An estimated 40 percent or more of seniors suffer from some form of insomnia, ranging from having trouble falling asleep to failing to reach sleep's most restorative stages, waking up many times during the night and waking too early in the morning. Sleep deprivation leaves people drowsy, foggy-headed and unable to think clearly or concentrate. It contributes to car accidents, household mishaps, falls, headaches, depression, anxiety and immune system weakness.
Extreme insomnia can trigger delirium and mental breakdowns.
However, many sleep problems seniors suffer respond to simple behavioral changes and don't require medication. Many factors, not all of them fully understood, can play a role. As people age, they wake up more easily because they spend less time in the deepest stages of sleep. Many illnesses and conditions, such as arthritis, ulcers, cancer and heart conditions, cause chronic pain that prevent sleep. Aspirin, acetaminophen or other painkillers may solve the problem.