All accreditations for this course have expired.

This course has been updated. The new version of this course is located here.

Course Summary

Although sleep disorders can affect anyone at any age, older adults and elderly patients suffer from chronic sleep deprivation at higher rates than anyone else. Many factors can affect an older adult’s quality of sleep, but the primary cause is that it becomes more difficult to maintain sleep as a person ages. Understanding the function of the body’s internal clock is key to recognizing sleep disorders in older patients and offering effective treatment strategies.

Course Format

Homestudy

Course Syllabus

  • Introduction
  • Normal Sleep Patterns
    • Non-rapid Eye Movement
    • Rapid Eye Movement
  • Common Sleep Disorders
    • Breathing Disorders
    • Insomnia
    • Circadian Rhythm Disorders
    • Limb Disorders
    • Hypersomnias
  • Night Sleep Behaviors
    • Sleepwalking
    • Bruxism
    • REM Behavior Disorder
  • Sleep Disorders Secondary To Illness/Injury
    • Cognitive Disorders
    • Chronic Disease And Sleep Disorders
  • Treatment of Sleep Disorders in Older Adults
    • Behavior and Habit Modifications
    • CPAP and BiPAP
    • Medication
    • Surgical Treatment
    • Pain Management
  • Summary

Author

Sarah Schulze, MSN, APRN, CPNP

Sarah Schulze is a board certified pediatric nurse practitioner and professional medical content writer. She earned her BSN from Indiana State University and her MSN from University of Illinois at Chicago. In clinical practice as an RN and NP, she has experience in a variety of settings; including critical care, PACU, pediatrics, mental health, and lactation support. She currently owns and operates a private practice providing outpatient mental health services to children and adolescents. As a writer, she has developed content for many CEU courses, medical apps, health education curricula, NCLEX study materials, health blogs, and more.