Four Reasons to Eat More Veggies

Just in case you need more reasons to dig into summer's abundant vegetables, check out the following four ways that they can lead to a healthier you!

1. They fight bloat. Veggies contain a lot of fiber, which helps flush waste and gastric irritants out of the body. Fiber also helps prevent constipation by keeping the digestive tract moving. 
2. They hydrate the skin and help fight wrinkles. Many veggies are 85 percent to 95 percent water. They also contain phytonutrients and vitamin C, which can help prevent premature aging. 
3. They reduce stress. Vegetables contain key nutrients, including magnesium and vitamin C, that are quickly depleted during stressful times. They also contain tension-reducing omega-3 fatty acids and B vitamins to help fight depression and anxiety. 
4. They protect your bones. Like dairy foods, vegetables contain high levels of calcium and vitamin D. Some veggies also contain bone-builders such as vitamin K, magnesium, potassium and prebiotic fiber. 

To learn more, click here.

Keep Your Residents' Skin Safe In the Sun

It seems like summer is finally starting to make its way into town! While it's tempting to soak in the sun's rays, elderly people need to take special precautions to protect their skin.

As we age, our skin gets thinner and more delicate. It's also less able to protect and rejuvenate itself. Since no single protectant is 100 percent effective in warding off damaging UV radiation, experts recommend taking a multi-step approach to protect skin.

• Avoid sunbathing and sunburn. Tanning isn't a good idea for mature skin that already experienced a lifetime of sun damage.
• Stay in the shade. Encourage residents to stay on a porch or other shady area when the sun is strongest (between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.).
• Wear sunscreen. Dermatologists recommend applying SPF 30 sunscreen to exposed skin daily, even if your residents aren't planning on going outdoors.
• Moisturize. Elderly skin is likely to be dry, and sun damage and hot temperatures can make it worse.
• Choose protective clothing. Long-sleeved shirts and full-length pants provide great protection for elderly skin. You might also suggest wearing a hat.
• Accessorize! Shield skin from the sun with umbrellas and sunglasses.

Study: Hip Fractures Likely to Lead to Death, Immobility In Six Months

According to a new study, more than half of nursing home residents who sustain a hip fracture die or cannot walk within six months of their injuries. One-third of the residents die within six months. The study was conducted by the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine.

According to the researchers, male residents or residents older than 90 with high levels of comorbidities and cognitive impairments are at greatest risk.

In addition to the risk of immobility or death, seniors who experience hip fractures are also likely to experiences decreases in ADLs such as eating, bathing, dressing or moving in bed.

On the flip side, one in five seniors not living in a nursing dies within a year of a hip fracture.

To learn more, click here.

Prevention through Education

One of ProMed's greatest strengths is educating customers on the use of our products. Our all-shift in- service presentations and exclusive in-service guides help your staff become comfortable with the best-in-class products available exclusively from ProMed. The in-service guides are also perfect additions to your orientation packets!

Customized in-servicing is available for a wide variety of products, including diabetic care, incontinence care, enteral nutrition, skin care, wound care, ostomy care, syringes and sharps, pill crushing and more!

During a ProMed in-service, our knowledgeable reps will:

• Bring in product samples to show your staff
• Explain why a product change is being made
• Demonstrate use of the product
• Discuss any relevant industry and regulatory information
• Ask key questions to ensure everyone understands correct product usage
• Ask your team to complete In-Service Evaluation forms so that we can use your feedback to make our programming as valuable as possible
• Follow up to ensure a smooth transition

We hope that you will allow your staff to get to know us as your facility's medical supply distributor and encourage them to come to us if they have a question or concern. We want to be your trusted advisors!

Click here to download the In-Service Request Form!

Analysis: Antisocial Behavior Best Predictor of Abuse in Residents with Criminal History

A new analysis has found that antisocial behavior is the best predictor of abusive behavior among residents who have criminal histories. 

During the analysis, researchers examined the behavior of 46 nursing home residents with criminal histories, including sex offenses. They found that 54 percent of the residents transitioned into the long-term care setting smoothly with minimal difficulties and 24 percent had difficulties that were managed using standard nursing home resources. 

They found that 10 residents were "uniquely challenging." These individuals committed intentionally aggressive acts, were extremely disruptive and "posed a danger to to the facility, the residents and the community." The researchers found that previous antisocial behavior was the best indicator of which individuals were most likely to fall into this group. 

The goal of this analysis was to assist with F tag 22, which requires facilities to identify residents "whose personal histories render them at risk for abusing other residents." 

To learn more, click here. 

Have You Tried Our Stretch Briefs Yet?

ProMed’s exclusive Embrace Adult Skin Caring Stretch briefs are in stock and ready to help you provide best-in-class incontinence care to your residents. These innovative briefs were rigorously tested by our clinical team and designed to meet our exact specifications. The end result is an exceptionally comfortable brief that moves with the resident, provides a natural fit and helps save valuable time.

The briefs are available in two standardized sizes that can comfortably accommodate a wide variety of residents thanks to the highly stretchable side panels. The Medium/Regular size fits 32"-54" waists and the Large/Extra-Large size fits 48"-66" waists.

The standardized sizing on the briefs allows you to stock just two sizes of product, freeing up valuable storage room space, reducing costs and saving caregiver time. You can also count on the briefs to be comfortable and discreet, thanks to their quiet cloth-like fabric, dual core and super-absorbency polymers.

To learn more about the Embrace Stretch briefs, contact your ProMed territory manager, click on the link above or give us a call at (800) 648-5190.

OSHA Releases New Safe Resident Handling Brochure

OSHA has released a new brochure, "Safe Patient Handling: Preventing Musculoskeletal Disorders in Nursing Homes," as part of its ongoing campaign to prevent injuries to both caregivers and residents.

The brochure contains statistics on disabling injuries that occur in healthcare environments (which far surpass other physically demanding jobs such construction) as well as the benefits of safe resident handling. It also has a listing of the elements of the successful resident handling program, including:

• Commitment from management at all levels
• A safe handling committee that involves workers at the front lines
• Thoughtful selection of equipment 
• Education and training
• Regular program evaluation

To download the brochure or view it online, click here.

ProMed Independence Day Closure Notice

Professional Medical will be closed Friday, July 4 in honor of Independence Day. Orders placed by noon on Monday, June 30 will be delivered by Thursday, July 3. Orders placed after noon on Monday, June 30 will be delivered the week of July 7.

Please call our Customer Care team at (800) 648.5190 with any questions or concerns.

Equip Your Facility for the Bariatric Resident

Obesity has been rapidly increasing in the United States over the past two decades. Beyond being a major health concern, obesity can also have implications for how your facility provides care.  According to the most current data from the CDC, 35.4 percent of adults over the age of 60 are obese.1 (To be considered obese, an adult needs to have a body mass index, or BMI, of 30 or higher.)

The increasing number of obese seniors is leading to facilities bringing in new, specially designed equipment because standard-sized products might not be able to accommodate residents with bariatric proportions. Fortunately, manufacturers are in tune with the rise in obesity and have developed products with this population in mind.

ProMed’s comprehensive Bariatric Equipment & Accessories product category was designed to help you meet the special needs of this group. We offer:

• Beds and accessories
• Commodes and shower chairs
• Mattresses, including dynamic air and foam 
• Lifts and slings
• Wheelchairs and recliners 
• Scales

Our highly trained territory managers are ready to help you address your facility’s specific bariatric product needs. To connect with us, give us a call at (800) 648-5190 or visit us online at promedsupply.com. Click here to view our bariatric product lineup.

Reference 
1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Adult Obesity Facts. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult.html. Accessed May 29, 2014. 

Add These To Your Diet As You Age

As we age, our diets need some tweaking to ensure optimum health. Cynthia Sass, a dietitian, recommended adding the following nutrients in an article she wrote for Health.com.

1. Vitamin D. Adequate Vitamin D intake has been linked to lower rates of obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, depression, certain cancers and brain disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. It is also tied to enhanced immunity, muscle function and and injury prevention. Your doctor can recommend the proper dose to take after testing your blood.

2. Calcium. One in three women over the age of 50 will experience a bone fracture due to bone density declining rapidly after this age. Calcium also assists with muscle and nerve function. The recommended daily intake for women over 50 is 1,2000 mg per day, but the maximum advised limit, from both food and supplements combined, is 2,000 mg per day from age 51 on.

3. Probiotics. Probiotics boost immunity, improve digestive and skin health, lower "bad" cholesterol, fight gum disease and help with weight control. There is no standard recommendation for probiotics, but your doctor can help you choose a brand and amount.

4. Omega 3 fatty acids. Essential fatty acids are linked to brain and vision protection, healthy skin and hair, better circulation, reduced muscle soreness, a lower risk of heart disease and depression and reduced risk of inflammation. There is no standard daily dose for healthy adults, so ask your doctor for guidance.

5. Magnesium. Magnesium helps maintain normal muscle and nerve function, keeps the heart rhythm steady, supports a healthy immune system, keeps bones strong and reduces stroke and heart disease risk. It also helps to regulate blood sugar levels and blood pressure. If you take a supplement, don't exceed the recommended daily allowance of 400 mg unless your doctor has advised you otherwise.

6. Fiber. Fiber-rich foods can help regulate your digestive system and keep you fuller longer. Research has shown that for every gram of fiber we eat, we eliminate about seven calories. Reach for fiber-rich foods, such as fruits and vegetables, beans and lentils and small helpings of nuts and whole grains.

7. Water. Water is required for every bodily process and we lose it from our bodies steadily throughout the day. The Institute of Medicine recommends women aged 19 and over drink 2.7 liters (or roughly 11 cups) of water per day. Water from food can help you reach this goal, but you should still aim for at least nine cups.

To learn more, click here.

Sylvia Burwell Confirmed as HHS Secretary

Sylvia Burwell, the outgoing director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, has been confirmed by the Senate as the new secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). She replaces outgoing secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

Burwell was confirmed by a bipartisan group that included 52 Democrats, two independents and 24 Republicans.

Burwell has experience in both the public and private sectors. She was the president of the Walmart Foundation, the president and COO of of the Global Development Program at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and on the board of the Council on Foreign Relations. She also held a variety of government positions during the Clinton administration.

To learn more, click here.

Study: Zithromax Decreases Risk of Death In Seniors with Pneumonia

Researchers have found that the antibiotic Zithromax (azithromycin) lowers the risk of death for people who have pneumonia, but it also slightly increases the risk of them having a heart attack.

During the study, researchers analyzed data from 64,000 seniors with pneumonia at VA acute care hospitals. Roughly half of the subjects received azithromycin; the other half did not. After 90 days of hospitalization, the death rate was around 17 percent for those who received the zithromycin and 22 percent for those who did not.

The researchers found that those in the azithromycin group had a slightly higher risk of heart attack (5.1 percent versus 4.4 percent). The risk of cardiac arrythmias, heart failure and any cardiac event were about the same.

To learn more, click here.

CDC: LTC Facilities Most Common Sites for Norovirus Outbreaks

How's this for a dubious distinction? Researchers have found that long-term care facilities are by far the most common settings for norovirus outbreaks, dwarfing even hospitals.

According to the CDC, more than 2,000 norovirus outbreaks originated in LTC facilities between 2009 and 2012. During those same years, only about 120 outbreaks originated in hospitals.

Of the 2,000-plus outbreaks, only 12 were linked to contaminated food, a common cause of the virus. The others were caused by other methods of transmission, including person-to-person contact.

Norovirus is notorious for spreading quickly through enclosed areas and is difficult to combat since it is resistant to common disinfectants, is infectious at very low doses and people shed a great amount of viral particles even when asymptomatic.

The norovirus hits elderly people hard. The majority of deaths related to the virus are among seniors and very young children.

To learn more, click here.

Diabetes-Friendly Tips for Enjoying Summer Fruit

Summer is just around the corner and lots of delicious fruits will soon be at their peak. For people with diabetes, these delicious snacks are still within reach, but some considerations need to be taken before indulging.

The following guidelines from the American Diabetes Association can help you choose the best fruits for your nutritional needs.1

If you’re counting carbohydrates: Keep in mind that a small piece of whole fruit or about half a cup of frozen or canned fruit has around 15 grams of carbohydrate. Dried fruits, on the other hand, can have 15 grams of carbs in just two tablespoons! Fruit can also be eaten in exchange for other sources of carbs, such as starches, grains or dairy.

If you’re using the glycemic index: Most fruits have a low glycemic index because of their fructose and fiber content. However, some fruits have a medium index, including melons, pineapple and some dried fruits such as dates, raisins and sweetened cranberries.

If you use the plate method: A small piece of fruit or ½ cup of fruit salad for dessert is a nice complement to non-starchy veggies, a small portion of starch and protein.

No matter which method you use, keep in mind that the best choices are fresh, frozen or canned fruits without any added sugar.

ProMed offers a complete line of diabetic management products that were designed with long-term care in mind. To learn more, contact your ProMed territory manager, give us a call at (800) 648-5190 or visit us online at promedsupply.com.

Reference 
1 American Diabetes Association. Fruits. Available at: http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/food/what-can-i-eat/making-healthy-food-choices/fruits.html. Accessed May 20, 2014. 

Study: Strong Link Between Depression and Death for Seniors with Diabetes

A new study out of UCLA has concluded that among seniors age 65 and older with diabetes, depression is linked to a much greater chance of early death compared to diabetic seniors who do not have depression.

The researchers believe this is the case because depressed people are less likely to adhere to their prescribed medications, diet, exercise and glucose self-monitoring than non-depressed people.

The researchers also studied younger people with diabetes, but did not find a similarly increased risk of mortality.

To learn more, click here.