Sleep and Long-Term Care

Long-term care (LTC) involves a range of support and services for people with chronic illness and disabilities who cannot perform activities of daily living independently. Poor sleep increases the risk of LTC placement, and sleep disturbance is extremely common among LTC residents. The identification and management of sleep disturbance in LTC residents is a vital, but perhaps underappreciated, aspect of offering high-quality care for this already compromised population. This article describes the nature and consequences of sleep disturbances in LTC, clinical assessment and management of sleep disturbances in LTC, and implications for future research and clinical practice.