Looking for something to motivate you to get out and spend time with others this weekend? Here's one - a new study from Rush University in Chicago found that older adults who stay as physically and socially active as possible are less likely to become disabled in their elderly years.
The study's researchers found that seniors with a high level of activity were twice as likely to stay independent and disability-free for longer periods of time.
To learn more, click here.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Barb Walters Celebrates 35 Years with ProMed
Today marks Barb Walters’s thirty-fifth anniversary as a member of Team ProMed! Barb joined us in 1976 and quickly became an invaluable asset to the company. Officially, she is ProMed’s Director of Human Resources. Unofficially, she is our go-to person on all things ProMed. Congratulations, Barb – we’re grateful every day to have you as a member of our team!
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Aviston Countryside Manor's Unique Approach to Resident Empathy
Aviston Countryside Manor, a ProMed customer, recently challenged five of their employees to gain a new understanding of what it's like to be a resident at the facility - by becoming residents themselves.
The five employees moved into the facility and were each given a diagnosis, such as paralysis that required the employee to only eat pureed food and liquids. Another employee received a pair of glasses covered in glue to simulate not being able to see clearly.
The employees noted that the experience was, at times, challenging and frustrating. It also changed the way they approach their jobs and deliver care to the residents of Aviston Countryside Manor.
To learn more and view a video of the experience, click here.
The five employees moved into the facility and were each given a diagnosis, such as paralysis that required the employee to only eat pureed food and liquids. Another employee received a pair of glasses covered in glue to simulate not being able to see clearly.
The employees noted that the experience was, at times, challenging and frustrating. It also changed the way they approach their jobs and deliver care to the residents of Aviston Countryside Manor.
To learn more and view a video of the experience, click here.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
When is a Knee Not Just a Knee?
When is a knee not just a knee? When you think about it as a internal organ - at least according to The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. The group is encouraging its members to view the risk of disability from osteoarthritis as being just as serious as the risk of disability from cardiovascular disease.
Osteoarthritis of the knee is one of the top five causes of disability in older men and women. According to a researcher who will be presenting at the group's annual meeting, current treatments for the condition don't focus on its causes, something he feels should be changed.
To learn more, click here.
Osteoarthritis of the knee is one of the top five causes of disability in older men and women. According to a researcher who will be presenting at the group's annual meeting, current treatments for the condition don't focus on its causes, something he feels should be changed.
To learn more, click here.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Happy Valentine's Day!
From our team to yours, Happy Valentine's Day! In honor of this celebration of love, we wanted to share an article from the most recent issue of Embrace.
Be Mine
Tips for a Sweet Valentine's Day Celebration
By Laura Kuhn
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 liquid 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:
Bingo is always a popular facility activity, and this Valentine’s Day version is sure to be a hit as well! Create your own bingo cards using the names of Valentine’s Day treats, famous couples or love songs. There are traditionally 25 squares on a bingo card, but you’ll probably want to come up with a list of at least 50 terms so that not all of the cards you create are the same.
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.
Everyone loves receiving a gift on Valentine’s Day. Instead of just handing out trinkets to your residents, wrap up some small gifts, such as candy, crossword puzzle books, small teddy bears or inexpensive scented body lotion. Give your residents a stack of play money and have them bid on the wrapped items. They won’t know what they “bought” until they unwrap the item, which adds to the fun!
We hope these ideas help you create a sweet Valentine’s Day celebration!
Be Mine
Tips for a Sweet Valentine's Day Celebration
By Laura Kuhn
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 liquid 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
Bingo is always a popular facility activity, and this Valentine’s Day version is sure to be a hit as well! Create your own bingo cards using the names of Valentine’s Day treats, famous couples or love songs. There are traditionally 25 squares on a bingo card, but you’ll probably want to come up with a list of at least 50 terms so that not all of the cards you create are the same.
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
Everyone loves receiving a gift on Valentine’s Day. Instead of just handing out trinkets to your residents, wrap up some small gifts, such as candy, crossword puzzle books, small teddy bears or inexpensive scented body lotion. Give your residents a stack of play money and have them bid on the wrapped items. They won’t know what they “bought” until they unwrap the item, which adds to the fun!
We hope these ideas help you create a sweet Valentine’s Day celebration!
Friday, February 11, 2011
Study: Medication Format Related to Errors
Nursing home residents who are given medication in a liquid form are four times more likely to be given an improper dosage than those who are given pills or tablets, a new study found.
The study noted that the improper dosages were often associated with not shaking the liquid suspensions thoroughly enough. Conversely, administering pills or tablets resulted in fewer errors because they are dispensed using a monitored dosing systems, which cannot be used with liquid medications.
To learn more, click here.
The study noted that the improper dosages were often associated with not shaking the liquid suspensions thoroughly enough. Conversely, administering pills or tablets resulted in fewer errors because they are dispensed using a monitored dosing systems, which cannot be used with liquid medications.
To learn more, click here.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Study: Doctors Prescribing Fewer Antipsychotics to Seniors
After the FDA put a "black box" warning on certain antipsychotics for seniors with dementia, doctors have been been prescribing less of those medications, a new study found. A "black box" warning is the strongest warning that the FDA can put on a medication short of pulling it from the market.
The study, which was published in the February 7 edition of the Archives of General Psychology, revealed that the overall use of antipsychotics dropped from 18 percent in 1999 to 12 percent in 2007. These findings were based on data from Veterans Affairs registries.
To learn more, click here.
The study, which was published in the February 7 edition of the Archives of General Psychology, revealed that the overall use of antipsychotics dropped from 18 percent in 1999 to 12 percent in 2007. These findings were based on data from Veterans Affairs registries.
To learn more, click here.
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