ABSTRACT
Sleep disorders are common and significant complaints of depressed older people. A large proportion of depressed older people are at risk for sleep disturbances, which may be caused by many factors. It was thus the intent of this study to assess the sleeping pattern of depressed elders living in elderly homes. Results of the present study revealed that, the majority of the studied depressed elders had sleeping difficulties and more than half of them took more than 60 minutes in bed to fall asleep. Almost all the subjects woke up more than 3 times during the night, and the most frequently reported causes were frequency of micturation, anxiety, and pain. Three-quarters of the studied elders didn't feel comfortable when waking up in the morning, and this affected their ability to perform their daily living activities. It is thus recommended to encourage elderly clients to establish a routine sleep schedule, to stick to rituals that help to relax before bed time and to suggest consultation with appropriate specialist depending on the underlying causes of the sleep disorder