As you age, various concerns about your health can arise. One of these can be related to problems with sleep. If you have difficulty sleeping, a number of other health concerns can happen as a result. For people at and over retirement age, it can affect their quality of life.
There can be no doubt that aging affects sleep. But why? Here, we’ll examine that as well as a few ways to alter your lifestyle to get the best sleep possible.
Aging and Sleeping
In retirement age adults, sleep is frequently affected by age-related conditions including pain/discomfort, diabetes, heart disease, anxiety, and depression. If more than one health condition exists, sleep becomes even more complicated, and physical health can rapidly decline. Between the ages of 65 and 84, almost 1/4 have at least four significant health conditions. Those people in particular experience sleep disorder symptoms, have poor sleep quality, and/or get fewer than six hours of sleep per night.
Sleep Quality And the Aging Process
Okay – the older you get the worse you sleep. But why? What are the effects of aging on your quality of sleep?
- As you age, how your system regulates circadian rhythms altars. Sleep schedule changes are harder to adjust to. Example: when experiencing jet la Another example: daylight savings time. These changes take more time to adjust to, the older you get.
- Though napping during the day can be a glorious experience, it may affect your sleep at night. Only about 8% of young adults take naps, while napping is extremely popular with about 25% of retirees. Granted, you may benefit from a short daytime nap. However, napping late in the day, or extended napping, can create nighttime sleep disruptions or make it harder to fall asleep at bedtime.
- Your sleep architecture changes the older you get. That’s how you cycle through various sleep stages. Deeper stages are experienced later in sleep, while lighter stages of sleep occur earlier in older adults. So, during your evening, you may wake up more often and have less restful, fragmented sleep.
Lifestyle Changes
To attempt better sleep at night, consider doing more during the day. Physical exercise is a great way to encourage your body to want to rest and sleep in the evening. Fresh air helps some people sleep better at night. Watch what you eat to avoid heartburn. Caffeine late in the day may keep you up at night.
If pain is an issue, talk to your doctor about how to decrease pain levels. Some medications may keep you up at night, so you may want to discuss those with your doctor as well. If you can’t sleep at night because you don’t feel safe in your environment, this is something that needs special attention as soon as possible.
Get a Good Night’s Sleep In a Comfortable, Safe Environment
With all of the opportunities available for indoor and outdoor activity, you’re bound to sleep better at night! Our Independent Living Community offers a vast array of on-site amenities and events.
The cozy, comfortable atmosphere in your one- or two-bedroom residence will lull you to sleep with a feeling of safety and security. If you choose, sit out on the patio for some fresh air before you go to bed – that’s bound to help you sleep better. Or you can always call a friend over and catch a late-night classic movie.
If you would like to speak to someone specifically about sales and leasing, please call 918-533-9834. Other inquiries can be covered by calling 918.451.0383. If you prefer, you can fill in our convenient online form, send it in, and we’ll get back to you. To truly experience all we have to offer, schedule a tour today.
