Eighty-year-old Mrs.West feels she occasionally has trouble falling asleep at night.She typically gets about 7 hours of sleep every 24 hours.What should she do about this?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

It is common for older adults to have changes in their sleep patterns and may have trouble falling asleep at night. However, taking a sleeping pill every night or drinking an alcoholic beverage before bedtime can have negative effects and should not be relied upon as a solution. Sleeping with the bedroom lights on may actually interfere with the body's natural production of melatonin, which helps regulate sleep. The best option for Mrs. West is to relax and remind herself that these changes are normal and to try and establish good sleep hygiene habits, such as avoiding caffeine and electronic devices before bed, creating a comfortable sleep environment, and establishing a regular sleep schedule.

Eighty-Year-Old Mrs