Study: Seniors with Dementia More Likely to be Rehospitalized

A new study has found that seniors with dementia are more likely to be rehospitalized within 30 days of discharge, and the risk increases if they are on antipsychotics.

The study also found that seniors who are discharged to skilled nursing facilities have a lower risk of readmission compared to those who utilize home health services. This could be because home health services are not designed to compensate for factors such as absent family caregivers or unsafe houses, according to the study's authors.

To learn more, click here.

Get Ready for National Nurses Week 2014!

National Nurses Week kicks off next Tuesday, May 6 and runs through May 12, Florence Nightingale's birthday. The theme of the 2014 celebration is Nurses: Leading the Way.

Are you still looking for ways to celebrate at your facility? Perhaps the following ideas will inspire you:

• Request a proclamation from your town's mayor declaring May 6 as National RN Recognition Day
• Hold a reception, complete with refreshments, to honor the nurses at your facility
• Sponsor a coloring contest for the children of your employees and hang the submissions throughout your building
• Host a fundraiser, such as a silent auction, bake sale or raffle, and donate the proceeds to a local charity in your facility's name
• Organize a candlelight vigil on National RN Recognition Day (May 6) in recognition of the 3.1 million registered nurses in America
• Send a press release to your local newspaper announcing National Nurses Week
• Distribute tokens of appreciation, such as hand sanitizer, stethoscopes, travel mugs, lanyards, pens, snacks or other goodies

You can also download the National Nurses Week 2014 Resource Toolkit, which includes a thank-you card, certificate of appreciation, sample press release and more, by clicking here.

The American Nurses Association is hosting a free webinar, "Transforming Health Care Through Nursing Leadership," in honor of National Nurses Week. The webinar will be held at 1 p.m. Eastern time on Wednesday, May 7. To register, click here.

Study: Religious Music Can Improve Seniors' Mental Health

According to a new study, listening to religious music can help improve older adults' self-esteem and satisfaction with their lives as well as decrease their anxiety about death.

The study's authors suggested that music could be valuable in promoting mental health for older adults. Respondents in the study were either practicing Christians, identified as Christian in the past or were unaffiliated with a specific faith.

To learn more, click here.

Study: Frozen Fecal Transplants Effective at Curing C. Diff

Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital have successfully used frozen fecal transplants to cure Clostridium difficile, or C. diff.

The transplants have been proven to rebalance gut bacteria that is affected by C. diff, a potentially fatal antibiotic-resistant infection, but difficulty previously arose with finding and screening donors. To address this, the researchers used frozen fecal matter from donors unrelated to the patients. The fecal matter can be administered either through colonoscopy or a nasogastric tube.

The researchers had a total cure rate of 90 percent using the frozen fecal matter. They suggested that "banks" of frozen fecal matter could be created to expedite the procedures and noted that the nasogastric tube administration route is less invasive for frail seniors.

To learn more, click here.

Study: Facilities Often Delay Palliative Care Until Death Is Imminent

A new study has found that long-term care nurses often delay transitioning residents to palliative care until they are very close to death, for a number of reasons.

The surveyors interviewed LTC staff, who offered multiple explanations for the findings. One reason is that family members often want care interventions as a resident approaches death, even if an advance directive is in place. Another possible reason is that the magnitude of the decision makes it difficult. Finally, caregivers explained that switching to palliative care can be construed as "giving up" on the resident.

As a result, residents might only be moved to palliative care once death is imminent, creating a scramble to get family members on board with the decision.

The study's authors suggest clearly defining "palliative care" for both staff members and family so that it is seen as a type of care rather than the absence of care. They also suggest facility policies include information on caring for residents with uncertain prognoses.

To learn more, click here.

Study: Cipro, Related Antibiotics Raise MRSA Risk in LTC Settings

Researchers in France have found that long-term care residents who take fluoroquinolone antibiotics such as Cipro are at an increased risk of developing methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA.

During the study, the researchers tracked roughly 450 residents who were not colonized with MRSA when they were admitted. Seventy-five members of this group developed MRSA and the researchers were able to identify fluoroquinolone use as being associated with its development. They also found that more than 93 percent of the MRSA strains were resistant to fluoroquinolones.

To learn more, click here.

AEDs: Saving Lives in a Heartbeat

What would happen if someone in your facility experienced sudden cardiac arrest? It can happen at any time, to people of any age and affects roughly 350,000 people every year. If you don’t have an automated external defibrillator (AED) nearby, you could be reducing the victim’s chance of survival.

AEDs analyze a heart’s rhythm and, if deemed necessary, deliver an electrical shock. This shock, known as defibrillation, helps the heart re-establish an effective rhythm. For each minute that defibrillation is delayed, the victim’s chance of survival drops by 10 percent – critical time that can slip away waiting for a first response team.1

The Red Cross believes that all Americans should be within four minutes of an AED and someone trained to use it. AEDs are the only effective treatment for restoring a regular heart rhythm during sudden cardiac arrest. The Red Cross recommends using them in combination with CPR for the most effective results.1

Fortunately, today’s AEDs are easy to operate, even for people with no medical background. They are lightweight, portable and increasingly affordable. There are even units that talk the user through the procedure, helping to reduce stress and panic.

To learn more about AED options for your facility, contact your ProMed territory manager, give us a call at (800) 648-5190 or visit us online at promedsupply.com.

Reference
1 American Red Cross. Learn About Automated External Defibrillators. Available at: http://www.redcross.org/prepare/location/workplace/easy-as-aed. Accessed April 17, 2014.

Study: Aggression in Advanced Dementia Stages Can Signal Pain

According to a new study, people with dementia are more likely to become aggressive when they are in physical pain only in the advanced stages of the disease.

Residents with severe cognitive impairment had "significantly more frequent aggressive behaviors" when they were in pain; however, this was not the case for residents with less severe dementia. The study's authors concluded that caregivers should monitor aggressive behaviors in those with dementia and consider pain relief when aggression increases.

The authors also noted that "accurate but simple pain assessment" needs to be further developed for individuals with dementia.

To learn more, click here.

ProMed Easter Closure Reminder

Professional Medical will be closed Friday, April 18 in honor of Good Friday/Easter.

Please call our Customer Care department at 800.648.5190 if you have questions or concerns. Thank you!

Save Now On Great Equipment for Your Facility

Now is the perfect time to freshen up your facility's equipment! From now through May 31, ProMed is offering great deals on some of our most popular items as well as free freight on orders over $600.

Special pricing is currently available on the following items: 

The Silver Sport 2 Wheelchair is available in 18" and 20" widths and with either detachable desk arms or padded armrests. It is upholstered in embossed vinyl that is durable and easy to clean.

The Aluminum Rollator, which is offered in both blue and red frames, has six-inch wheels that won't mark floors. It's perfect for both indoor and outdoor use.

Our Economy Raised Toilet Seat adds 4" of height to a toilet seat and can support individuals weighing up to 300 pounds. The seat is designed for residents who have difficulty sitting down on or standing up from the toilet.

The Two-Button Folding Walker has easy push-button mechanisms that can be operated by fingers, palms or the side of the hand. Its sturdy 1" aluminum construction is both strong and lightweight.

The Gel-Foam Wheelchair Cushion is specially designed to redistribute pressure in an effort to help prevent pressure ulcers. It is made of high-density foam that encapsulates a dual-chamber gel bladder and is available in 16", 18" and 20" widths.

The Deluxe Aluminum Bath Chair is lightweight, durable and corrosion-proof. Its seat height can be adjusted from 15.5" to 19.5" to accommodate a wide range of users.

For additional details on these specials as well as future promotions, be sure to subscribe to Mr. B's Equipment Specials. Click here to be added to our subscriber list!

For more information on the special pricing available on these items, please contact your territory manager or give us a call at (800) 648-5190.

CMS: Nursing Homes Achieved Antipsychotic Reduction Goal

CMS has announced that nursing homes have succeeded in reducing antipsychotic use by more than 15 percent, achieving the primary goal of the National Partnership to Improve Dementia Care in Nursing Homes.

The initiative, which was announced in 2012, joined together private and public organizations to educate providers and help them transition residents off antipsychotics. The 15 percent reduction goal was achieved in every state.

While the reduction is a step in the right direction, one in five residents in long-term care is still on an antipsychotic, showing the need for additional progress. CMS plans to set a new goal for 2014 now that the initial goal has been met.

To learn more, click here.

Sebelius Out as HHS Secretary

Today, President Obama announced the resignation of Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius. The President has nominated Sylvia Matthews Burrell, currently the director of the White House budget office, to take her place.

Sebelius headed HHS during the tumultuous rollout of the healthcare.gov website. The website's performance improved with time and to date more than 7.5 million have signed up for health care under the Affordable Care Act.

To learn more, click here.

How to Curb Pollen Exposure

To those who have allergies, it can seem that pollen is omnipresent. Healthgrades recommends taking the following 12 steps to minimize your exposure to the sneeze-inducing stuff:

1. Close car and house windows to keep pollen outside. 
2. Run the air conditioner to help clean indoor air. 
3. Limit the time you spend outside on high-pollen days. 
4. If you must be outdoors for an extended period of time on high-pollen days, wear a pollen mask. 
5. Avoid being outdoors early in the morning, when pollen levels tend to peak. 
6. Change your clothes and take a shower when you come indoors after an extended period outside. Pollen can cling to skin, hair and clothing. 
7. Use your dryer rather than drying clothing and sheets outdoors. 
8. Vacuum weekly, using a unit with a small-particle or HEPA filter. 
9. Avoid planting Bermuda and Johnson grass in your lawn, which are more likely to cause allergies. If those types of grass are in your lawn, you might want to consider replacing them with bunchgrass, dichondra or Irish moss, which produce less pollen. 
10. If possible, have someone else mow your lawn and keep it cut short. 
11. Choose plants with colorful or scented flowers, which produce heavy, waxy pollen that doesn't go airborne. Good choices are dahlias, daisies, geraniums, roses, snapdragons and tulips. 
12. Don't touch your face when working outside and leave your gardening gloves and tools outside. 

To learn more, click here. 

CMS Releases Info On Provider Types Paid Most By Medicare

Recently released information from CMS revealed just how much Medicare-paid doctors and other providers are paid to care for the nation's elderly.

The following five provider types received the highest average pay per provider:

1. Hematology/Oncology ($366,677)
2. Radiation Oncology ($362,666)
3. Opthamology ($327,164)
4. Medical Oncology ($308,702)
5. Rheumatology ($257,701)

The report cautioned that this data doesn't reveal the conditions of the patients who are being treated and also doesn't reflect funds that providers reimburse to drug companies or other providers for part of the service.

To learn more, click here.

Stay Healthy, Stay Hydrated

Although grocery store aisles are packed with bottle after bottle of drinks promising great health, it's hard to beat the benefits of water.

Water accounts for about 60 percent of our body weight and every system in our bodies depends upon it. It flushes toxins out of vital organs, carries nutrients to cells and keeps ear, nose and throat tissue moist. Our bodies are constantly losing water, even when we're not doing anything strenuous. For example, every day we lose water through breathing, perspiring, evaporation through our skin and going to the bathroom.1 To function properly and avoid complications such as constipation or kidney stones, we must then replenish our bodies with fluids and foods that contain water.

In 1991, a professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine demonstrated that "channels" in the body regulate and facilitate water molecule transport through cell membranes. This discovery led to him receiving the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. These channels, dubbed "Aquaporins," allow water molecules to flow freely into cells while a selective filter prevents other elements from entering. Thousands of millions of water molecules per second can pass through one single channel.2

How do you know if you and your residents are drinking enough water? To determine how much fluid a resident should consume on a daily basis, CMS recommends multiplying body weight in kg (2.2 lbs = 1 kg) by 30 cc, except for residents with renal or cardiac distress (these individuals can be harmed by having an excess of fluids in their bodies).3 Using drinking cups with graduation marks can help you keep track of how much liquid a resident is consuming. The following strategies can help residents stay hydrated throughout the day:

• Offer a variety of fluids (water, fruit juice, milk, etc.) between meals and encourage residents as appropriate
• Offer bottled water that is easy to carry throughout the facility
• Serve additional beverages with meals to help increase fluid intake
• Make sure filled water pitchers and drinking cups are easily accessible to residents
• Offer alternate fluid sources, such as popsicles, gelatin and ice cream

ProMed stocks everything you need to keep your residents hydrated, including disposable cups, pitchers and high-quality bottled water. To learn more, contact your ProMed territory manager, give us a call at (800) 648-5190 or visit us online at promedsupply.com.

References
1 Mayo Clinic. Water: How much should you drink every day? Available at: http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/water/art-20044256. Accessed April 2, 2014.

2 Nobelprize.org. Popular Information: Information for the Public. Available at: http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/chemistry/laureates/2003/popular.html. Accessed April 4, 2014.

3 State Operations Manual. Appendix PP – Guidance to Surveyors for Long Term Care Facilities. Rev. 70, 01-07-11. Available at: http://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/Manuals/downloads/som107ap_pp_guidelines_ltcf.pdf. Accessed April 2, 2014.

Data Stolen from MI Ombudsman Office Includes HIPAA-Protected Information

According to Michigan's Department of Community Health (MCDH), a computer and flash drive belonging to an employee of the state's Long-Term Care Ombudsman's Office have been stolen, potentially compromising the personal information of thousands of people receiving long-term care.

Information on the laptop was encrypted, but the data on the flash drive was not. The flash drive contained information about more than 2,500 people, both living and deceased, including more than 1,500 records that contained a Social Security or Medicaid identification number.

After being notified of the theft, investigators were able to reconstruct the stolen data and notify affected parties.

MCDH authorities are working to tighten security measures in light of the theft, including additional training on the use of portable electronic devices. State agencies are providing credit monitoring for people who may have been affected.

To learn more, click here.

Spring Has Sprung! Is Your Facility Ready?

After a late start, it appears that spring has finally sprung and your residents are doubtlessly looking forward to being able to spend more time outdoors. Have you given your facility a good “spring cleaning” to ensure that both inside and outside are ready for longer, warmer days?

We’ve created this handy spring cleaning checklist to help you out!

• Contact a pest control company to make sure that your facility is protected against invaders such as flies, rodents, cockroaches and ants
• Bring your outdoor furniture out of storage and clean it thoroughly before placing it outside
• Scrub your grill and prepare it for outdoor barbeques
• Make sure that vegetation that could trip residents hasn't grown up over sidewalks and walkways
• Wash all of the windows, both inside and out
• Vacuum window screens
• Clean window coverings, including draperies, blinds and screens
• Shampoo and vacuum carpets
• Dust cobwebs out of the corners on the floor and ceiling
• Remove and clean lighting fixtures and lampshades
• Move all furniture and vacuum underneath it
• Clean the cupboards and oven in the kitchen

Finally, once your facility is in tip-top shape, get outside and enjoy the fresh air! 

Survey: Private Nursing Home Rooms Average $87,600 Per Year

According to a new survey from Genworth, an insurance company, the median annual cost of a private nursing home room has risen to $87,600, a 4.4 percent increase from a year ago. Comparatively, the cost of a semi-private room has inched up 2.62 percent to $77,380 per year. Assisted nursing had the smallest increase, at 1.45 percent.

Alaska ranked as the most expensive state for nursing care ($240,900 per year for a private room) while Oklahoma was the most affordable ($57,488).

To learn more, click here.

Study: Vibration Can Help Heal Chronic Wounds

Good vibrations, indeed. Researchers at the University of Illinois-Chicago and Stony Brook University in New York have found that diabetic ulcers and other chronic wounds might heal more quickly if they are exposed to gentle vibrations.

During the study, which was performed using mice, vibration was linked to the formation of granulation tissue and other pro-healing changes.

The researchers said this could be applied to humans using a platform that delivers whole-body low-intensity vibrations in uniform vertical oscillations.

To learn more, click here.

This Spring, Stop Falls

When was the last time you replaced your fall alarms and pads? If it’s time to update your inventory, take a look at ProMed’s new-and-improved line of products.

Our alarms now offer an “always on” feature, eliminating the burden of staff members needing to remember to turn them on. They’re also all backed by a one-year warranty.  Every alarm we sell is designed specifically for the long-term care environment and will stand up to the rigors of institutional use.

Which alarms are the best fit for your facility?

• The String Alarm is our most economical alarm offering. It is made of durable materials has a nylon strap that allows it to easily hang from the push handle of wheelchair.  
• The feature-rich Mobile Alarm is a great value and a step up from the String Alarm.  Its snap-to-close battery cover also has a screw for increased tamper resistance. 
• The Flex Alarm attaches easily to your nurse call system and is compatible with universal chair and bed sensors, seat belt systems and our floor sensor pad. 
• The 3-in-1 Ultra Alarm combines many of the great features of our other alarms with floor mat compatibility for ultimate flexibility and convenience. 

We also offer a full suite of sensor pads for beds, chairs and floors, plus seatbelt monitoring systems, clips, adapters and cables.

Your ProMed territory manager is ready to help you ensure that you have everything you need for a comprehensive fall prevention program. To learn more, contact your territory manager, give us a call at (800) 648-5190 or visit us online at promedsupply.com.