• Topic
• 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 >> Impact of bereavement and caring on sleep >> Impact of bereavement and caring on sleep

Impact of bereavement and caring on sleep

• 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 >> Partners, companions and pets >> Partners, companions and pets

Partners, companions and pets

• 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, who has rheumatoid arthritis, sleeps in her own bedroom so that she doesn’t disturb her husband if she is awake in the 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 >> Women aged 65-74 >> Mary - Interview 02 >> Mary doesn’t see poor sleep as an illness so she would only see her doctor for problems sleeping during difficult times, such as bereavement.

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 >> Judy - Interview 22 >> Judy cared for her brother, who had dementia, until her sleep was so disturbed the doctor suggested he be moved into a home.

Judy had a period of sleeping very badly, whilst looking after her brother who had dementia, she is now sleeping much better. She generally sleeps about 4-5 hours a night, but has always done this so feels it is the right amount of sleep for her.

• Later life >> Sleep problems in later life >> Women aged 65-74 >> Dessie - Interview 17 >> Her husband’s illness and subsequent death led Dessie to have many sleepless nights as she lay awake worrying about the future.

Dessie feels her sleep has got a lot worse, especially since she lost her husband. She finds she sometimes wakes up in the very early hours of the morning and can’t get back to sleep at all. Dessie is very active and likes to keep herself very busy, working in the garden, visiting friends and helping her family.

• Later life >> Sleep problems in later life >> Men aged 75+ >> Robert - Interview 06 >> Robert used to dread nighttime because he knew he would be up several times and he was already exhausted.

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 >> Men aged 75+ >> Robert - Interview 06 >> Robert compared his constant watching and caring for his wife at night during the latter stages of her illness to being a sentry on guard.

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 >> Valerie - Interview 11 >> Val’s sleeping problems started when she was running a care company for older people. She worried so much about her client’s wellbeing that she was of

Valerie often wakes up in the night and can’t get back to sleep. This means she will be very tired by the early evening, but will try not to go to bed too early because she doesn’t want to waste the evening.