Survey data reveal that a greater proportion of elderly persons are dissatisfied with the quality of their sleep than any other age group. A number of studies indicate that elderly persons awaken several times per night.1–3 In one study,2 25–30% of all subjects over 65 years of age reported frequent night awakenings, 15% of all subjects 65–75 years of age reported arousals before 5 AM, and 25% of all men over 65 years of age and 40% of all women over 45 years of age considered themselves to be “light sleepers.” Of all subjects over 65 years of age, 15% slept fewer than 5 hours/night and had difficulty in falling asleep (i. e., long sleep latency), which is approximately twice as prevalent in females of all ages than in men; it was significantly more persistent in females over 55 years of age than in younger women.