It’s no wonder why most old people seem crabby all the time. They aren’t getting any sleep. It has been noted that older Americans have a difficult time getting a good nights rest. Older people often have sleep fragmentation (waking up often) which is probably caused from some sort of sleep disorder. I myself often find myself waking up often during the night and not really getting a good night sleep. I feel tired all of the next day and find it difficult to stay alert and function normally.
These sleep disorders effecting the elderly could be a result of medications, illnesses or a multitude of other causes. I believe that more should be done to educate the elderly by their physician on the benefits of a getting enough sleep. This could result in the patient being more alert and functioning better thus improving their quality of life. I know it’s a stretch but maybe having an elderly population that is less tired possibly resulting in a better quality of life, could result in more positive stereotypes.

Resources:

http://health.msn.com/health-topics/aging/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100178503