ABSTRACT
Sleep disorders are increasingly common as people age. Along with the numerous physiologic changes that occur with aging, sleep patterns are also altered. Inability to get to sleep, shorter sleep times, and changes in the normal circadian patterns can have an impact on an individual's overall well being. In addition, many common chronic conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, dementia, chronic pain, and cancer, that are more common in the elderly, can also have significant effects on sleep and increase the prevalence of insomnia as compared with the general population. This is a result not only of the chronic medical illnesses themselves, but of the psychologic and social factors associated with the disease processes.
Subject(s)
Sleep Wake Disorders/epidemiology , Aged , Aging/physiology , Chronic Disease , Comorbidity , Dementia/epidemiology , Depression/epidemiology , Diabetes Mellitus/epidemiology , Humans , Neoplasms/epidemiology , Pain/epidemiology , Parkinsonian Disorders/epidemiology , Sleep/physiologyABSTRACT
Pressure ulcers remain a complex and costly problem to the health care system. As the population ages, a greater number of individuals will be at high risk for developing pressure ulcers. An understanding of the physiologic changes that occur with aging skin is important in preventing and treating chronic wounds. Risk factor assessment and modification, when possible, can help to reduce the development of pressure ulcerations. Although the goal continues to be prevention, once a pressure ulcer does occur, a systematic and comprehensive approach to assessment and treatment is necessary to reduce healing times.
