Savor the Worldly Flavors of Thanksgiving

Since Thanksgiving was first celebrated in America in 1621, many other cultures have added their own flavorful spin to the celebration, making it into a veritable melting pot of delicious flavors. Here are just a few examples:

• Poland: In addition to turkey, many Polish American families serve kielbasa, meatballs in mushroom gravy, pierogi and other favorites.
• Hawaii: Thanksgiving turkey is frequently cooked in an imu, an in-ground oven, or marinated in the Chinese Char Siu style with red beans, honey and soy sauce.
• Africa: The turkey is typically heavily spiced and couscous might take the place of mashed potatoes. Collard greens with bacon is a popular side dish.
• China: Many Chinese families celebrate Thanksgiving by going out for dim sum and choose bao, soft dough-filled buns, over the traditional pumpkin pie. Roast duck is also a common dish on Chinese Thanksgiving tables.
• France: Roasted guinea hens are a nod to the traditional cuisine of rural France.
• Italy: The turkey stays front and center on many Italian tables, but it might be seasoned with a more traditional seasoning blend, such as juniper berries, rosemary and sage. Sausage stuffing is also popular.
• Mexico: On many tables, a suckling pig replaces the traditional turkey.

Why not ask your residents how their families put their own personal spin on Thanksgiving? You might come up with some great new dishes to try!

Happy National Assisted Living Week!

National Assisted Living Week is September 9-15! The theme of this year's celebration is "Art for the Ages." Residents, staff, families and the community are encouraged to come together to celebrate the artistic talents and creativity of assisted living residents.

National Assisted Living Week was established by the National Center for Assisted Living in 1995. To learn more, click here.

Are You Ready for National Nurses Week?

National Nurses Week kicks off this Sunday, May 6 and runs through Saturday, May 12, Florence Nightingale's birthday. National Nurses Week has been celebrated since 1990, but it can trace its roots back to the 1950s. The theme of this year's celebration is "Nurses: Advocating, Leading, Caring."

To download the National Nurses Week Media kit, which contains suggestions on celebrating the week, press releases, a history of the event and much more, click here.

Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez!

Today is Mardi Gras, AKA Fat Tuesday! Why not kick off a celebration at your facility by whipping up a batch of non-alcoholic Hurricanes for your residents to enjoy? Mix up a batch and laissez les bon temps roulez (let the good times roll)!

Non-Alcoholic Hurricanes
2 cups passion fruit juice
1 cup unsweetened pineapple juice
1 cup orange juice
¾ cup lemon juice
2 cups sparkling water
Ice cubes
Pineapple wedges and maraschino cherries (for garnish)

Combine all of the juices in a pitcher. Just before serving, stir in the sparkling water. Pour the mixture into hurricane or highball glasses filled with ice and garnish with pineapple wedges and cherries. Yield: 9 servings (3/4 cup each).

Sweet Tips for Your Valentine's Day Celebration

Valentine's Day is a great opportunity to celebrate all of the love that your residents have experienced throughout their lives. It’s also the perfect time to show them how much you appreciate and care for them! Here are a few suggestions for creating a memorable Valentine’s Day celebration at your facility.

Sweet treats At your party, invite residents to decorate cupcakes using pink and red frosting and sprinkles. After the cupcakes are decorated, it’s time for the really fun part – eating them!

To wash down the cupcakes, serve up a simple, low-sugar punch. Pour one liter of diet lemon-lime soda into a punch bowl and stir in ½ cup of fruit punch concentrate. Using an ice cream scoop, add one pint of lemon or lime sherbet. When the sherbet starts to melt, stir the punch and serve.

Music Set the tone at your party with romantic songs that topped the charts when your residents were younger. Music from past decades is easy to find on iTunes or on CDs from the local library. Here are a few song suggestions:

• “In the Mood,” Glenn Miller
• “Crazy,” Patsy Cline
• “Moon River,” Andy Williams
• “Come Rain or Come Shine,” Billie Holiday
• “Fools Rush In,” Frank Sinatra

Love on the big screen If your residents are in the mood for a more subdued celebration, consider popping in a DVD of a romantic movie. The following are on the American Film Institute’s “100 Years…100 Passions” compilation of the best romantic movies from the past 100 years.

• Casablanca
• Gone with the Wind
• Roman Holiday
• From Here to Eternity
• It Happened One Night

We hope these ideas help you create a sweet celebration! Head on over to our Facebook page and tell us how your facility is honoring Valentine's Day!

The Worldly Flavors of Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving might be a distinctly American holiday, but many cultures have infused their own unique flavors into the celebration. If you have residents who immigrated from other countries or who are first-generation Americans, now is a great time to ask them about their own special Thanksgiving traditions. Below, we've listed just a few ways that international flavors are incorporated into Thanksgiving celebrations.

• Africa: The turkey is typically heavily spiced and couscous might take the place of mashed potatoes. Collard greens with bacon is a popular side dish.
• China: Many Chinese families celebrate Thanksgiving by going out for dim sum and choose bao, soft dough-filled buns, over the traditional pumpkin pie. Roast duck is also a common dish on Chinese Thanksgiving tables.
• France: Roasted guinea hens are a nod to the traditional cuisine of rural France.
• Hawaii: Thanksgiving turkey is frequently cooked in an imu, an in-ground oven, or marinated in the Chinese Char Siu style with red beans, honey and soy sauce.
• Italy: The turkey stays front and center on many Italian tables, but it might be seasoned with a more traditional seasoning blend, such as juniper berries, rosemary and sage. Sausage stuffing is also popular.
• Mexico: On many tables, a suckling pig replaces the traditional turkey.
• Poland: In addition to turkey, many Polish families serve kielbasa, meatballs in mushroom gravy, pierogi and other favorites.

No matter how you choose to celebrate, we at ProMed wish you a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

Happy National Assisted Living Week!

National Assisted Living Week (NALW) kicks off this Sunday, September 11 and runs through September 17! The theme of this year's celebration, sponsored by the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL), is "Forever Proud."

Since 1995, NALW has been a way for residents, staff, family members and communities to celebrate all that assisted living has to offer.

"Forever Proud" was selected as this year's theme because the celebration kicks off on the tenth anniversary of 9/11. According to the NCAL, "it was important for the theme to reflect the pride we feel as citizens and active members of the community. The events of 9/11 were tragic, but they also brought our country together. Countrymen helping countrymen and a spirit of rebuilding helped to foster a renewed sense of national pride for many."

To learn more and download planning materials, click here.

Happy National Nurse Assistant Week!

National Nurse Assistant Week starts today! The theme of this year's celebration is "New Roles, New Goals." The first day of the week is designated as National Career Assistants' Day to honor nursing assistants who have dedicated their lives to the well-being of others.

We published an article titled "Celebrate Your CNAs" in the latest issue of Embrace magazine. If your ProMed territory manager has dropped off your copy of Embrace, be sure to check it out! You can also download a copy of it here. We hope it helps inspire your celebration this week.

Happy National Nurses Day!

Today, May 6, is National Nurses Day! It's also the kickoff of National Nurses Week, which is always celebrated from May 6 through May 12, Florence Nightingale's birthday. The theme of this year's celebration is "Nurses: Trusted to Care."

The American Nurses Association posted this tribute to nursing on their website:

Often described as an art and a science, nursing is a profession that embraces dedicated people with varied interests, strengths and passions because of the many opportunities the profession offers. As nurses, we work in emergency rooms, school based clinics and homeless shelters, to name a few. We have many roles - from staff nurse to educator to nurse practitioner and nurse researcher - and serve all of them with passion for the profession and with a strong commitment to patient safety.

To learn more, click here.

Happy National Long Term Care Administrator's Week!

March 14-18 is National Long Term Care Administrator's Week! This celebration has been sponsored by the American College of Health Care Administrators (ACHCA) since 1994 and is designed to honor the role of the administrator in providing leadership for the delivery of quality, resident-centered care and a supportive work environment for staff.

ACHCA posted this message to administrators on their website: "ACHCA commends, salutes and thanks those Administrators in nursing homes and assisted living centers who are committed to providing excellent quality of care and quality of life for the elderly. Congratulations on a job very well done!"

To learn more and view ideas for celebrating at your facility, click here.

Happy NAP Week!

January 16-21 is National Activity Professionals (NAP) Week! The theme of this year's celebration is "Activities: Oceans of Possibilities!"

According to the National Association of Activity Professionals, NAP Week was created to recognize the contributions of activity professionals in all adult communities.

To download the 2011 NAP Week packet, which includes celebration ideas and a letter encouraging administrators to honor the week, click here.

Happy National Assisted Living Week!

September 12-18, 2010 is National Assisted Living Week! The theme of this year's celebration is "Living Life."

National Assisted Living Week was established in 1995 by the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL). It provides an opportunity for families, staff, volunteers and the community to join together and show residents how special and treasured they are. The NCAL encourages facilities to involve residents in a variety of events and activities throughout the week.

The NCAL explained the meaning behind this year's theme, "Living Life," in this way: "You don't have to be a rock climber, sky diver, marathon runner, or scholar to live life to the fullest. Living life means participating in activities that you enjoy and pursuing your passions, whatever they may be. It means never stopping the process of discovery or mastering talents. It means sharing your history and teaching others what you have learned. It is a lifelong pursuit of happiness and growth. We all want to live life to the fullest, no matter how old or young we are. Assisted living communities around the country are giving their residents the environment and tools they need to reach their goals. We celebrate their efforts and the residents who inspire their community."

To learn more about National Assisted Living Week, click here.

Happy National Nursing Assistants Week!

2010's National Nursing Assistant Week kicked off on June 10 and will run through June 17. The theme of this year's celebration is "Nursing Assistants Handle with Care."

According to the National Network of Career Nursing Assistants, the focus of National Nursing Assistant Week 2010 is safe lifting. Nursing assistants and other direct care providers are seven times more likely to be injured on the job than other healthcare workers. This week, nursing assistants are encouraged to foster better understanding of the need for safer lifting practices that can prevent injuries to CNAs and residents alike.

To learn more, click here.

Happy National School Nurse Day!

Since 1972, the Wednesday within National Nurses Week has been designated as National School Nurse Day.

According to the National Association of School Nurses, there's no "typical" job description for a school nurse: "What DO school nurses do? If you ask that question to 50 nurses, you will get 50 different answers, and with good reason! The role of the school nurse is as varied as the spectrum of the rainbow. School nurses work in pre-schools, elementary, middle, and high schools; they work in public, private, parochial, and charter schools; they work in urban, suburban and rural districts; they work in wealthy, middle class, or poverty-stricken areas; they work at the grass roots level; they are coordinators or supervisors, consultants, and educators; they are new to school nursing or they are veterans; they are young and they are not-so-young."

Team ProMed thanks the school nurses of the world for all that they do to keep our children healthy and happy!

Need Ideas for Celebrating National Nursing Home Week?

National Nursing Home Week started on May 9, but it's not too late to plan a great celebration for your staff and residents!

Here are some great ideas from the 2010 National Nursing Home Week Planning Guide, which you can download here. Each idea ties in to this year's National Nursing Home Week theme, "Enriching Every Day."

Enrichment Through Words

• Grab a Pen and Make a Friend: Establish a pen pal club within your facility or with another facility, high school, volunteer group, etc.
• Poetry Reading: Have an "open mic night" where anyone is welcome to read a poem they wrote or share their favorite poem.
• "Thank You" Note Scavenger Hunt: Encourage residents to write thank-you notes to their favorite staff person or resident and tape the notes all over the facility. Staff members will then find the notes, collect them and read them out loud during a staff appreciation lunch. The staff members could even write a thank-you note back!
• Share Stories with the Veterans History Project: Learn how the veterans in your facility can share their stories with the rest of the world by clicking here.

Enrichment Through Music

• American Senior Idol: Host a version of the popular TV show in your facility! Offer a reward to anyone who participates.
• "Senior Prom": Partner with a local high school to participate in their prom, or host one in your facility!

Enrichment Through Images

• Take Pictures: Encourage staff and residents to make their memories of National Nursing Home Week last by taking pictures with disposable cameras.

Enrichment Through Crafts

• Quilt: Chances are, you already have a quilter in your facility who can assist you with helping other residents unleash their creative ability through fabric. When your quilt is completed, it can be donated to the local library or homeless shelter or kept in the facility as a token from the week.
• Birthday Boxes: Ask residents to decorate a "Birthday Box." These can be shoe boxes, tissue boxes or any small box with a lid. After the box is decorated, have staff and residents write down special notes about everyone and place them in the respective Birthday Box. You could also write notes during the resident's birthday week. After the notes are collected, read them aloud.

Enrichment Through Special Services

• Staff Appreciation Day: Make one day during the week all about staff! Plan a special lunch for them, contact local media or encourage residents to show their appreciation for the staff members closest to them.
• Prayer Service: Invite residents and staff to attend a special service honoring the members of the nursing home "family" that also remembers those who have passed on.
• Mothers and Fathers Brunch: Show all mothers and fathers how special they are by preparing and serving a meal in their honor.
• Memory Garden: Plant a special garden to commemorate the passing of loved ones or friends.

We'd love to hear how your facility is celebrating National Nursing Home Week!

Are You Ready for National Nursing Home Week?

National Nursing Home Week is just around the corner! This year, the celebration runs from May 9-15.
Sponsored by the American Health Care Association (AHCA), National Nursing Home Week is designated as an opportunity to celebrate nursing and rehabilitation facilities nationwide. The theme of this year's celebration is "Enriching Every Day." According to AHCA, "This year's theme cannot be expressed by words alone; it takes being there - seeing and hearing life around you - to appreciate how 'enriching' happens in a long-term care setting, from nursing homes to post-acute care to assisted living facilities."


AHCA has posted suggested celebratory activities on their website. We'd also love to hear how your facility is celebrating! You can leave a comment here on the blog or, if you have a Facebook account, click here to tell us all about your plans!

Happy National Nurses Week!

Today is the first day of National Nurses Week, which is celebrated every year from May 6 through May 12, Florence Nightingale's birthday. This year, the theme of National Nurses Week is "Nurses: Caring Today for a Healthier Tomorrow."

Several days within National Nurses Week celebrate specific groups of nurses. May 6, the first day of the celebration, is also known as National Nurses Day. As of 1998, May 8 was designated as National Student Nurses Day, and as of 2003, the Wednesday of each National Nurses Week is National School Nurse Day.

To learn more about the history of National Nurses Week and download materials to use at your facility, click here.

Happy Earth Day! How Can You Help Your Facility "Go Green"?

In celebration of Earth Day, we've compiled a list of tips for "greening" your facility. These tips, and many more, can be found at at Health Care Without Harm's website.

Minimizing Waste

• Many long-term care facilities are surprisingly similar to office buildings - they produce a lot of paper, cardboard and food waste. Consider implementing programs that encourage employees to reduce, reuse and recycle.

Greening Your Cleaning Products

• Even though their job is to clean, a surprising number of cleaners and disinfectants can lead to poor indoor air quality and even negative effects on residents' health. Consider using less-toxic, environmentally friendly maintenance products.

Healthy Food That's Also Good for the Planet

• Many facilities are choosing to buy fresh food that is grown in the local community using sustainable methods.

Green Buildings

• Building a new facility or adding on to your current one? There are numerous ways to "green" a building. Health Care Without Harm provides tools and resources to get you started.

Buying Green

• Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) encourages selecting products that are less toxic, minimally polluting, more energy efficient, higher in recycled content, packed in less packaging material, fragrance free and safer and healthier for residents, workers and the environment.

Today is World COPD Day!

Today is the eighth annual World COPD Day! The goal of the day is to spread awareness about COPD and and improve COPD care througout the world. To learn more, click here.