Institute for Continuing Education

Sleep Disorders in the Elderly

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this module, you will be able to:

• Identify and discuss the sleep disorders that afflict the elderly population.
• Explain the key elements of the diagnostic evaluation of those disorders.
• Identify and explain the indications for treatment of those disorders.

Course Information

The increase in the number of people over 65 and the rise in the proportion of older people represent a marked change in the demographic patterns in this country that will have profound social, economic, medical, and personal consequences. Individuals over 65 constituted 4 percent of the American population in 1900 and nearly 10 percent in 1972. Today, there are over 25 million Americans are 65 years of age or older, approximately 12% of the national population.

Within ten years this number will approach 30 million and probably exceed 20% of the population by 2020. One of the major changes that commonly accompanies the aging process is an often profound disruption of an individual’s daily sleep-wake cycle.