What causes excessive daytime sleepiness in the elderly and how can it be addressed?

Excessive daytime sleepiness in older adults can be caused by various factors including some medications and/or medical conditions.

It is important to seek help from a healthcare provider to identify what is causing excessive daytime sleepiness. Here are some examples of factors that can cause excessive daytime sleepiness in older people:

1. Some Medications: Some medicines, like certain pain medications, can make people sleepy during the day. Seek advice from a healthcare provider before making any adjustments to medications.
2. Some Medical Conditions: A wide variety of health conditions that affect older people can impair sleep and cause excessive daytime sleepiness. For example, obstructive sleep apnea is most common among older men (but can also affect women and younger people). Another example is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which can affect older people and also contribute to daytime sleepiness. Depression is another medical condition that can affect sleepiness during the day.
3. Menopause: Menopause usually affects older women and menopause symptoms can affect sleep. More information is available at https://sleepeducation.org/improve-your-sleep-during-menopause/.
4. Sleep Habits: Good sleep habits, like having a regular sleep schedule and a comfortable sleep environment, can also help reduce daytime sleepiness. More information about healthy sleep habits is available at https://sleepeducation.org/healthy-sleep/healthy-sleep-habits/.

If you or someone you know is experiencing excessive daytime sleepiness, a healthcare provider can provide a personalized medical assessment and treatment plan. Also, if mental health concerns may be contributing to daytime sleepiness symptoms, additional help is availablle at 988lifeline.org.