Professor Names Best "Nana Technology" Items for 2010

You've heard of nanotechnology, but how about "Nana technology"? It's a term that George Mason University professor Andrew Carle coined in 2004 to describe the growing industry of microchip-based products for seniors.

Carle, the director of GMU's Program in Assisted Living/Senior Housing Administration, releases an annual list of the best new "Nana technology" products for older adults. There are four products on this year's list.

1. GlowCaps: Designed to replace the caps on standard prescription bottles, these caps contain an embedded microchip that provides light and sound reminders to seniors to take their medications. If the cap is not removed, an automated phone call to a family member or caregiver is triggered. The cap can also generate weekly email reports and notify a pharmacy when a refill is needed. Click here to learn more about GlowCaps.

2. Wellcore: The Wellcore activity monitor looks like a stylish pedometer and is designed to remove the stigma of wearing a "granny pendant." It offers fall detection technology, 24/7 call center assistance and daily activity reports for wearers or caregivers. It can also be combined with compatible cell phones to offer access to services outside the home. To learn more about Wellcore, click here.

3. DriveSharp: DriveSharp is a computer-based program that consists of exercises designed to sharpen attention and peripheral vision. Users click through the 20-minute exercises three to five days per week. In studies, DriveSharp demonstrated a 50 percent reduction in crash risk, 200 percent increase in field of vision and a 22-foot reduction in stopping distance. To learn more about DriveSharp, click here.

4. ActiveONE Personal Assistance Locator: The Personal Assistance Locator, or PAL, was dubbed "OnStar for people" by Professor Carle. It's a cell phone-sized device that provides 24/7 live operator assistance. Available services include emergency assistance, falls detection, medication reminders, directions and placing calls to family members. It also includes GPS tracking and "geo-fencing" capabilities that send an alert if the user wanders outside of a programmed distance from the house or other location. To learn more about the PAL, click here.

To learn more about Professor Carle and the Nana technologies, click here.

Study: Keep Your Shoes On

It's not as comfy as lounging in slippers or socks, but a new study has found that seniors who wear shoes, especially sneakers, around their homes are less likely to fall.

The study, performed at Boston's Institute for Aging Research, Hebrew SeniorLife, found that people who wear shoes on a regular basis at home are far less likely to fall than people who wore slippers, socks or went barefoot. During the study, researchers followed 765 people between the ages of 64 and 97 for more than two years. Falls took place all over the house, including the bathroom, stairs, kitchen and living room, not just in wet or slippery areas.

The researchers pointed out that the traction and ankle support of sneakers help account for the reduction in falls. Sneakers are also ideal for fall prevention because more of the shoe has contact with the ground, which in turn provides more information to the brain to allow for better balance.

To learn more, click here.

Help Ward Off Heatstroke at Your Facility

Did you know that about 80 percent of heatstroke deaths occur in people over 50 years old? Part of the reason for this is that the physical changes of aging make elderly people more likely to suffer from heat-related problems.

As people age, sweating becomes less effective at cooling the body. Sweat glands can become scar-like, and the surrounding tissue becomes less vascular. Elderly people start sweating at a higher temperature and have less sweat output per gland, which puts them at a higher risk for developing heatstroke.

Other factors and medical conditions can put the elderly at risk for heatstroke, including lower socioeconomic status, impaired self-care ability, lack of air conditioning, mental illness, alcoholism, infection, dehydration, cardiopulmonary disease, cerebrovascular disease, kidney disease and COPD. Certain medications can also put residents at a higher risk for heat-related complications, including anticholinergics, antihistamines, antiparkinsonians and antipsychotics. Residents on diuretics should also be monitored closely since these drugs can cause a diminished volume of blood, which can lead to heatstroke.

The following tips can help prevent heatstroke at your facility:

• Encourage residents to drink plenty of fluids.
• Don't serve fluids with caffeine, alcohol or large amounts of sugar. All of these can cause a person to lose more body fluid. Water or fruit or vegetable juice are better choices.
• During heat waves, keep residents indoors in the air conditioning.
• Keep sunlight from entering rooms by closing the blinds or curtains.
• If residents are outside, encourage them to stay in cool, shady spots, preferably in the early morning or evening.
• Have residents wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
• Be aware of the outdoor heat index (which measures what hot weather "feels like"). Full exposure to sun can cause the heat index to rise by up to 15 degrees Fahrenheit.

To Reduce Falls, Check Your "Specs"

According to an article in the online version of McKnight's Long-Term Care News, seniors who wear multifocal prescription glasses can reduce their risk of falling by switching to single-focus lenses while walking outdoors.

During the study, when seniors who normally wear bifocal or multifocal glasses were given single-focus prescription lenses to wear outside, falls were reduced by 8%. There was a 40% fall reduction among seniors who were used to walking around outside, but seniors who typically spent time indoors actually saw an increased risk of falling, which suggests that single-focus lenses might not be a good solution for that group.

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.

Keep Bicycle-Loving Seniors Safe

In honor of National Bike to Work Day, we turned to Livestrong for tips on keeping bicycle-loving seniors safe!

• Special considerations: Keep in mind that seniors might have impairments that other bicycle riders don't, such as balance problems, cognitive issues, slower reaction times and reduced strength, endurance, sight and hearing. Brittle bones are also make it more likely that seniors will be injured in a fall. If these issues are addressed, seniors can continue to ride bicycles for a long time.
• Equipment: Special equipment is available to make bikes safer and more comfortable for seniors, such as racing handle bars that are easier for arthritis sufferers to grip and wider tires for better balance.
• Safety precautions: Remind seniors to wear a helmet and their hearing aids, if applicable. They should also avoid using cell phones, portable music players or other distracting devices.
• Time of day: It's safest for seniors to ride their bicycles during the daylight hours. Impaired vision can make it harder to see at night, increasing the likelihood of accidents.
• Traffic: Seniors should try to avoid riding their bikes when traffic is heavy.
• Other precautions: Senior bike riders might consider riding with a partner or group so that help is present in the event of an accident or problem. If they need to ride alone, it's wise to stay in familiar areas and carry a cell phone for emergency use.

CDC: Many Emergency Department Visits by Nursing Home Residents are Preventable

A new report from the CDC - based on findings from the 2004 National Nursing Home Survey - found that a large number of the events that send nursing home residents to the emergency department (ED) are preventable. The report identified conditions and resident characteristics that nursing homes and policymakers might consider targeting to reduce preventable ED visits.

According to the report, 8 percent of U.S. nursing home residents had an ED visit in the past 90 days. Of those residents, 40 percent had potentially preventable ED visits. The number one potentially preventable reason that nursing home residents visited the ED? Injuries from falls.

Here's the breakdown of conditions that accounted for potentially preventable ED visits:

36%: Injuries from falls

19%: Heart conditions

12%: Pneumonia

The remaining 33% was labeled "other conditions" and includes fever, mental status changes, gastrointestinal bleeding, urinary tract infections, metabolic disturbances and skin diseases.

Nursing home residents with a potentially preventable ED visit also tended to have a shorter length of stay at the nursing home and were taking more medications.

To learn more, click here.

Seniors Should Steer Clear of 3D TVs

3D televisions are starting to hit the market, along with warnings that the TVs shouldn't find their way into seniors citizens' homes.

Samsung, one manufacturer of 3D TVs, released a list of individuals who should steer clear of watching television in 3D. In addition to the elderly, they also recommend that pregnant women, the sleep-deprived, people suffering from serious medical conditions and anyone under the influence of alcohol refrain from watching 3D TV. People who have a family history of epilepsy or strokes are also cautioned that exposure to flashing lights can cause seizures.

Samsung also recommends that viewers stop watching their televisions in 3D mode if they experience any of the following symptoms: altered vision, lightheadedness, dizziness, involuntary movements such as eye or muscle twitching, confusion, nausea, convulsions, cramps and disorientation.

New Fall Prevention Strategy is "Out of This World"

A new study at the National Space Biomedical Research Institute is suggesting that technology created to help astronauts might be helpful to seniors with balance issues.

The Adaptability Training System (ATS) was developed to help astronauts overcome the dizziness, disorientation, motion sickness and lack of a sense of direction they often feel while experiencing weightlessness. When they return to Earth, ATS can help them readjust to gravity.

During ATS use, a treadmill is mounted to a moveable platform and placed in front of a large projection screen. Images of streets, hallways and rooms are shown on the screen. As the person walks, the image moves along with the platform, simulating balance disturbances.

The people behind ATS say that it could have enormous benefits for seniors and other people with balance problems. Forty percent of nursing home admissions are due to injuries caused by falls, and falling is the leading cause of accidental death for people over 75.

Tips for Safe Shoveling

Snow is in the forecast today here in New Lenox, Illinois, so we thought this was a perfect time to revisit safe shoveling tips (even though we hope we won't have to use them any time soon).

The AARP has assembled a list of pointers to help ensure that you'll be able to stand back and admire your work without huffing and puffing or nursing your strained back.

1. Make sure you have clearance from your doctor to be shoveling. People who smoke or have a history of heart trouble, pain, back problems or other ongoing health concerns need to be careful. Shoveling is more vigorous than you might think!
2. Warm up your back before you head outside.
3. Dress properly for the weather. Try layers that you can peel off when you start to work up a sweat.
4. Stay hydrated! Dehydration is just as big a problem during winter as it is during summer. Drink plenty of water.
5. Get a good shovel. It's tempting to get the biggest shovel out there because you think you'll get the area cleared faster, but you're more likely to hurt yourself. Get a smaller shovel that suits your size, and get one with a bend in it if possible. These are better for your lower back.
6. Pace yourself. Start out slow to avoid putting too much stress on your heart.
7. Use your legs rather than your back.
8. Push, don't lift, snow when possible to avoid straining or twisting your back.
9. Be on the lookout for ice that could cause you to fall. Black ice is especially dangerous!
10. Ask for help if you need it.
11. Listen to your body. If you feel any tightness in your chest, stop shoveling and call your doctor right away. If you're sore, take a hot shower, get a massage or take a pain reliever. If the pain persists, see your doctor.

It's the Time of Year...To Take Grandpa to the ER?

Ah, the holidays. They're a time for gathering together, enjoying homemade goodies...and taking Grandpa to the ER?

Dr. Tamara Kuittinen, director of medical education in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, is reporting that, over the years, she and her colleagues have seen definite increases in the numbers of elderly patients seeking treatment at the emergency room during the holidays. They attribute this to two causes:

1. Relatives often don't stay up-to-date with their loved one's health throughout the year. When they get together for the holidays, they're shocked at their elderly family member's condition.


2. Children of aging parents aren't totally aware of how the normal aging process takes its toll.

In both of these situations, Kuittinen said, family members might become alarmed and rush their loved one to the hospital, sometimes needlessly.

Dr. Kuittinen and her colleagues recommend taking the following steps throughout the year to help relatives keep track of their loves ones' health:

• Maintain a database of up-to-date critical medical information about your loved ones.
• Make sure your loved one has easy access to emergency contact numbers.
• Discuss the possibility with your loved one of creating a living will or healthcare proxy.

The doctors also suggest contacting the loved one's physician for advice before taking them to the emergency room to avoid the risk of being exposed to infections or unnecessary tests.

Unused Medicines: To Flush or Not To Flush?

The FDA recently launched a new Web page designed to let consumers know which unused medicines are safe to toss out with the trash and which need to go down the sink or toilet.

According to the site, almost all medicines can be safely thrown out with household trash after they are mixed with something unpalatable (i.e., kitty litter or used coffee grounds) and sealed in a container such as a plastic bag. However, there are some medicines that are especially harmful or even fatal in a single dose if they are taken by someone other than the person for whom the medicine was prescribed. These medicines should be flushed down the toilet or rinsed down the sink to eliminate the possibility that they could be swallowed by a child, pet or other household member.

You can also contact your local government to find out if your community has a drug take-back program and which drugs are accepted.

Click here for a list of drugs that the FDA recommends flushing. You can also visit Drugs @ FDA for specific drug labeling product information. Click here for Drugs @ FDA.

A Few Simple Tips to Keep Halloween from Playing Tricks on Your Health

Taking a few simple precautions on Halloween can help prevent your evening of treats from playing tricks on your health.

Face paint is the perfect accessory for lots of costumes, but could it be hazardous to your health? The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics recently released a report titled Pretty Scary: Could Halloween Face Paint Cause Lifelong Health Problems? The report detailed researchers' scary findings from testing 10 different face paint products that are widely available via the Internet or in craft or Halloween stores. All 10 face paints contained low levels of lead, and six out of 10 contained the potent allergens nickel, chromium and/or cobalt. The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics is recommending that face paints be avoided until safety standards are put into place.

Trick-or-treating can also be "tricky" for kids with food allergies. Food manufacturers are required to disclose, in plain English, the top eight food allergens (milk, egg, wheat, peanut, tree nut, soy, fish and shellfish) as the source of ingredients in their products, but there are no regulations regarding advisory labeling (such as "May Contain").

Studies have shown that consumers with food allergies are increasingly ignoring advisory labels or misunderstand the risks associated with terms such as "shared equipment," "shared facility" or "may contain."

The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network offers a safe trick-or-treating alternative for children with food allergies. Their Trick-or-Treat for Food Allergy encourages children to obtain special bags to use while trick-or-treating for coins instead of candy. The funds that are raised are put toward FAAN's food allergy education and and research programs.

From all of us here at ProMed, have a safe and fun Halloween!