SomnIA, Optimising Quality Of Sleep Among Older People In The Community And Care Homes

Main Category: Sleep / Sleep Disorders / Insomnia
Also Included In: Seniors / Aging;  Public Health
Article Date: 11 Mar 2007 - 0:00 PDT

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Good sleep in later life reduces the risk of falls and depression, is essential for maintaining activity and performance levels, and reduces challenging behaviour encountered in dementia sufferers. A multi-disciplinary research project headed by the University of Surrey in collaboration with the Universities of Loughborough and Bath and King's College London will address practice and policy relevant issues arising from the nature, impact and management of the sleep-wake balance in later life. It will extend and 'join up' strategically targeted areas of sleep research relevant to understanding and improving autonomy, active ageing, and quality of later life.

Professor Sara Arber of the University of Surrey Department of Sociology who will lead the research commented, "Sleep problems in later life are widespread and adversely affect quality of life, but remain under acknowledged and little researched. Our research will find out the 'real life' experiences of poor sleep among older people, and identify strategies for improving sleep and reducing reliance on sleeping pills."

This 4 year research project is funded by a £2.3 million grant from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)1 as part of the New Dynamics of Ageing Research Programme. Academic partners from six disciplines and four institutions, together with five non-academic partners, will achieve these objectives through research within eight inter-linked work packages (see http://www.somnia.surrey.ac.uk).

A range of methods will be used to improve understanding of disrupted sleep and use of sleep medication in later life, including secondary analysis of existing large databases, and in-depth research with older people in the community and care homes. Interventions will be conducted to evaluate the effects of 'blue-enriched' light on quality of sleep in the community and care homes, evaluate a supported self-management programme for insomnia among chronically ill patients in general practice, and evaluate newly-developed sensor-devices to improve sleep. A user-friendly information and advice website on sleep will be developed, and a sleep education module will be prepared for the DIPEx website (http://www.dipex.org).

About SURREY UNIVERSITY

Surrey is a truly international university, drawing its students and staff from 140 countries around the globe, focusing its research and teaching on the real word, whilst fully recognising its responsibilities to the region it serves. We offer high-calibre teaching, a world-class research base, a thriving postgraduate community and a high quality of life in a beautiful campus setting. At the same time we have a strong eye for innovation and enterprise and are at the forefront of developments in teaching and research.

SURREY UNIVERSITY
Guildford
Surrey
GU2 7XH
http://www.surrey.ac.uk

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