When was the last time you slept a healthy amount? Many people assume that as you grow older, sleeping becomes easier. Have you noticed whether your aging loved one is sleeping more during the day? It is likely because they are making up for lost sleep during the night. Old habits are hard to break (for example, staying up late and sleeping in). As a person ages, the internal body clock changes. Some seniors go to sleep early and rise early, but most seniors go to sleep late as they did in their youth…and then wake up early! This can cause sleep deprivation. There can be many other reasons why seniors are sleep deprived (some reasons more serious than others). Let’s learn more!

While every individual has different needs, there is a variety of care services to help with the aging process. It’s important to explore all options to find what’s right for you or your loved one. As people age they become more reliant on those around them – and this can be taxing for the individual in need and for the person caring for them.

Hiring in home care services for a loved one can present a family with many unanswered questions. Usually, hiring in home care help represents a transition period in life, or it may be necessary after certain surgeries, accidents, diagnoses, etc. At Pennsylvania Agency of Nurses, we’d like to help your loved ones make decisions in stressful times. Here are some answers to common questions we get from Philadelphia-area families…

IIn the United States, February is known as American Heart Month. What better time to examine things that seniors living in their own homes can do to take good care of their hearts? Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in both men and women in the United States. Aging is a contributing risk factor for heart disease, so it is especially beneficial for seniors to make small, healthy living changes that can help manage and/or prevent heart conditions. Let’s check out some ideas and tips that in home caregivers and clients can employ on the way to a healthier heart.

As a professional or family caregiver, there are times when you may find yourself working with an individual who struggles with or cannot express pain or discomfort verbally. There are different reasons a person may not be able to express pain verbally. For example, individuals might be suffering from cognitive impairment (such as Dementia or Alzheimer’s), or a person with a traumatic brain injury may have trouble communicating. When these individuals are unable to express their pain, there is an imperative need to be able to identify possible pain indicators nonverbally. A common tool used in hospitals, nursing homes, and by in home care professionals and/or caregivers is the Checklist of Non-Verbal Pain Indicators. As noted on the indicator, this assessment tool is often used and proven with reliable and valid results in patients in critical care units and adults with dementia.