Sleep in residential aged care: A review of the literature
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Keywords
nursing home, insomnia, sleeping pills, napping, sleeping disorder, sleeping disturbance
Abstract
Objective: Sleep is necessary for good health at all stages of life. This literature review aims to identify evidence‑based strategies to improve sleep in residential care, and offer recommendations for further research.
Design: A literature search was conducted for articles published between April 2003 and May 2010 and 34 papers were reviewed. These were classified according to the National Health and Medical Research Council’s (NHMRC) 2005‑2007 pilot program of additional levels of evidence.
Setting: Residential aged care.
Primary argument: Strategies for improving sleep were described and evaluated in the 34 papers reviewed. These included pharmacological therapies, cognitive behavioural therapy, light therapy, various alternative therapies and multi‑factorial interventions. There are no clear guidelines for effective and safe sleep promotion interventions in residential aged care.
Conclusions: Given the prevalence of sleep disorders amongst older people in residential care, there is a clear need for further research to enable guidelines to be developed.
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Manuscripts accepted for publication become the property of the AJAN.
Ms. Leslie Dowson BSc (Hons), MBioethics Corresponding
Research Officer, National Ageing Research Institute (NARI), NARI, PO Box 2127, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Victoria, Australia. [email protected]
Ms. Kirsten Moore BA (Hons)
Research Fellow, National Ageing Research Institute (NARI), NARI, PO Box 2127, Royal Melbourne Hospital Victoria, Australia. [email protected]
Dr. Jean Tinney BA, Dip Ed, Dip TEFLA, MAppl Ling, PhD
Research Fellow, National Ageing Research Institute (NARI), University of Melbourne, NARI, PO Box 2127, Royal Melbourne Hospital Victoria, Australia. [email protected]
Ms. Kay Ledgerwood BSc (Hons) Anatomy, PGCE (Science)
Research Officer, National Ageing Research Institute (NARI), NARI, PO Box 2127, Royal Melbourne Hospital Victoria, Australia. [email protected]
Dr. Briony Dow BSW, MA, PhD
Director Preventive and Public Health Division, National Ageing Research Institute (NARI), University of Melbourne, NARI, PO Box 2127, Royal Melbourne Hospital Victoria, Australia. [email protected]