EVALUATION OF SLEEP PATTERN CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ELDERLY WITHOUT A COGNITIVE DISORDER LIVING IN A NURSING HOME

Introduction: The aim of this research was to examine the sleep pattern characteristics of elderly individuals who live in a nursing home and who do not have a cognitive disorder. Materials and Methods: This research was conducted at Izmir Zubeyde Hanim Gurcesme Nursing Home among 132 elderly individuals. Data were collected by a Descriptive Information Form and the Sleep Pattern Characteristics Questionnaire. Results: The sleep related problems frequently experienced by the elderly were waking up frequently after falling asleep (58.3%), feeling sleepy/not well rested after waking up (56.1%), dozing off after waking up (56%), having difficulty going back to sleep after waking up (49.3%), and having difficulty falling asleep (47.8%). It was determined that there were statistically significant differences in the elderly individuals' sleep pattern characteristics according to their gender (t=4.643, p<0.01), physical health perception (F=9.621, p<0.01), emotional health perception (F=9.045, p<0.01), status of using medications for physical complaints (t=2.776, p<0.05), sleep quality perception (F=63.540, p<0.01), medication use for staying in nursing home by choice (t=-2.468, p<0.05). Conclusion: Elderly individuals living in a nursing home were found to have difficulty in falling asleep, staying asleep and dozing