Older adults don’t actually need more sleep, but health conditions, medicines, and daytime naps can make them sleep more. See a doctor if sleepiness is excessive.
Facts
Healthy older adults need about 7 to 8 hours, like younger adults. Sleep gets lighter and more fragmented with age.
Why they may sleep more
- Medical conditions (heart disease, depression, sleep apnea).
- Medicines.
- Less activity and napping.
- Dementia.
Naps
Short naps under 30 minutes are fine.
See a doctor
If an older adult suddenly sleeps much more, as it can signal illness.
Sleep data in older adults
Older adults do not need less sleep. The National Sleep Foundation recommends 7 to 8 hours for adults 65 and older. Sleep becomes lighter and more fragmented with age, with less deep sleep, so some people nap more. Circadian rhythms shift earlier.
- Excessive daytime sleepiness can indicate sleep apnea, which affects up to 25 percent or more of older adults.
- Depression, heart failure, thyroid disease, anemia and medications are common causes.
- Dementia often changes sleep patterns, including daytime sleep and night waking.
When to check
Naps of 20 to 30 minutes in early afternoon are generally fine. Sleeping more than 9 hours consistently along with fatigue, confusion or low mood should be reviewed by a doctor. Medication review, sleep study and blood tests can find causes. Daylight exposure, activity and a regular schedule help keep sleep consolidated.
Sleep data in older adults
Older adults need 7 to 9 hours but often sleep less deeply and wake more. Daytime napping is common. Excess sleep can signal depression, sleep apnea, medication effects, infections, thyroid disease or dementia.
When to check
Sudden increased sleepiness needs a medical check. Keep regular activity and light exposure in the daytime.
Aging and sleep architecture
After age 65, deep sleep decreases and the circadian rhythm advances, causing earlier sleep and waking. Older adults often nap. About 50 percent of adults over 65 report sleep complaints, according to the NIA. Excessive daytime sleepiness is linked to sleep apnea, depression, heart failure, thyroid disease and medications like benzodiazepines.
Practical steps
Doctors review medicines, test thyroid, blood count and vitamins, and screen for apnea. Exercise, daylight and fixed schedules help. Limit naps to 30 minutes before 3 p.m. Sudden new sleepiness or confusion may signal infection, stroke or medication toxicity and needs urgent evaluation.
Based on data from the National Institute on Aging and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine
