The Boston Globe talks to experts about strategies customized to the elderly for helping this part of the population get better sleep.

The older we get, the harder it seems to be to get a good night’s sleep.

Whether it’s back pain, sleep apnea, or needing to use the bathroom, nights seem to last longer than they used to, with more interruptions and less time down for the duration.

At the same time, sleeping pills, like most medications, become more dangerous after 60. As liver and kidney functions slow, drugs stay in the body’s system longer, meaning more groggy mornings with all the related risks of falls.