Definition of Sleep disorders in the elderly:

Sleep disorders in the elderly involve any disruptive pattern of sleep such as problems with falling or staying asleep, excessive sleep, or abnormal behaviors associated with sleep.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Sleeping problems are common in the elderly. In general, older people require less sleep, and their sleep is less deep than that experienced by the young. Some causes or contributors to sleep disturbances in older adults include:

• A need to urinate frequently at night
• Chronic pain caused by diseases such as arthritis
  • Chronic diseases such as congestive heart failure
  • Depression (depression is a common cause of sleep problems among people of all ages)
  • Neurological conditions
  • Alzheimer's disease
  • Organic brain syndrome
• Prescription drugs, recreational drugs, or alcohol
  • Sedentary lifestyle
  • Stimulants such as caffeine