• Topic
• Later life >> Sleep problems in later life >> Describing current sleep >> Describing current sleep

Describing current sleep

• Later life >> Sleep problems in later life >> Going to the toilet in the night >> Going to the toilet in the night

Going to the toilet in the night

• 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 >> Men aged 65-74 >> Fred - Interview 20 >> Fred may be very tired when he gets into bed initially, but after about 5 minutes he is wide awake again.

Fred often finds it difficult to get to sleep. He also finds that if he wakes up in the night he finds it takes a long time to get back to sleep. Sometimes he comes downstairs and has a cigarette in the back garden before trying to go back up and get to sleep. Fred noticed his sleep changed after he retired and feels this may be because he isn’t quite as active.

• Later life >> Sleep problems in later life >> Women aged 65-74 >> Anne - Interview 14 >> Anne falls off to sleep okay, but then will wake up in the middle of the night.

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 >> Valerie - Interview 11 >> Val is aware that if she drinks tea after 6 o'clock this may mean she has to get up in the night to go to the toilet.

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.

• Later life >> Sleep problems in later life >> Women aged 65-74 >> Sue B - Interview 03 >> Sue B. avoids having coffee because it may interfere with her sleep, although she may drink a dandelion coffee which doesn’t contain any caffeine.

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.

• Later life >> Sleep problems in later life >> Women aged 65-74 >> Carol - Interview 18 >> Carol has noticed she wakes up more in the night now she is older, and sometimes gets up to have tea and toast.

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.