Blog Posts: Sleep disorders

Nearly one‑third of older adults use sleeping pills, but for most people, the benefits are small, and the risks are real. Learn why pills may not be the best answer for insomnia and discover safer, proven ways to get better sleep if you or someone you care about struggles with sleep.

Sleep problems are common in older adults and can include difficulty falling or staying asleep (insomnia), breathing problems, or abnormal behaviours during sleep. In this webinar recording, geriatric psychiatrist Dr. Sophiya Benjamin provides an overview of both the causes and effects of poor sleep, exploring disorders and medications associated with sleep disturbances. You’ll learn about how sleep problems are assessed and diagnosed, as well as treatment and management strategies, including measures to promote good ‘sleep hygiene’, cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia, and helpful resources.

Research points to strategies that can help you quit smoking, exercise more, achieve a healthy weight, and improve your sleep.

As society pays increasing attention to addressing bullying in schools and workplaces, bullying among seniors remains a taboo and neglected issue. Did you know that recent studies show that about 1 in 5 seniors are bullied?

Take a look at what the evidence says about non-drug options for dementia-related sleep problems.

In this 2-minute video, Dr. Tricia Woo talks about non-medication strategies to treat insomnia.

Sleep and sleep quality play an important role in keeping us healthy. There are multiple strategies that aim to help us sleep longer or better; research sheds light on which ones are effective and which ones we may want to pass on.

Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Ti, Do! Research lends support to the use of music for improving our mental and physical health.

As we age, it is common for us to experience changes in our sleep. It may become harder to fall asleep, or you may wake up more often during the night and earlier in the morning. But what can you do when a good night's sleep is hard to get? In this video, Dr. Tricia Woo talks about sleep in older adults, lifestyle changes to promote good quality sleep, and the use of sleeping pills for insomnia.

They say if "you snooze, you lose”. But getting enough sleep, as well as good quality sleep, is important for our mental health, cognitive health, and physical health. Some evidence suggests that music may be a promising non-drug-based strategy for improving sleep quality in older adults.

Do sleep aid medications help to improve sleep for people with dementia?

Obstructive sleep apnea is a common condition that affects breathing during sleep. Treatments such as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and dental devices can help.

Neck pain is a common and disabling health problem that can affect your daily function including sleep. Specialized pillows have been used to help but the recent evidence is limited.

Many are concerned about how much sleep is 'normal' and how much we need for successful aging. Although there is no simple answer, the scientific evidence shows that sleep duration has important links to health.