Frail older adults with insomnia experiences of using weighted blankets: A qualitative study

Abstract

Insomnia is common among frail older people living in nursing homes. The aim of the study was to explore how frail older people with insomnia experience the use of a weighted blanket. The study was conducted in nine nursing homes in Sweden. A total of 19 people (4 men, 15 women) aged 67 years and older were included. The study had an inductive qualitative design. Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) was utilized as a checklist to ensure transparency and comprehensiveness and enhance reliability by guaranteeing that all relevant aspects of the research process are thoroughly documented. The semi-structured interviews were analyzed with qualitative content analysis. The results formed four categories: Experiencing proximity, which raised older people’s encounters with the weighted blankets; Changes in sleeping patterns, where older people encountered the weighted blanket’s influence in changing sleep patterns; Experiencing conditions for use, where frail older people experienced the right conditions; and Stimulating senses, where frail older people experienced changes in their senses. Frail older people experienced that weighted blankets could provide comfort, positively influence sleep patterns, and reduce anxiety. This intervention can be considered valuable and offers a possible alternative to medication for frail older people with insomnia.