Before contemplating specific treatments, the authors recommend that more conservative and nonpharmacologic therapies be attempted first because the elderly are more likely to have medication side effects or complications related to surgery.

Sleep-promoting interventions such as a quiet sleep environment and a glass of warm milk before bed may improve the symptoms. Other ways to promote sleep include following a healthy lifestyle.

Sleep Apnea is a very common problem treated at the clinic. Symptoms include snoring, waking up with a sore or dry throat, and gasping for air during the night. The basic process for diagnosis and treatment of Sleep Apnea involves spending two nights at the hospital, with monitoring wires attached to the patient. First night is strictly diagnosis, counting the number of times the patient stops breathing during the night. Second night is trying out a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) mask, which basically pushes air through the nose and/or mouth. Sleep Apnea is very curable with the CPAP mask – “it absolutely will work”.