Practical Article • US National Institute on Aging
Research Summary
This National Institute on Aging resource explains sleep in later life and the importance of obtaining enough restorative sleep. It describes the role of sleep timing, sufficient duration and the different components of sleep, and discusses persistent difficulty falling or staying asleep. The indexed material gives a general range of seven to nine hours and distinguishes ongoing sleep problems from an occasional poor night. The resource is useful because readers often assume that poor sleep is an unavoidable part of getting older. It is an educational overview rather than evidence that one bedtime routine treats every sleep disorder. Persistent insomnia, breathing-related problems or marked daytime sleepiness require more than a motivational message. The entry is based on the official indexed article and its linked educational material, not a clinical evaluation of an individual reader.
Evidence and limitations: Government patient education; not a single intervention trial
Catalogue reference: KL-026. Source reviewed: 27 September 2026. This summary is independent of the publisher.