Good for the elderly
Significant changes in sleep accompany aging for most adults. There are a variety of potential causes including SDB, circadian rhythm disturbances, RLS/PLMS, RBD, depression and other psychiatric disorders, medical illness, and medications. The diagnosis requires a good sleep history and at times, a sleep study.
Sleeping more and more is a common feature of later-stage dementia . As the disease progresses, the damage to a person’s brain becomes more extensive and they gradually become weaker and frailer over time.
Fatigue, Lethargy, or Daytime Sleepiness While fatigue and lethargy can be symptoms of heart disease (particularly heart failure ), these common and non-specific symptoms can also be due to disorders of virtually any other organ system in the body.
Interestingly, older adults need about the same amount of sleep as younger adults — seven to nine hours of sleep per night. Unfortunately, many older adults often get less sleep than they need.
The most common causes of excessive daytime sleepiness are sleep deprivation , obstructive sleep apnea , and sedating medications. Other potential causes of excessive daytime sleepiness include certain medical and psychiatric conditions and sleep disorders , such as narcolepsy.
Most healthy older adults age 65 or older need 7-8 hours of sleep each night to feel rested and alert. But as you age, your sleep patterns may change.
Resiberg’s system: Stage 1: No Impairment. During this stage, Alzheimer’s is not detectable and no memory problems or other symptoms of dementia are evident. Stage 2: Very Mild Decline . Stage 3: Mild Decline . Stage 4: Moderate Decline . Stage 5 : Moderately Severe Decline . Stage 6: Severe Decline . Stages 7: Very Severe Decline .
Symptoms of vascular dementia are similar to Alzheimer’s disease, although memory loss may not be as obvious in the early stages. Symptoms can sometimes develop suddenly and quickly get worse , but they can also develop gradually over many months or years.
During the middle stages of Alzheimer’s , it becomes necessary to provide 24 – hour supervision to keep the person with dementia safe. As the disease progresses into the late-stages, around-the-clock care requirements become more intensive.
Heart failure signs and symptoms may include: Shortness of breath ( dyspnea ) when you exert yourself or when you lie down. Fatigue and weakness . Swelling ( edema ) in your legs, ankles and feet. Rapid or irregular heartbeat. Reduced ability to exercise. Persistent cough or wheezing with white or pink blood-tinged phlegm.
December 08, 2019 . Daytime sleepiness is very common among elderly people. Sometimes it’s just a sign of interrupted nighttime sleeping due to poor sleep habits, an uncomfortable environment, the aches and pains of aging or a side effect of medications.
The symptoms of end-stage congestive heart failure include dyspnea , chronic cough or wheezing, edema , nausea or lack of appetite , a high heart rate, and confusion or impaired thinking. Learn about the hospice eligibility requirements for end-stage heart failure.
With age come changes in the structure and quality of our sleep.
If you require a little extra help to get a good night’s sleep, consider trying the following 9 natural sleep-promoting supplements. Melatonin . Melatonin is a hormone that your body produces naturally, and it signals to your brain that it’s time to sleep ( 7 ). Valerian root . Magnesium . Lavender . Passionflower . Glycine.