As we age, our sleep patterns change. Here is a guide from The New York Times
By Dani Blum, Illustrations by Petra Eriksson - July 7, 2023
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has age-specific recommendations for how much sleep people should get each night. Understanding your sleep needs throughout different life stages — and troubleshooting the problems that arise — can clear the way for a better night’s rest.
Ages 51-60
As you reach the later stages of midlife, added stresses and anxieties can fuel new sleep issues. Here’s what to know.
Ages 61-75
For those who retire — about half of adults 55 and older in the United States — transitioning out of the work force may mean more time to sleep in, but it also can lead to new complications. But even if you’re still working, new sleep issues can arise and longtime ones can persist. Here are some of them, and suggestions for how to deal.
Ages 76+
The older you get, the earlier you tend to wake up. At this stage of life, you might doze off near the start of the evening and rise around 5 or 6 a.m.
“Oftentimes, I get older adults who come in for treatment for insomnia and they say, ‘I want to sleep like I did in college,’” Dr. Roth said. But adults over 65 should aim for around seven or eight hours — a little less sleep than they needed as teenagers.
You should be cautious when using drugs and supplements for sleep, Dr. Roth stressed — many sleep medications have side effects that can worsen in older people, and they can also increase the risk of falls. Here are some other issues that crop up among older adults.
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