While sleep problems are a common aggravation for older adults, they are not something one has to accept as inevitable. 

Steven Barczi, MD, professor (CHS), Geriatrics and Gerontology, discussed the topic during a public lecture event with a local retirement community and Wisconsin Public Television. 

Describing the health significance of sleep, Dr. Barczi said, "We know that people who maintain healthy lifestyles, which include quality sleep, good exercise or activity schedules, avoidance of some of those vices that can get all of us into trouble, will, on average, have half the risk of disability as they age compared to those who maybe weren't maintaining some of those healthy practices."

Actions that people of any age, including older adults, can take to promote healthy sleep include sticking to a predictable schedule for bedtime as well as eating, exercise, and naps; exercising in the late afternoon; avoiding alcohol, which can interfere with sleep patterns, and addressing common health issues that can result in insomnia. Sleep-robbing health issues include high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, depression, and arthritis. 

A video of the entire 1-hour lecture is available online from Wisconsin Public Radio.  

Resources: 

• "Poor Sleep Isn't Inevitable For Older Adults," Wisconsin Public Television, January 2, 2018