6 Sleep and Rest
Learn how rest and sleep support well-being, what can disrupt restful sleep, and how caregivers can promote comfort, safety, and appropriate follow-up.
Why and sleep matter
Sleep and support physical recovery, mood, attention, memory, and daily functioning. Sleep needs vary by age and individual. Most adults need at least seven hours per night; adults ages 65 and older generally need about seven to nine hours. matters as well: restful sleep should be sufficiently uninterrupted and refreshing.
What can disrupt sleep
Sleep may be disrupted by several kinds of barriers:
Physical discomfort or illness: pain, breathing problems, coughing, or difficulty finding a comfortable position.
Care needs: needing to urinate, thirst, hunger, or assistance with turning or repositioning.
Emotional or environmental factors: stress, anxiety, unfamiliar surroundings, noise, light, or an uncomfortable room temperature.
Habits and schedules: irregular bedtimes, late naps, shift work, late-day caffeine or nicotine, alcohol, large meals, or screen use near bedtime.
Medicines and sleep disorders: some medicines can interfere with sleep. Insomnia, , and restless legs syndrome may also prevent restorative sleep.
Support comfortable and safe sleep
Begin by asking about the person’s usual sleep times, bedtime habits, comfort needs, and what helps them relax. Respect their cultural preferences and personal choices.
Address discomfort before bedtime. Depending on the person’s needs, help with toileting, hygiene, hydration, and comfortable positioning. Offer ordered pain relief or other prescribed care on schedule, and report symptoms that remain uncontrolled.
Make the environment restful and safe by reducing unnecessary noise and light, adjusting the room to a comfortable temperature, and providing clean, dry bedding. Keep needed items within reach. Provide an accessible night-light and clear pathways so the person can move safely if they wake.
Support a regular wind-down routine with a consistent sleep and wake schedule, calming activities such as reading or quiet music, and daytime activity as tolerated. When appropriate, limit late naps, caffeine late in the day, and large meals or excess fluids close to bedtime. Do not impose restrictions that conflict with the person’s care plan or needs.
When safe and consistent with the care plan, coordinate nighttime care tasks to limit repeated waking. Check comfort and safety without disturbing sleep unnecessarily. Help the person use prescribed equipment, such as for , according to their care plan. Do not start or change sleep medicines or supplements without consulting a health professional; some sleep aids have risks.
Notice and report ongoing problems
When requested, record sleep patterns and relevant symptoms. Report persistent difficulty sleeping, marked daytime sleepiness, or signs such as loud snoring with pauses in breathing. A clinician can assess possible causes and recommend treatment.
For example, a resident may wake several times because of discomfort and the need to use the bathroom. Before bedtime, the caregiver asks about the resident’s preferences, assists with toileting, helps them settle in a comfortable position, and ensures the call device and a night-light are accessible. If the waking continues, the caregiver records the pattern and reports it to the care team rather than assuming it is simply part of aging.
Restful sleep depends on adequate opportunity, comfort, a supportive environment, and attention to personal routines. Caregivers can reduce avoidable disruptions, support safety and prescribed equipment use, and report persistent difficulties or concerning symptoms for clinical assessment.