Eating to Combat Overactive Bladder

For people with overactive bladder (OAB), what they eat can be directly tied to how many trips to the bathroom they make.

The following foods and drinks can irritate the bladder, contributing to urine leaks (please note that not all people will be sensitive to all items):

• Alcoholic beverages
• Carbonated beverages
• Caffeinated drinks (such as soda and hot cocoa)
• Drinks containing artificial sweeteners
• Coffee (both regular and decaffeinated)
• Tomatoes and tomato-containing products (such as marinara sauce)
• Citrus fruits and juices
• Highly spiced foods
• Corn syrup
• Honey
• Chocolate

Other tips for managing the symptoms of OAB:

• Maintaining a healthy body weight
• Including fiber, such as fruits, veggies and whole grains (this helps prevent constipation, which can worsen OAB)
• Drinking just the right amount of fluids - not too much, and not too little (around six glasses a day) - water is ideal, but cranberry, grape, cherry and apple juices are also gentle on the bladder

To learn more, click here.

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.

AHCA, Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care Urge HCWs to Voice Concern Over Cuts

The American Health Care Association (AHCA) and Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care are encouraging healthcare workers to contact their legislators and encourage them to "preserve, protect and defend quality skilled nursing and rehabilitative care for seniors and people with disabilities."

The organizations are concerned that planned cuts to Medicare and Medicaid will threaten the senior population's access to quality care and maintain that nursing homes, SNFs and assisted living facilities can both create local jobs and help defend against rising healthcare costs.

To learn more and contact your legislator, click here.

CMS Proposes Covering Obesity Therapy

CMS is proposing coverage of intensive behavioral therapy for obese individuals who are enrolled in Medicare Part A or Part B. This would include screening for obesity, a dietary assessment and intensive behavioral counseling and therapy designed to promote weight loss via diet and exercise.

To qualify, individuals need to be competent and alert and meet with a qualified primary care physician or care provider. Even though skilled nursing facilities would not be eligible for reimbursement, this program could spell good news for facilities struggling to keep up with the costs and modifications associated with bariatric residents.

The public is encouraged to click on the plan. Click here to view the memo and then click the orange "Comment" button to leave feedback.

Achoo! Fall Allergies are Here Again

The bad news? Pollen levels are on the rise, pollen seasons are longer and more and more people are developing allergies. The good news? There are ways to fight back.

Fall allergies, chiefly triggered by pollen from the ragweed plant, mold and dust mites, will likely last up to 27 days longer than usual in the northernmost spots of North America. Why is this happening? According to scientists, we're using more carbon-based fuels, which generate greenhouse gases (such as carbon dioxide) that trap heat from the sun in the atmosphere. As a result, plants and trees flower earlier each spring and frost over later in the fall, extending allergy season. Carbon dioxide also boosts the amount of pollen each plant generates, increasing pollen levels.

Does it seem like more and more people around you have allergies? You're not imagining things. The number of Americans who have allergies is two to five times higher than it was five years ago. Why is that? Experts point to several theories:

• We're too clean - that is, our immune systems are quicker to overreact to otherwise harmless substances such as pollen. This is due to our bodies being exposed to less dirt and bacteria.
• On the flip side, our environmemt is too dirty. Pollution (including exhaust fumes) can trigger allergic flare-ups.
• Our diet isn't helping. Processed, preserved foods throw up the bacteria balance in the gut, setting us up for allergic sensitivity.

So what's the good news? Well, there are more treatment options on the market than ever before, including non-sedating antihistamines, steroid sprays and eye drops. Experts also suggest eating whole, fresh foods in an effort to normalize gut bacteria.

Click here to learn more.

Labor Day Closure Reminder

Professional Medical will be closed on Monday, September 5 in honor of Labor Day. All Monday product deliveries will be made on Tuesday, September 6. If you have any questions at all, please contact our Customer Care department at (800) 648-5190.

Team ProMed wishes you and yours a safe and enjoyable Labor Day!

Check Out Our New Embrace Article on Hand Hygiene!

We've just added a new online-exclusive Embrace article to embracethemagazine.com! With fall just around the corner and kids heading back to school, we thought this was the perfect time to talk about hand hygiene. We know kids bring germs home from school - could they be bringing them to your facility when they come to visit residents?

Of course, kids aren't the only ones with germs on their hands. That's why residents, staff and guests all need to work together and do their part! Click here to read the article and view hand hygiene tips for everyone in your facility.