Fear of sloth and wasting doctors’ time mean older people shun benefits of a good night’s sleep
Tuesday 15 September 2009
Uncharitable perceptions of men and women of pensionable age might focus on regular but unnecessary trips to the doctor, and the propensity to doze off at the slightest opportunity. Yet new research from the University of Surrey on the issues linked to inadequate sleep among over-60s suggests that in fact, older people are hugely concerned with not appearing idle by taking naps during the day. The study also found a widespread reluctance to consult with GPs on sleep problems, even when this is to the detriment of health among older people.
Over a period of a year, Sue Venn at the University of Surrey interviewed 62 people aged between 65 and 95. Of these more than 50% would avoid an afternoon nap (or at least not admit to having had one) in order not to appear “lazy”, despite the fact that occasional short naps may be a valuable way for older people to maintain energy levels. The majority of those interviewed would also not bother going to see their doctor about sleeping problems, deeming them not sufficiently important as to require medical attention. Again, this is in contrast to accepted health recommendations, which note that regular poor sleep can be detrimental to older people.
Sue Venn, Research Officer at the University of Surrey’s Department of Sociology said: “We were surprised by the large number of people we spoke to with sleep problems who had decided not to go and see their doctor. As we age, lack of sleep can have an impact on health and quality of life, and will often exacerbate the effects of other ailments. When asked about sleeping during the day most of the people we spoke to said they were too embarrassed to take a nap, and should they doze off inadvertently, would rather not admit it to their friends and family.”
“From this, it is clear that many older people maintain a “stiff upper lip” mentality, even when this may interfere with their quality of life. For everybody, sleeping well is linked positively to mood, physical health and cognitive function, and older people need to feel comfortable about obeying the body’s signals and seeking help and advice when necessary.”
The findings form the first set of results from ongoing research at Surrey into problems associated with sleep. Sue Venn will be presenting these findings this week at the British Science Festival, which is taking place at the University of Surrey from 5 to 10 September. This research forms one part of a large collaborative four year research project looking at poor sleep in older people living in the community and in care homes. The project, which finishes in December 2010, is also looking at interventions to improve sleep such as light therapies, cognitive behaviour therapy and sensor based devices. (SomnIA, Sleep in Ageing, www.somnia.surrey.ac.uk)
