Private Nursing Home Rooms Now Average $90,520 a Year

According to a new report, the average annual charge for a private room at a nursing home has climbed to $90,520. This is a 3.7 percent increase over last year's figure.

Semi-private rooms rose 3.7 percent to $81,030 and assisted living residency was up 2.1 percent to $42,600.

Over the past five years, costs for a private room in a nursing home have gone up by an average of 4 percent annually. Semi-private room increases have averaged 3.8 percent a year and assisted living costs saw a 4.1 percent annual jump.

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Long Shifts Lead to Unhappy Patients, Nurse Dropouts

A new study has found that nurses who work long shifts (10 hours of more) are two and a half times more likely to leave the profession than nurses who work shorter shifts. These nurses are also more likely to have dissatisfied patients.

The study's authors suggested imposing restrictions on nurse shift length and voluntary overtime. They also recommended that nurse manager monitor which nurses are working second jobs.

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CMS Encourages Some MA Beneficiaries to Re-Evaluate Options

CMS has sent letters to beneficiaries of 26 poorly performing Medicare Advantage (MA) plans encouraging them to re-evaluate their options. This is a result of the agency's increased focus on quality ratings.

The letters, which were sent over the course of the past week, address the beneficiaries by name and alert them that their plans have been listed as "poor" or "below average" as a result of earning fewer than three stars under Medicare's five-star rating system for three years running.

Back in October, the agency forbade one of the low-performing MA plans from enrolling new members. Similar actions for other low-rated plans are expected.

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Happy Election Day!

Regardless of party affiliation, we've all been counting down to November 6. Chances are, your residents share your Election Day enthusiasm. Research has shown that there was a decline in voter turnout between 1960 and 1998 for every age group other than those over 65. In fact, seniors are 60 percent more likely to vote than young people and 10 percent more likely to vote than the national average.^1,2 

Once your residents have cast their votes, why not have an Election Day party at your facility?

Here are some ideas to get you started.  Place red, white and blue decorations in a common room (this is a great opportunity to get extra mileage out of your Fourth of July decorations). Many people enjoy watching the results come in, so make sure you have plenty of comfortable seating around the largest television in the facility. The results can take a while, so ensure you have healthy snacks and drinks on hand. Encourage the residents to discuss their favorite political memories. To get things going, ask them who won the presidential election the first time they voted. Create or download a list of candidates for your local election (these lists are typically available on your county's website) so that residents can keep track of the winners. However you choose to celebrate, keep the mood lighthearted – politics can spark a lot of heated discussions and the goal here is for everybody to have fun!  References 1 U.S. Department of State. The Senior Vote in the 2012 Election. Available at: http://fpc.state.gov/190787.htm. Accessed November 1, 2012.  2 America.gov. Senior Citizens Most Reliable Group of U.S. Voters. Available at: http://www.america.gov/st/usg-english/2008/September/200809171649211xeneerg0.88995.html. Accessed November 1, 2012.

Superstorm Sandy Leaves Health Risks Behind

If you or a loved one live in an area affected by Superstorm Sandy, there are a number of health risks to keep in mind in the aftermath of the storm:

1. Reduce your risk of carbon monoxide exposure by avoiding using appliances such as generators or stoves indoors to heat your home. 
2. Keep in mind that floodwater may contain bacteria that can cause gastrointestinal diseases. Be sure to throw out any food that was touched by floodwater or sewage. You should also toss any food or drinks that were not properly refrigerated. 
3. Stay away from downed power lines and assume that all power lines are live. 
4. Wear gloves and protective glasses during cleanup to protect yourself from hand and eye injuries. 
5. Avoid letting mold develop by getting water-damaged items dried and removed. 
6. Check with your local department of health before drinking tap water to ensure that you are not under a boil order. (Most of the tap water across the New York area is safe to drink, but some areas, such as Long Beach City in Nassau County, are having problems.)
7. Chronic health conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, might be exacerbated in the wake of Superstorm Sandy. Don't skip taking your medications. 

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Red Cross Seeking Help in Wake of Hurricane Sandy

The Red Cross is mobilizing to help the victims of Hurricane Sandy and there are a number of ways that you can help aid in their efforts. 

To donate:

• Visit www.redcross.org
• Call 1-800-RED-CROSS 
• Text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation

You can also mail donations to your local Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross at P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. 

The Red Cross is also urging people to donate blood and platelets. The storm has caused the cancellation of a number of blood drives in the region and blood products are greatly needed. To schedule a blood donation, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS. 

ProMed Thanksgiving Closure Notice

Professional Medical will be closed on Thursday, November 22 and Friday, November 23, 2012 in honor of Thanksgiving.

Orders that are placed by noon on Friday, November 16 will be delivered by Wednesday, November 21. Orders placed after noon on November 16 will be delivered the week of November 26.

We invite you to call our Customer Care team at (800) 648-5190 with any questions or concerns.

From our team to yours, have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!