Assessing Sleep

About this Module

In this module we show you how to assess the quality and timing of an older person’s sleep: are they getting enough sleep at night and is it sufficient to not feel tired or sleepy during the day. You’ll learn about assessing a person’s sleep patterns and see a sleep assessment of Anna, an aged care resident who is having some problems with her sleep. We explore issues to consider when assessing sleep in an older person: depression; physical activity and diet; sleep apnoea; medications; light and circadian rhythm; and mental and social engagement.

This is module 2 in the 3-part module series: Sleep Matters

Prerequisites

Before undertaking this module you will need to complete the following:

• Understanding Sleep

Learning Outcomes

After completing this module, staff should be able to:

• Describe key points about the timing and quality of sleep – restorative sleep
• Describe the role of the following factors in assessing sleep in an older person:
  • medications,
  • diet and exercise,
  • exposure to light,
  • social & cognitive engagement,
  • depression,
  • pain,
  • and environmental factors.
  • Conduct a sleep assessment, using the SleepCog tool.