Sleep Problems in Elderly People: Causes and Treatment
Sleep problems in elderly people are common but treatable. Learn how sleep changes with age, what causes insomnia, and why sleeping pills need caution
Sleep problems in elderly people are common, but they are not an inevitable part of ageing. The need for sleep does not fall with age. What changes is how deep sleep is and when it happens. Behind most cases there is a cause that can be addressed, such as pain, medication or a sleep disorder.
Are sleep problems in elderly people normal?
Many people believe we need less sleep as we age. Medical sources say otherwise: older adults need as much sleep as younger adults, seven to nine hours.
The difference is that getting those hours becomes harder. Sleep turns lighter and more broken, so a person may feel unrested even after a long time in bed.
For this reason it is not advisable to accept poor sleep as "just age". If your father or mother sleeps only a few hours and looks tired during the day, the complaint deserves a search for its cause, and the available medical consultations show which specialist to start with.
Why do older people sleep less?
Some changes are expected and do not mean illness. Knowing them helps separate normal ageing from real sleep problems in elderly people.
Less deep sleep and more awakenings
Deep sleep decreases with age, and waking becomes easier and more frequent. A small noise or a change in room temperature may be enough to interrupt sleep.
Earlier sleepiness and earlier waking
The body clock moves earlier in many older adults. They feel sleepy early in the evening, then wake before dawn and cannot get back to sleep.
Lower melatonin
Production of melatonin, the hormone that regulates the sleep-wake cycle, falls with age. The signal telling the body it is time to sleep becomes weaker.
What causes insomnia in elderly people?
On top of the normal changes, several factors drive sleep problems in elderly people, and many of them can be modified.
Pain and long-term illness
Joint and back pain are among the most common sleep disruptors. Heart disease, lung disease and diabetes may also cause discomfort at night.
Night-time urination
Waking repeatedly to use the bathroom breaks sleep into pieces. Urinary problems become more common with age in both men and women.
Medications
Older adults take more medicines, and some of them affect sleep. Do not stop any medicine on your own. It is useful to ask the doctor whether any of them may cause insomnia and whether the timing can be changed.
Anxiety, depression and loneliness
Losing a spouse, retiring and having less social contact all leave their mark on sleep. Insomnia may be the first visible symptom of depression in an older person.
Low activity and long naps
When physical and social activity drops, night sleep weakens and daytime dozing increases. Long naps then take away from night sleep, and the cycle continues.
Sleep disorders that become more common with age
Sometimes sleep problems in elderly people are not a habit or a normal change. They are a disorder with a diagnosis and a treatment.
Chronic insomnia
This is the most common sleep disorder after the age of sixty. It is considered chronic when it occurs at least three nights a week for more than three months.
Obstructive sleep apnea
Repeated pauses in breathing break sleep without the person noticing. Signs include loud snoring and clear daytime sleepiness, and it becomes more common with age.
Restless legs
An uncomfortable sensation in the legs that worsens at rest in the evening and creates an urge to move them, which delays falling asleep.
When one of these disorders is suspected, the available sleep studies show how sleep is recorded at home.
Risks of sleep problems in elderly people
The effect of poor sleep in an older person goes beyond tiredness. Medical sources link it to the following:
More falls and accidents, the most serious consequence because fractures heal slowly in older people
Weaker memory and concentration
Low mood and irritability
A higher risk of high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes
Studies also point to a link between long-term poor sleep and a decline in mental abilities over time. This link does not mean that everyone who sleeps little will develop dementia, but it is one more reason to take the complaint seriously.
Insomnia in elderly treatment
Treating sleep problems in elderly patients starts with finding the cause. Treating pain or adjusting the timing of a water tablet may solve the problem without any sleep medicine.
Daily habits that help
Keep the same bedtime and wake time every day.
Exercise regularly, but not within three hours of bedtime.
Avoid naps late in the day.
Stay away from caffeine and heavy meals in the evening.
Keep the bedroom quiet, dark and at a comfortable temperature.
Cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia
This is a recommended treatment for chronic insomnia and does not rely on medication. It works on the habits and thoughts that keep insomnia going, and it is delivered in sessions with a specialist.
Sleeping pills: why the caution?
Side effects of sleep medication are more likely in older adults. They include daytime drowsiness, confusion, difficulty urinating and falls at night. These medicines may also cause dependence and lose their effect over time.
An older person is therefore advised not to take a sleeping pill on their own or on a relative's advice. If the doctor sees a need, it is for a defined period and under follow-up.
If you care for an older person who cannot sleep
Sleep problems in elderly relatives wear out the people who care for them too. These practical steps may help:
Take them out into daylight and keep them moving in the morning as far as possible.
Reduce fluids in the evening if they wake often for the bathroom, without cutting fluids through the whole day.
Make the way to the bathroom safe with a dim light and a clear floor to lower the risk of falls.
Record bedtime, wake time and naps for two weeks. This log is very useful to the doctor.
Do not give a sleeping pill or sedative that their doctor has not prescribed.
When should an older person see a doctor?
An assessment is advisable in these situations:
Marked daytime sleepiness, especially if the person still drives
Difficulty sleeping that has lasted for weeks
Loud snoring or breathing pauses noticed by a bed partner
Uncomfortable leg movements that prevent sleep
Repeated falls or new confusion
The doctor may request a sleep study if sleep apnea or a movement disorder is suspected. In many cases it can be done at home, which is easier for an older person than a night in a laboratory.
Why Subat Clinics?
Sleep problems in elderly patients need a view that brings medications, long-term illness and sleep disorders together. At Subat Clinics this is assessed in one place:
A consultant in sleep medicine to diagnose insomnia, sleep apnea and night-time movement disorders
Home sleep studies carried out at home within Riyadh, with no hospital stay
Cognitive behavioural therapy sessions for insomnia with a dedicated specialist
Online consultations for those who find it hard to attend or live outside Riyadh
How to prepare for the appointment
These details help the doctor understand sleep problems in elderly patients case by case:
A two-week sleep log: bedtime, number of awakenings and naps
A full list of medicines and supplements with their timing
Long-term conditions and any pain that worsens at night
Notes from the bed partner about snoring or leg movements
A family member attending with the patient is preferable
Conclusion
Sleep problems in elderly people are not something to simply accept. Sleep does change with age, but the need for it stays the same. In many cases the cause is pain, a medicine or a treatable sleep disorder. The right start is finding the cause, not reaching for a sleeping pill.
Book your appointment
If one of your parents sleeps little or wakes tired every day, a specialist assessment is the first step.
Address: Othman Ibn Affan Road, Al-Taawun District, Riyadh 12477
Hours: Sunday to Wednesday, 5 to 9 PM
Phone: 0112011100
WhatsApp: 0505999713
The clinic is not an emergency facility. In an emergency call 997 or go to the nearest hospital.
Sources:
This content is for health awareness and does not replace a personal medical consultation. Do not start any sleep medicine or supplement, or stop a prescribed medicine, without speaking to the doctor.
Medically reviewed by: Dr. Ahmed Alruhaimi, Consultant in Pulmonary Medicine and Sleep Medicine, Subat Clinics
Last reviewed: October 2026
Frequently asked questions
Are melatonin supplements suitable for older adults?
The answer differs from person to person, depending on their medicines and health. It is advisable not to take them without consulting a doctor, especially alongside other medication.
Do herbal remedies treat insomnia in older people?
The sources we reviewed do not recommend a specific herb. Some herbs may interact with medicines, so mention them to the doctor before use.
What is sundowning?
A state in which confusion and agitation increase late in the day in some people with dementia, and it may disturb sleep. It is assessed by the doctor following the case.
Is sleeping too much also a concern in an older person?
It may deserve attention if it is new or comes with marked lethargy. Excess daytime sleepiness may point to broken night sleep or to the effect of a medicine.