Congratulations, Ted Walsh!

Team ProMed congratulates Ted Walsh on his recent marriage! Ted and Christy were married on July 2.

Good News: LTC Facility Occupancy Rates are Stable

New data from the National Investment Center for the Seniors Housing & Care Industry reveals that occupancy rates in the senior housing sector have remained stable at 88 percent over the past year.

Even though the rates have not risen, the researchers were encouraged by the fact that they seem to have moved on from their recent cyclical lows.

To learn more, click here.

Could Gov't. Subsidies Reduce CNA Turnover?

Research out of the University of Illinois suggests that government subsidies might encourage low-wage workers, including CNAs, to remain at their nursing home jobs.

The researcher originally tested her theory on workers at group homes, where she found that government subsidies reduced turnover rates by a third. She theorized that incentivizing CNAs to remain at their nursing home jobs would produce similar results.

To learn more, click here.

FDA Making Plans to Oversee Mobile Medical Apps

In a day and age when smart phones have become so omnipresent that they might as well be extensions of our hands, the FDA is making plans to oversee some of the mobile medical apps that have hit the market.

The agency announced that they plan to oversee apps that:

• Are used as an accessory to an FDA-regulated medical device (such as apps that allow healthcare professionals to view medical images and use them to make a diagnosis)
• Transform a medical platform into a regulated medical device (for example, an app that turns a smart phone into an ECG machine to detect abnormal heart rhythms)

The FDA is hoping to receive as much feedback from consumers, advocacy groups, healthcare professionals, software creators and distributors as possible before they finalize their proposed guidelines. To submit feedback, click here. To learn more, click here.

Familial Alzheimer's Could Be Detected 20 Years Before Symptoms Appear

Researchers at the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimers Network have concluded that it might be possible to predict the age at which Alzheimer's disease will appear based on when a person's parent first began exhibiting symptoms of the disease.

Certain types of Alzheimer's disease, known as "familial" strains, are inheritable. In these cases, individuals have gene mutations that make them more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease in middle age.

The researchers hope that this information will allow them to study Alzheimer's progression before symptoms are even visible in the hopes of delaying or preventing future dementia symptoms. By the time dementia symptoms appear, there has already been too much damage to the brain to reverse or prevent additional cognitive dysfunction.

To learn more, click here.

Keeping Residents Safe and Cool in a Heat Wave

The heat this week has really been something, hasn't it? The storms today here in Chicagoland have cooled things down a bit, but the forecasters have warned us that the heat wave isn't over. That said, we wanted to share a few tips that appeared on our exclusive survey preparation site, Compliance Solutions: For the Perfect Survey Every Day (http://www.theperfectsurvey.com/).

Preventing Heat-Related Illnesses
By taking early preventive measures, facilities can avoid heat-related emergencies later.

Make sure your building is summer-ready

• Make sure that the temperature in your facility is safe and comfortable.
• Keep residents indoors in the air conditioning during heat waves.
• Close blinds or curtains to keep direct sunlight from entering rooms.
• Turn off unneeded lights (they emit heat).
• Use extra circulating fans to keep to keep air moving within your facility. Avoid using fans directed at individuals when the ambient temperature exceeds 100° F.

Be ready for anything

• Many states issue Hot Weather Bulletins. Monitor the television or radio for important local heat-related announcements and be sure to follow your state's protocols during warm weather.
• Review your facility's emergency disaster plan. It should include:
• Up-to-date emergency telephone numbers
• Contingency plans in case the facility's air-conditioning system goes out
• An evacuation plan in case residents need to be moved to a "cooling center
• Be aware of the outdoor heat index (a measurement of what the hot weather "feels like") and take appropriate precautions.
• Remember that exposure to full sunshine can increase the heat index by up to 15 degrees.

Keep residents hydrated

• Consider establishing a hydration station in the facility, where water and other fluids are always available to residents and staff.
• Encourage residents to drink plenty of fluids. Water and fruit or vegetable juices are best.
• Offer residents extra fluids at regular intervals.
• Popsicles or freeze-pops are another alternative to fluids.
• If the resident has a fluid restriction, ask the physician for specific orders during hot weather.
• Avoid caffeine or sodas because these cause a person to lose more body fluid.

If you would like to learn more about the information available at http://www.theperfectsurvey.com/, contact your ProMed territory manager or give us a call at (800) 648-5190. Stay cool out there!

Residents More Likely to Fall after Certain Antidepressant Changes

A new study has found that nursing home residents are five times more likely to fall in the two days immediately following a change in their prescribed dosage of non-SSRI antidepressants. This class of antidepressants includes drugs such as bupropion (Wellbutrin), trazodone (Desyrel) and venlafaxine (Effexor).

The researchers theorized that this increase in falls could be caused by acute cognitive or motor effects that are tied to the medications. Certain non-SSRI antidepressants can also cause a dramatic decrease in blood pressure when a person goes from sitting to standing, which could also be a factor.

The study was conducted by researchers from the Institute for Aging Research of Hebrew SeniorLife.

To learn more, click here.

Little-Known Tax Break Available to Seniors at Some LTC Facilities

Many seniors might not be aware that they qualify for hefty tax breaks if they move into a retirement community that offers assisted living and skilled nursing support, according to an article in U.S. News & World Report.

The tax breaks are classified as lifetime-care benefits and children or other family members who provide major financial support for entrance fees and monthly expenses might also be eligible to receive them.

To be eligible for the tax break, seniors must reside at facilities that have non-refundable entrance fees and include access to healthcare services in monthly fees (regardless of whether the resident utilizes those services). In these situations, the IRS views the fees as pre-payment expenses for healthcare services.

For more detailed information, including the amounts than can be deducted based on taxable income, click here.

New Diabetes Drug Under FDA Scrutiny Today

An FDA committee is meeting today to determine whether a new type of diabetes drug can overcome safety concerns and be offered to consumers. The drug, dapagliflozin, reduces blood sugar by causing it to be excreted in urine. However, early studies indicate that it might also raise the brisk of breast and bladder cancer and cause liver damage and infections of the genitals and urinary tract.

In a naturally functioning human body, only a small amount of glucose that is filtered by the kidneys is excreted in urine. The rest returns to the bloodstream. Dapagliflozin would cause a substantial increase in the amount of glucose that flows out in urine.

To learn more, click here.

OIG: Facilities Receiving High Med B Payouts Should Be Monitored

The Office of the Inspector General, or OIG, released a report last week that indicated nursing homes that collect daily Medicare Part B payments more than three times the national average should be monitored for possible fraud and abuse.

The OIG found that some nursing homes were being paid three times the national average in situations where Medicare won't pay for a nursing stay, but will pay for certain procedures, medications, medical equipment and other supplies.

To view the report, click here.

Black Nursing Home Residents More Likely to Develop Pressure Wounds

Researchers the University of Iowa have found that black nursing home residents are more likely than their white counterparts to develop pressure wounds.

The researchers also determined that both blacks and whites are more likely to develop pressure wounds at nursing homes that have a higher percentage of black residents than at facilities with almost all white residents. They noted that this could be due to multiple factors, including higher turnover and lower resident-to-staff ratios in facilities that have more black residents.

To learn more, click here.

You Might Be Surprised at What Can Contribute to Dementia

Researchers have long known that heart disease, strokes and other conditions that affect the brain and circulatory system can contribute to dementia and Alzheimer's disease - but did you know that poor eyesight could contribute as well? What about bone fractures?

According to an article in in Time, researchers in Canada have linked the development of dementia to more than a dozen additional conditions, including arthritis, bone fractures, incontinence, poor eyesight and hearing, sinus trouble and skin problems. Each of these conditions only increase the risk of dementia by about 3 percent, but that risk adds up if someone has several of the conditions.

To learn more, click here.

FDA Approves Single-Dose DPT Vaccine for Seniors

The FDA announced on July 8 that they have approved the use of Boostrix, a single-dose vaccine against tetanus, diptheria and pertussis (whooping cough), for people age 65 and older. Previously, only tetanus and diptheria vaccines were approved for seniors.

A handful of states have seen a recent rise in cases of whooping cough, including Michigan, Ohio and California. The FDA noted that whooping cough is highly contagious and that outbreaks have been seen in nursing homes and hospitals as well as the general population.

To learn more, click here.

Can't Get Enough of Embrace? Check Out Our Exclusive Online Articles

We're thrilled that so many of you love our exclusive magazine, Embrace! To keep you from going into withdrawal between issues, we'll periodically be posting online-only articles at the Embrace website, embracethemagazine.com. The first of these articles, "Incontinence-Associated Dermatitis: Understanding and Treating This Painful Skin Condition" just went up!

Click here to read the article. If you have suggestions for future online-exclusive articles, please send them to embrace@embracethemagazine.com.

Minorities in Nursing Homes On the Rise

According to a new study published in the July issue of Health Affairs, the number of elderly Hispanics and Asians living in nursing homes climbed 54.9 percent and 54.1 percent, respectively, between 1999 and 2008. During that same period of time, the number of black residents climbed 10.8 percent, but the number of white residents fell 10.2 percent.

According to the study's authors, the number of minority residents in nursing homes increased even faster than the minority population overall, even in areas that have high concentrations of minority populations. The authors surmised that this might indicate unequal access to home- and community-based alternatives, which are usually preferred to nursing homes for long-term care.

To learn more, click here.

Save Yourself and Your Residents from Bug Bites This Summer

When summer rolls around, it's time for you and your residents to get outside and enjoy the warmth and sunshine - but bugs can take a real bite (pun intended) out of the joys of the great outdoors.

The number of insect repellents on the market is daunting. Thankfully, the Chicago Tribune has published a list of tips for choosing a product that's both safe and effective. Among their suggestions:

• Look for an EPA registration number. This indicates that the product has been tested for safety and its effectiveness as a repellent.
• If you want to stay away from DEET, try products with a base of oil of lemon eucalyptus, Picaridin or IR3535.
• Keep in mind that the efficacy of all-herbal alternatives varies widely. You might need to try a few products before you find one that works for you.
• Read product labels. Manufacturers often recommend washing skin thoroughly with soap and water after returning indoors.
• If you choose a sunscreen/insect repellent combo, keep in mind that you might need to apply it more frequently for sun protection than is appropriate for keeping the bugs at bay.

To learn more, click here.

More Than 60,000 Bottles of Extra-Strength Tylenol Recalled

McNeil Consumer Healthcare, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, is voluntarily recalling 60,912 bottles of extra-strength Tylenol caplets after consumers reported detecting a musty, moldy odor.

Although serious adverse reactions are unlikely, it is possible that people who come in contact with the odor (which has been linked to traces of the chemical tribromoanisole,or TBA) could experience temporary gastrointestinal symptoms.

The recalled products are from lot number ABA619 and have the UPC code 300450444271. These numbers can be found on the side of the bottle label. Consumers who have this product in their possession should stop using it and contact McNeil Consumer Healthcare. Click here for additional recall instructions.

HHS Providing $352 Million in Grants for Disaster Preparedness

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced that it will award $352 million in grants to help healthcare providers beef up their disaster preparedness efforts. The grants are part of the HHS' Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP) and were created to help providers respond to emergencies such as tornadoes, floods and other natural disasters.


Grant recipients will be able to use the funds for the following purposes:

• Hiring emergency management consultants
• Developing and implementing evacuation plans
• Purchasing emergency pharmaceutical caches
• Running training programs for volunteers and staff
• Purchasing supplies for managing mass fatalities and providing shelter for residents and staff

To learn more, click here.

More Than Half of Americans Over 50 Worried About LTC Costs

A new study backed by the insurance industry found than almost 60 percent of Americans over the age of 50 are worried about the costs of long-term care - and only 16 percent feel financially prepared to deal with those costs.

The study was sponsored by Sun Life Financial. Bob Klein, Sun Life's VP of Strategic Planning and Linked Benefits, suggests that adult children start talking to their parents about LTC insurance when the parents are five to 10 years away from retirement and focus on advance planning rather than panicking.

To learn more, click here.

Independence Day Closure Notice Reminder

ProMed will be closed on Monday, July 4 in honor of Independence Day. All normal Monday deliveries will be made on Tuesday, July 5. Customers who typically order on Monday for Tuesday delivery should place their orders by Friday, July 1 at noon.

If you have any questions at all, we invite you to contact our Customer Care Department at (800) 648-5190.