Power naps good for active older people

Disturbed sleep patterns are commonplace among older people. Sleep can begin to fall off after 50, but people are individuals and sleep patterns and requirements vary.

Research indicates that a number of older people feel they would like to nap during the day but they don't want to appear lazy to others so they hold off from those vital forty winks.

However, many older people would really benefit from a "power nap" as then they will be much more able to take part in social and recreational activities as well as doing all those tasks they need to do during the day. A nap can only be a good thing and older people should not worry about social expectations regarding lifestyle.

The study, conducted at the University of Surrey, also found that many older people with disturbed sleep patterns at night would only fall asleep in front of the television when succumbing to sudden tiredness. An afternoon nap could be just what they need.

Researcher Susan Venn of the Department of Sociology said: "Sleep is central to health and well-being, but as people get older, the quality of their sleep can deteriorate. They shouldn’t feel guilty or think themselves lazy for having a nap."

Older people's night time sleep can often be disturbed by having to get up several times in the night to go to the toilet. As a result they often cut down on fluid intake and may then become dehydrated.

One respondent 71-year-old Anne said: "My main sleep problem is waking up in the early hours of the morning and not being able to get back to sleep.

“I sometimes find on a particularly bad night that I’m awake for three or four hours. I don’t want to disturb my husband by tossing and turning, and trying to get back to sleep, so I tend to get up and do the housework, watch DVDs or use the computer.

“Sleep at the moment is a disappointment I suppose, because I feel I’ve improved my lifestyle by doing all the things, diet, exercise and all this, and I’d hoped that the sleep would improve more than it has.”

Some older people, particularly women, opt for herbal remedies, of which there are many that can aid sleep. Herbal teas may be a good choice too as you can make interesting combinations from herbs such as Lemon Verbena, valerian, lavender and lime blossom, to name but a few.

What's this?