Hormonal changes
The hormones involved with sleep also change in the elderly. You have probably heard of melatonin, which is sometimes referred to as the "hormone of darkness" because it is produced in the absence of light. The role of melatonin in sleep is controversial. We know that melatonin levels decrease with age but we do not know the significance of this reduction, or if melatonin pills help elderly people (or others, for that matter) who have trouble falling or staying asleep. Also, many people who try melatonin take it an incorrect times, and may not reap its benefits.
Sleep Hygiene
Ironically, many of the above symptoms are made worse by the things that people do to try to compensate for their changing sleep patterns. At any age, it is important to have proper sleep habits – what we refer to as "good sleep hygiene". But as we grow older, it becomes increasingly vital to maintain healthy sleep hygiene, since many older people unknowingly violate it trying to correct their altered sleeping habits.
The following are five important points to remember about sleep hygiene:
Do not spend too much time in bed and avoid naps when you can: It is important to spend only the time in bed you truly need. When you have had a poor night's sleep and feel awful the next morning, you might believe that if you spend more time in bed you will get more sleep.
