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

Describing current 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 >> Daytime sleep >> Daytime sleep

Daytime sleep

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

Bedroom and environment for sleep

• Clip
• Later life >> Sleep problems in later life >> Men aged 65-74 >> Mike - Interview 12 >> Mike varies his bedtime and wake up time according to whether he is working the next day, but may not go to bed earlier if he is watching something in

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 >> Women aged 75+ >> Joyce - Interview 09 >> Joyce finds that since her husband died, 5 years ago, her sleep has been quite fragmented, and she often watches television in the night.

Joyce is a retired Tailoress, although she still does quite a lot of dressmaking and sewing. She has been widowed for about 7 years and has two children and many grandchildren and great grandchildren, who mostly live quite nearby. Joyce’s sleep first changed when her husband died, and now she finds she wakes up quite a lot in the night. She does believe sleep is important and would like to be able to sleep right the way through, even if only for six hours.

• Later life >> Sleep problems in later life >> Women aged 65-74 >> Margaret - Interview 32 >> Margaret doesn’t normally watch television, but likes to be in bed in time to watch Newsnight.

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 >> Mary - Interview 05 >> Mary sometimes falls asleep watching the television, or listening to the radio, and would be woken up by the noise.

Mary is a retired Secretary and travel organiser. She lives on her own, but has a daughter and grandchildren living nearby. Mary likes to keep very active during the day and helps with looking after the grandchildren. She also attends Keep Fit and Tai Chi and likes to sew and do crafts. Mary believes sleep is very important and would like to have more sleep, but also feels that she doesn’t want to waste time sleeping as there are so many things she enjoys doing.

• Later life >> Sleep problems in later life >> Women aged 65-74 >> Juliet - Interview 07 >> The pain from Juliet’s rheumatoid arthritis sometimes wakes her up in the night and she occupies herself by listening to music, going on the computer

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 >> Carol - Interview 18 >> Carol has heard somewhere that she shouldn’t have a television in her room, but she enjoys it as it is company and entertainment for her.

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.