Description of subjective assessment of sleep characteristics by elderly individuals in a long-term care facility

The elderly frequently express dissatisfaction with sleep quality and quantity. Disturbed sleep is a common complaint of residents in long-term care facilities. The purpose of this research was to describe the subjective assessment of sleep characteristics identified by elderly individuals living in a long-term care facility. In addition, the subjects perception of sleep prior to and following admission to the long-term care facility was compared. Information about the environmental factors which may have disrupted sleep was also identified. Sixteen female and four male subjects participated in this research. Subjects verbally responded to a 39 item questionnaire which was developed specifically for this study. Forty-five percent of the subjects rated their sleep in the nursing home as being worse than when they lived at home. Their bedtime hour moved to an earlier hour and the use of sleeping medication increased when compared to use at home. Physical illness, emotional stress, and changes in the sleep environment disturbed the sleep of the subjects. Although not quantitatively measured, the subjects reported that emotional stress disturbed their sleep more than physical illness or change in sleep environment