Gobble Up This Thanksgiving Trivia

Looking for a fun way to pass Thanksgiving afternoon? Print out this post, distribute it to your residents and test their knowledge of Thanksgiving! (If they get stumped, the answers are at the bottom.)

1. What was the first department store to host a Thanksgiving parade?

2. Who is the Greek goddess of corn?

3. What part of the turkey is saved and snapped as a superstitious good luck custom?

4. Who was the first President of the United States to pardon a turkey?

5. Which two football teams played each other in the first Thanksgiving Day game, held in 1934?

6. What is the name of the flap of skin that hangs from a turkey’s neck?

7. Yes or no: Do all turkeys gobble?

8. What is a baby turkey called?

9. Which state produces the most cranberries?

10. The Mayflower was not originally built to be a transportation vessel. What was its original purpose?

11. What was the name of the pilgrim leader who organized the first Thanksgiving feast?

12. Which eating utensil was absent at the first Thanksgiving meal – the knife, spoon or fork?

13. Who wanted the turkey to be the national bird of the United States? Hint: His face can be found on U.S. currency.

14. What is the average weight of a turkey purchased for Thanksgiving dinner?

15. How long did the first Thanksgiving celebration last?

Answers:

1. Gimbel’s Department Store in Philadelphia. 2. Demeter. 3. The wishbone. 4.Harry Truman. 5. The Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions. 6. The wattle. 7. No. The male turkeys gobble, but the females make clicking noises. 8. A poult. 9.Wisconsin. 10. The Mayflower was built to be a merchant ship to carry wine.11. Governor William Bradford. 12. The fork. The pilgrims ate with knives, spoons and their fingers. 13. Benjamin Franklin. 14. 15 pounds. 15. Three days. 

ANA: Nurses Need Regular Schedules, Ability to Offer Input on Scheduling

According a new position statement from the American Nurses Association, nurses should be allowed to have control over scheduling in order to reduce on-the-job fatigue.

The statement recommends that employers make an effort to create regular, predictable schedules for nurses and take nurse input into account when doing so. If a nurse feels that taking on a certain shift would be dangerous due to fatigue, the nurse should be able to reject it without fear of repercussions.

The position statement also calls for maximum 12-hour shift lengths and 40-hour maximum work weeks.

To read the position statement in its entirety, click here.

Study: "Elderspeak" Can Have Negative Effects

A new study found that CNAs are more likely to use patronizing "elderspeak" when they are familiar with residents, if the resident has dementia or if no one else is around.

The study's authors defined elderspeak as simplified vocabulary or sentence structure, exaggerated intonation and vocal pitch, slowed speech, use of terms of endearment (such as "honey") and collective pronoun usage (such as "we").

The study's authors wrote that "the use of elderspeak may increase resistance to care, threaten self-esteem and well-being, and increase dependency among residents." Rather than relying on elderspeak, the researchers recommended facilities implement training programs designed to improve communication.

To learn more, click here.

Thanksgiving Order Cutoff Reminder

We want to remind you about our Thanksgiving order cutoff. If you place an order by noon tomorrow (Friday, November 21), it will be delivered by Wednesday, November 26. Orders placed after noon tomorrow will be delivered the week of December 1.

If you have any questions or concerns, our Customer Care team is here to help! They can be reached at (800) 648-5190.

Report: Nursing Home Compare a Valuable Tool, Could Be Better

According to a new report from the Government Accountability Office, the Nursing Home Compare website and other government sites provide valuable help to consumers, but they can be improved.

The report noted that Nursing Home Compare and Hospital Compare do not contain information how much services cost and do not allow consumers to easily sort providers or customize information. The sites were also reported as difficult for consumers to understand.

On the plus side, Nursing Home Compare was applauded for its easy-to-understand five-star rating system, which is used to summarize providers' performance.

To read the report, click here.

Incontinence Products: Change When Wet or Change When Needed?

Do you change your residents’ incontinence management products as soon as they’re wet, or only when it’s necessary? Many of today’s products are made using advanced technology that allows a single brief to hold multiple voids without sacrificing resident comfort or skin health.

Facilities using the “change when wet” strategy change a brief as soon as the wetness indicator shows that any wetness is present. The “change when needed” strategy, on the other hand, calls for changing the product only once two to three fingers’ width of wetness is shown on the indicator. Of course, if fecal matter is present, the brief is changed right away.

The “change when needed” strategy is a guideline rather than a hard and fast rule. Caregivers should use their experience with an individual resident to determine whether it would be a good fit for that person. When used correctly, this strategy can reduce the number of changes per day that a resident has to endure, which in turn helps promote resident dignity.

This strategy is especially beneficial for nighttime changes. Research has found that residents who spend less of the night asleep are more likely to nap during the day, are at a higher risk for falls and are at risk of shorter survival. Additionally, when residents are exposed to room-level light in the middle of the night, their circadian rhythms can shift, further upsetting their sleep patterns.1

Extended-use and overnight absorbent products offer a higher total capacity, which can reduce the number of changes needed at night. A high-capacity product, combined with the “change when needed” strategy, can equal a peaceful night for the resident.

Your ProMed territory manager can help you develop a protocol that fits your residents’ individual needs. To learn more, contact your territory manager, give us a call at (800) 648-5190 or visit us online at promedsupply.com.

Reference 
1 Martin JL, Ancoli-Israel S. Sleep Disturbances in Long-Term Care. Clin Geriatr Med. Feb 2008;24(1):39-vi. 

Study: Why RA is Rising in Women

According to a new study published in Arthritis & Rheumatism, women are two to three times more likely than men to develop rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Additionally, the rate of RA in women is starting to creep up after 40 years of decreasing.

The researchers offered three theories on why this might be the case:

1. Oral contraceptives. Earlier research found that oral contraceptives actually helped protect women from developing RA, However, newer pills on the market contain lower doses of synthetic estrogen. This decrease could be leading to less protection against RA. 
2. Smoking. While smoking in the U.S. is on the decline, women are kicking the habit more slowly than men. Smoking is one of the biggest factors for developing RA in both men and women. 
3. Vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D deficiency has been on the rise among women during recent years. The deficiency has been tied to a higher risk of developing RA. 

The researchers believe that women's increased risk could be a combination of any of the three factors listed above rather than solely due to one of them. There could also be other factors that have not yet been identified. 

To learn more, click here.

CDC: Flu Season Slowly Getting Underway

According to the CDC, flu season is slowly getting underway. For the week ending in November 8, the following was reported to the agency:

• Widespread influenza activity was reported by Guam.
• Regional influenza activity was reported by three states (Alaska, Florida, and Massachusetts).
• Local influenza activity was reported by Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and 13 states (California, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, and Texas).
• Sporadic influenza activity was reported by the District of Columbia and 31 states (Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming).
• No influenza activity was reported by three states (Maine, Rhode Island, and Tennessee).

Is your facility ready to fight the flu? Click here to view and download our Flu Prevention Strategies and Solutions brochure.

For more details on the current flu season from the CDC, click here.

Don't Let Cold Weather Wreak Havoc with Resident Skin

Cold weather has come in with a bang here in the Midwest! In addition to sending you scrambling for warmer clothing, it can also do a number on the already-delicate skin of your residents. As we age, our skin is likely to become drier due to the natural loss of oil glands, which help keep skin soft. Combine this with the drier air created by indoor heating, and you have the perfect recipe for dry, flaking or cracking skin.

What can you do to keep your residents – and yourself – comfortable?

Here are eight ideas:

1. Ask your supplier rep or a dermatologist which products they would recommend to deliver extra moisture to skin that is battered by the winter elements.
2. Moisturize resident skin more often with a product that creates a protective layer on the skin to help retain moisture.
3. If residents will be going outside, apply sunscreen to their faces and hands (if they're exposed). Winter sun, when combined with glare from snow, can still damage skin.
4. The skin on our hands is thinner and contains fewer oil glands, which makes it harder to keep hands moisturized in the winter. When your residents go outside, make sure they're wearing gloves (and remember that wool gloves can cause irritation to the skin).
5. If residents come back into the building wearing wet socks or gloves, remove them immediately to reduce the likelihood of itching, cracking, sores or even eczema flare-ups.
6. Consider placing several small humidifiers throughout the building. These help to put more moisture into the air, which helps prevent the skin from becoming dry.
7. To keep residents' feet moisturized, seek out a lotion that contains petroleum jelly or glycerine. 
8. Keep in mind that super-hot baths and showers can break down the lipid barriers in the skin, leading to moisture loss.

To learn more, click here.

Quat Binding: What You Need to Know Now

Quaternary-based cleaning products, or “quats,” are a popular and effective choice for disinfecting surfaces. However, their efficacy is largely determined by how they are used.

Research has found that quats have a tendency to become attracted to and absorbed into fabrics such as cotton and gauze. This happens because quats are positively charged and attracted to fabric surfaces that are negatively charged. The result is that a portion of the active ingredients in the quat are absorbed, leaving them unavailable for disinfection.1 This phenomenon is referred to as “quat binding.”

To eliminate quat binding, Clorox, manufacturer of Broad Spectrum Quaternary Disinfectant Cleaner, recommends using a ready-to-spray quat. The liquid should be left on the surface to meet the required contact time and then wiped off. Because the product is being sprayed directly onto the surface and not a wipe, there is no risk of quat binding. Clorox does not recommend that its quat product be used for cleaning floors.

When applied properly, quats offer a lot of benefits. They’re economical, low-odor, have a long shelf life, are compatible with most surfaces, have a relatively low toxicity and kill a broad spectrum of vegetative bacteria, fungi and viruses with comparatively low contact times.

To learn more about the complete range of Clorox Healthcare products available from Professional Medical, contact your territory manager, give us a call at (800) 648-5190 or visit us online at promedsupply.com.

Reference 
1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities, 2008. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/hicpac/pdf/guidelines/disinfection_nov_2008.pdf

Keep Norovirus Off the Menu This Thanksgiving

Did you know that infected foodservice workers cause about 70 percent of reported norovirus outbreaks? While the illness is often linked with cruise ships in the news, the truth is that those incidents account for only about 1 percent of all reported outbreaks, which can happen anywhere people gather or food is served.

Norovirus is highly contagious and hard to kill. People who are sick with norovirus commonly vomit and have diarrhea, both of which can shed billions of tiny viral particles. It can take as few as 18 viral particles to make another person sick, so a person needs only to come into contact with a minute amount of vomit or diarrhea to develop norovirus.

Norovirus is an especially big problem for foodservice because one in five foodservice workers has reported working while sick with vomiting and diarrhea out of fear of losing a job or leaving coworkers short-staffed. Further complicating the issue are observations that show foodservice workers practice proper hand hygiene only one out of four times that they should. Of norovirus outbreaks caused by foodservice personnel, 54 percent of causes involve workers touching ready-to-eat foods with their bare hands.

Norovirus can remain infectious on foods even at freezing temperatures and until heated to about 140 degrees Fahrenheit. It can live on countertops and serving utensils for up to two weeks and resists many common disinfectants and hand sanitizers.

The CDC recommends taking the following steps to keep norovirus from spreading through the kitchen of your facility:

• Ensuring foodservice workers practice proper hand hygiene and avoid touching ready-to-eat foods (such as raw fruits and vegetables) with their bare hands before serving them 
• Certifying kitchen managers and training foodservice workers in food safety practices 
• Requiring sick workers to stay home and considering use of paid sick leave and on-call staffing to support compliance 

To learn more, click here.

Study: Roughly One-Fifth of Residents Mistreated By Other Residents Each Month

A new study out of Cornell University found that about 20 percent of nursing home residents are mistreated by a resident in a given month, a problem that the study's authors said is common, underreported and urgently in need of being addressed.

The most common types of mistreatment, accounting for 16 percent of the total reports, were cursing, screaming and yelling. Other examples included unwanted room entry, going through a resident's belongings without their permission, physical assaults and attempts to gain sexual favors.

The perpetrators of mistreatment were most commonly cognitively impaired but capable of moving around the facility. The researchers recommended that caregivers receive training on recognizing and reporting mistreatment as well as strategies for reducing it.

To learn more, click here.

Study: COPD Patients Discharged to SNFs Twice As Likely to Die Within a Year

A new study out of Ohio found that people who are discharged to skilled nursing facilities after being hospitalized for chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, or COPD, are about twice as likely to die within a year.

COPD patients who were discharged to SNFs had a 34 percent change of dying within 180 days, compared to about 16 percent for those who were sent home from the hospital. Those numbers climbed to 46.5 percent and 24 percent, respectively, one year after discharge.

The researchers noted that patients discharged to SNFs are more likely to have severe COPD, multiple chronic conditions and poorer overall functioning. However, they suggested that further research might determine whether certain patients might benefit from more intensive management and which could be candidates for hospice and palliative care.

To learn more, click here.

ProMed Thanksgiving Closure Notice

Professional Medical will be closed Thursday, November 27 and Friday, November 28 in honor of Thanksgiving. 

Orders placed by noon on Friday, November 21 will be delivered by Wednesday, November 26. Orders placed afternoon on Friday, November 21 will be delivered the week of December 1.
Please call our Customer Care team at 800.648.5190 with any questions or concerns.

Design Services: Partner with the Pros

We know you have choices when it comes to design services, but how many of those choices are healthcare experts?

Professional Medical has partnered with Basic American to offer an interior design program geared specifically toward healthcare. The Basic American design team and ProMed are with you every step of the way, from planning to design and implementation. Whether you’re looking to spruce up a few resident rooms or completely overhaul your existing building, we’re ready to help you create the space of your dreams.

Best of all, this service is completely complimentary. Why spend upwards of $100 per hour for a designer when you can receive the same quality service for free? You’ll save thousands of dollars that can be utilized for resident care or facility upgrades.

Through this partnership, not only will you avoid having to pay an interior designer's hourly charges, you'll also be partnering with a team of professionals who are in tune with the specific challenges of designing for long-term care. The Basic American team is detail-oriented and well-versed in the life safety codes, fire ratings and potential F tags that need to be considered when designing a space that is functional and durable as well as attractive. You're also welcome to join us on a visit to Basic American's 11,000 square foot showroom in Atlanta to meet with their team and gain inspiration for your own facility.

ProMed and Basic American provide all of the following services at no charge: 

• Space planning
• Schematic design
• Design development
• Furniture selection
• Color and materials selection
• Custom furniture and millwork design
• Artwork selection
• Graphics and signage
• Accessories and lighting specifications
• Installation administration
• In-house purchasing

To learn more or receive a free, no-obligation budgetary quote, contact your ProMed territory manager or give us a call at (800) 648-5190.

ProMed Article Featured In LTC Today

If you're a member of the Illinois Health Care Association, be sure to check out the article we contributed to the Fall/Winter 2014 edition of LTC Today!

Titled "Secrets to Success and Longevity in Long Term Care," the article examines opportunities for savings on both the organizational and product level. It draws upon knowledge that ProMed has accumulated since our founding as a company in 1968.

If you're not an IHCA member, you can also read the article online by clicking here.