It is not uncommon for many people to begin to experience some medical conditions as they age. And one of implications of these conditions is the increasing inability to get good quality sleep. While medical and psychiatric conditions are some of the common causes of this inability to sleep, side effects resulting from taking too many medications can also result to insomnia.

Although insomnia is a sleeping disorder that is limited to the elderly only, a research by the Sleep Foundation concluded that there are more elderly people suffering from insomnia when compared with younger people. One reason the Foundation listed as the cause of elderly developing sleeping disorders at an increased rate is because certain changes occurs to the part of the body in control of sleep-wake cycles.

Treating Sleeping Disorders

The good news in all of these is that getting old is not a life sentence to developing and living with sleeping disorders. Treatment for numerous disorders that affect the quality of sleep (of the elderly) have been developed, and have proven to be effective. While some people prefer the traditional over the counter drug prescriptions to battle their insomnia and other sleeping disorders that hamper their quality of sleep, some others prefer other routes that do not involve taking drugs or any medication for that matter.

Weighted Blankets?

The second group of people who prefer the non-medication route is where the use of weighted blankets fall into. Weighted blankets are heavier than typical blankets – weighing about 10% of an individual’s body weight. This weight makes it possible for the blanket to carry out what is called “deep pressure stimulation” in therapy. What this means is that the blankets makes an individual more calm by applying gentle pressure. This feeling is similar to when we get a full body hug from friends and family.

Although weighted blankets have been around for a while in areas that have to do with autism, it has become popular in other uses. One of the benefits weighted blankets have for elderly is that is helps reduce anxiety which can prevent them from having good quality sleep. The result of a study that was published in the Journal of Sleep Medicine and Disorders revealed that the calming effect from the deep pressure the weighted blankets uses produces relief that reduces the level or severity of the anxiety. In addition to this, weighted blankets have proven to be effective against those who suffer from depression. Researchers observed that those who sleep with weighted blankets had less trouble falling asleep. This is important for the elderly as data shows that over 2 million people who are aged 65 and above suffer some of depression or the other.

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