Insomnia in Older Adults: Causes, Risks, and What Actually Helps

When insomnia in older adults, a persistent inability to fall or stay asleep despite adequate opportunity. Also known as chronic insomnia, it’s not a normal part of aging—but it’s incredibly common, affecting nearly half of adults over 65. This isn’t just about tossing and turning. Poor sleep in seniors links directly to higher risks of falls, memory problems, depression, and even heart disease.

What’s driving this? It’s rarely just stress. As we age, our body’s sleep-wake cycle, the internal clock that regulates when we feel sleepy or alert shifts, making people feel sleepy earlier and wake up too early. At the same time, chronic pain, often from arthritis, nerve damage, or other conditions keeps many awake. Medications for high blood pressure, asthma, or depression can also interfere with sleep. And let’s not forget sleep apnea, a condition where breathing stops briefly during sleep—it’s underdiagnosed in older adults but hugely common.

Many turn to sleep meds, but those often do more harm than good. Benzodiazepines and even over-the-counter antihistamines can cause confusion, dizziness, and increase fall risk. The real fix? It’s not another pill—it’s fixing the environment and habits. Insomnia in older adults responds well to simple changes: consistent bedtime routines, limiting caffeine after noon, getting morning sunlight, and cutting back on naps. Some find relief with cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), a proven method that doesn’t involve drugs.

What you’ll find below are real, practical guides written for people who live this every night—whether they’re the ones struggling or caring for someone who is. From how certain medications mess with sleep to what non-drug strategies actually work, these posts cut through the noise. You won’t find fluff. Just clear answers on what to try, what to avoid, and why.