Insomnia in the Older Adult

Insomnia is common in older adults. Untreated insomnia is correlated with poor health, cognitive impairment, and poor quality of life and also may be associated with increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Chronic insomnia usually is comorbid with medical or psychiatric conditions, medications, disrupted circadian rhythms, inadequate sleep hygiene, primary sleep disorders, and psychosocial or environmental factors. Unfortunately many older adults and their health care providers see poor sleep quality as a part of ''normal'' aging. It therefore is critical that clinicians ask older adults about their sleep quality and then effectively assess and recommend treatment for difficulties with sleep.