - Interview 01 >> Ronald thinks his sleep has changed since retirement for several reasons, including changes in his routines and poorer health.

Ronald finds he usually gets about 6 ½ to 7 hours sleep a night, but this is disturbed by having to get up and go to the toilet. Although he usually drops off to sleep straight away, occasionally he finds he can’t get to sleep, or wakes up in the night and can’t get back to sleep, so on these occasions he tries counting sheep, but this doesn’t always work. Ronald noticed a change in his sleep pattern when he took early retirement because of health problems, and the change in his daily routine.