An older adult widow reports having problems sleeping at night and states,"I miss my spouse." The nurse also recognizes that older patients:

A) are difficult to assess.
B) take less time to fall asleep.
C) may suffer from emotional stress or depressive mood problems.
D) require less sleep than middle-age adults.

The elderly frequently experience losses,such as retirement and death of a loved one,which may lead to emotional stress or depressive mood problems that affect sleep efficacy.Older adults have a harder time falling asleep and more trouble staying asleep than do young adults.Sleep studies on older adults show a decline in REM sleep and an increase in nighttime awakenings.It is a common misconception that sleep needs decrease with aging.Older adults still need 7 to 8 hours of sleep a day,just like middle-aged adults.Older adults are not more difficult to assess.