Bedtime Routines and Sleep Patterns of Hospitalized Elderly

BEDTIME ROUTINES AND SLEEP PATTERNS OF HOSPITALIZED ELDERLY By Marie E. Vander Kooi The purpose of this study was to examine whether performance of a familiar bedtime routine was related to the self-reported nocturnal sleep pattern quality of the hospitalized elderly. A descriptive correlational design was used to analyze data collected on a convenience sample of 30 elderly patients. The Bedtime Routine Questionnaire was used to describe the bedtime routine at home and measure to what extent it was maintained in the hospital. The nocturnal sleep pattern quality was measured using the Richards Campbell Sleep Questionnaire. The most common bedtime routine activities of the elderly were found to be: going to the bathroom; brushing teeth; praying; cleaning face. These same activities were most frequently identified as being important. For most subjects 50 percent or more of their home bedtime routine activities were maintained in the hospital. No significant relationship was found between the sleep pattern quality and degree of maintenance of a familiar bedtime routine (p > .05). Several implications for nursing practice were identified.