Worries

Later life >> Sleep problems in later life >> Bedroom and environment for sleep >> Bedroom and environment for sleep

Bedroom and environment for sleep

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

Strategies for good sleep

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

Attitude to sleep

Later life >> Sleep problems in later life >> Dreams >> Dreams

Dreams

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 >> Women aged 65-74 >> Anne - Interview 33 >> Anne finds that her problems seem much greater in the night, and they sometimes develop into nightmares.

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 >> Carol - Interview 18 >> Carol always likes to have six pillows on her bed, and will even ask for extra pillows when she is staying at a hotel.

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 >> Anne - Interview 14 >> Anne can’t sleep when her husband has the light on to read, unless she is very sleepy.

Anne is a retired Education Adviser, but is still working part-time writing a book. Anne likes to play golf at least once a week, but has recently had some injuries which have prevented this. She also likes to keep active by walking. Anne finds she now wakes up early in the morning and would very much like to be able to sleep in for longer.

Later life >> Sleep problems in later life >> Women aged 65-74 >> Margaret - Interview 32 >> Margaret often wakes up in the night and reads, sometimes two or three times a night.

Later life >> Sleep problems in later life >> Women aged 65-74 >> Margaret - Interview 32 >> Margaret finds the best strategy for getting back to sleep if she wakes up in the night is to read a boring book.

Later life >> Sleep problems in later life >> Men aged 65-74 >> Mike - Interview 12 >> Mike feels sleep is not at all important, although resting is, and he would much rather not have to waste time asleep.

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+ >> William - Interview 38 >> If William has been mentally active, such as reading a challenging book, he will dream a lot more.

William lives with his partner and has been retired for about 14 years. He likes to keep active by swimming four days a week and going to a gym class one day a week. He also attends art classes and is a member of a local literature club. William has noticed a change in his sleep over the last couple of years in that he finds he is having very vivid and sometimes difficult dreams. He notices he also has to get up now in the night because of cramp or to go to the toilet, which he never used to do.

Later life >> Sleep problems in later life >> Women aged 65-74 >> Sue B - Interview 03 >> Sue B. has a variety of suggestions for helping with poor sleep.

Sue B. lives on her own in a small, friendly village. She has 4 children and 7 grandchildren. She recently gave up her job as a provider of supplies to pre-school groups, but still works part-time making scarves which she sells through Craft Fairs. Sue B. is very active, often taking several walks a day, sometimes swimming and bicycling. She is also a retired Church Warden. Sleep is very important to Sue B., and she loves waking up after a very good night’s sleep.

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