• Topic
• 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 >> Worries >> Worries

Worries

• 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 >> Margaret - Interview 32 >> Margaret spent several years in hospital and still remembers the rules and disciplines surrounding sleep and bedtimes.

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 has been diagnosed with sleep apnoea but hasn’t followed up with this treatment because he has moved away from his local hospital.

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.