Many assisted-living residents sleep poorly

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A study of adults who live in assisted-living facilities found that 65% had significant sleep problems, according to a study released Friday in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. The study also found that people with sleep problems had an increased incidence of depression and a lower quality of life.

The study, from UCLA and the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, examined 121 older people in assisted-living homes. Lead author Jennifer Martin found that the residents slept about six hours per night and about 1.5 hours during the day. The most common sleep problems included waking in the middle of the night or early morning or the inability to fall asleep within 30 minutes.

Much is known about how to resolve such sleep problems, the study notes. These strategies should be applied in assisted living facilities to see if better-quality sleep improves daily functioning and quality of life.

The study is published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

-- Shari Roan