Gopalakrishnan Nair Gopalakrishnan Nair Asked 8 months ago

How to increase deep sleep in elderly?

My father is 70, and he complains a lot about not getting good sleep, even though he stays in bed for long hours. He says he feels tired all day. What can be done to help elderly people like him increase their deep sleep?

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10 answers

Kalyani Subramanian Kalyani Subramanian Joined May 2026 5 months ago
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In our family, we suggest massaging the soles of the feet with a little warm sesame oil before bed to help elders sleep better. It is very soothing. However, do check with their doctor to ensure there are no other health issues causing insomnia.

Rajesh Malhotra Rajesh Malhotra Joined Jan 2026 8 months ago

Encouraging them to do a light 20-minute walk in the morning sun can really help set their circadian rhythm. It naturally increases sleep drive at night. Just make sure their doctor allows light physical activity.

Savitri Devi Savitri Devi Joined Apr 2026 6 months ago

We give warm milk with a little cardamom to my father-in-law every night, and he sleeps very peacefully now. Keeping their room quiet and avoiding loud TV late in the evening also helps a lot. Older people need very calm surroundings.

Satish Chandra Satish Chandra Joined Jan 2026 8 months ago

I manage high blood pressure and notice my sleep is worse when my salt intake is high. Ensure the elders have a low-sodium diet and get their BP checked regularly. Lifestyle management plays a huge role in deep sleep.

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Consult a internal medicine specialist

Vikram Rathore Vikram Rathore Joined Feb 2026 8 months ago

We ignored my mother's poor sleep thinking it was just old age, but it turned out to be a heart-related issue that was making her restless. Please get a full health checkup done for them instead of waiting. Don't ignore poor sleep in elders.

Priya Sharma Priya Sharma Joined Jan 2026 8 months ago

A warm bath and listening to some light devotional music works wonders for my grandmother! Keeping them happy and stress-free during the day makes a big difference in their sleep quality.

Amit Saxena Amit Saxena Joined Mar 2026 7 months ago

My grandfather wakes up at 4 AM and then wonders why he is tired by afternoon! We tried stopping his evening tea and that actually helped him get a longer stretch of deep sleep. Less chai is the painful secret here.

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Nisha Shah Nisha Shah Joined Apr 2026 7 months ago

Giving them a light, easily digestible vegetarian dinner like khichdi or vegetable soup at least 3 hours before bed helps. Heavy or oily dinners can cause acidity and disrupt their sleep cycle throughout the night.

Harpal Singh Harpal Singh Joined May 2026 6 months ago

I had terrible sleep issues after turning 60. What worked for me was setting a strict routine of waking up at 6 AM every day and avoiding long afternoon naps. Limiting daytime sleeping is key to getting deep sleep at night.

Snehal Deshmukh Snehal Deshmukh Joined Jun 2026 4 months ago

Haan na, after a certain age sleep naturally decreases and they get worried. We just need to make sure they feel comfortable and safe in their room. A warm cup of milk and soft pillows helps them rest easily.

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