Report: 30 Percent of Residents with Dementia are Undernourished

According to a new report from Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI), 30 percent of nursing home residents with dementia are undernourished. "Undernourished" refers to an insufficient intake of calories, protein or other nutrients.

ADI encourages LTC providers to take steps to evaluate the eating habits of residents with dementia and maximize the nutrition they receive. The researchers noted that one method of doing this is to provide oral nutritional supplements, which can can help stabilize or even increase a resident's weight.

Other recommendations included:

• Staff training
• Enhancing the mealtime environment 
• Introducing nutritional standards of care specifically for those with dementia
• A more comprehensive workforce development program 

To learn more, click here.

Vital Details on Vital Signs

What does someone's body temperature really tell you? Or their pulse? Which results are considered normal? Let's take a look at the four primary vital signs: temperature, blood pressure, pulse and respiratory rate.

Body temperature

Body temperature is a measure of the body's ability to generate and get rid of heat. An elevated body temperature can indicate a fever, which in turn is indicative of a systemic infection, severe trauma or injury, inflammation or a medical condition such as arthritis, hyperthyroidism and even some cancers. Body temperature can be measured in the mouth, ear, armpit, forehead and rectum.

Normal range: The average body temperature is 98.6° F, but temperatures within 1 degree above or below this reading are still considered normal.

Blood pressure

Blood pressure involves recording two readings: the systolic pressure, which is the maximal contraction of the heart, and diastolic pressure, which represents resting pressure. This measurement is usually taken from the left arm, unless there is some damage to that arm. Elevated blood pressure, when the systolic number is consistently over 140-160 mmHg, is known as hypertension. Low blood pressure is referred to as hypotension.

Normal range: 120 (systolic) over 80 (diastolic)

Pulse

The physical expansion of an artery creates a pulse. This measurement is recorded as beats per minute and is usually taken at the wrist or ankle. It can also be taken at the elbow, against the carotid artery in the neck, behind in the knee or in the foot. While a lower pulse is generally preferable, a very low pulse, or bradycardia, can be dangerous and lead to weakness, loss of energy and fainting.

Normal range: For adults, the normal pulse rate is 50-80 beats per minute

Respiratory rate 

Respiratory rate, or the numbers of breaths taken in a minute, can indicate potential respiratory dysfunction. The rate is obtained by counting how many times the chest rises during a minute. The rate can increase with fever, illness or other medical conditions. When obtaining a respiratory rate, it's also important to see whether the person is having difficulty breathing.

Normal range: 12-20 breaths per minute

Equipment for monitoring vital signs has grown much more sophisticated over the years. New devices can obtain readings in seconds, freeing staff members to spend their time on other areas of care and reducing resident inconvenience to a minimum. To learn more about which vital signs solutions best fit your needs, contact your ProMed territory manager, give us a call at (800) 648-5190 or visit us online at promedsupply.com.

CNA Absenteeism Tied To Poor Quality Indicator Scores

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have found that LTC facilities that have high rates of CNA absenteeism are also likely to have lower quality ratings.

The researchers examined data from around 4,000 nursing homes and aide absenteeism could be tied to poor performance on the physical restrain use, catheter use, pain management and pressure ulcer quality indicators. The average weekly absenteeism rate of the facilities examined during the study was 9.2 percent.

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Study: Cynicism is Top Predictor of Nursing Home Administrator Turnover

Research from Indiana University of Pennsylvania has found that nursing home administrators who have high levels of cynicism are more likely to leave their jobs. The researcher noted that this cynicism is related to a feeling of professional burnout.

To obtain these findings, the researcher distributed a survey to all Pennsylvania nursing home administrators. She received 98 responses, which she analyzed to determine the administrators' level of burnout and intention of leaving their jobs. She defined burnout as having three elements: emotional exhaustion, cynicism and professional inefficacy.

While cynicism stood out as the main predictor of administrators leaving their jobs, the researcher noted that the importance of emotional exhaustion should not be overlooked.

To learn more, click here.

One Sugary Soda a Day Increases Heart Disease Risk By One Third

A new study from the CDC has found that drinking just one 12-ounce can of sugary soda a day can greatly increase your risk of dying from heart disease.

The researchers connected having a diet that is full of too much added sugar from processed and prepared foods and increased risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, the number one killer of both men and women. They found that consuming seven 12-ounce sugar-sweetened beverages a week can increase a person's risk for cardiovascular disease by more than one-third.

The study wasn't limited to sugar-sweetened beverages. The researchers also found a link between a diet high in sugar-rich processed and prepared foods and a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. To have their diet considered high in sugar-rich foods, a person would need to consume about 300 calories (about 18 teaspoons) of sugar a day for a 2,000-calorie diet.

To learn more, click here.

Give Your Laundry Room a Makeover

Winter might not have melted away just yet, but it’s not too early to start thinking about spring cleaning. ProMed stocks everything you need to get a head start on organizing your linens as well as your laundry room.

We offer hampers, linen carts and distribution carts made of healthcare-grade PVC that is reinforced at all stress-related areas for additional strength. These pieces are available in a rainbow of mesh and vinyl  colors that you can match to your décor or color-code by wing or use. All of the PVC items include a five-year limited warranty on their frames.

We also stock wire hampers with touch-free foot pedals, quiet-ride casters and lids available in a variety of colors. The hampers can be further personalized with lid labels denoting soiled, infectious or personal linen or biohazardous waste. Hamper bags are available in nylon, antimicrobial and multiple colors of poly.

Our Textile and Linen Solutions brochure contains additional details on all of these products as well as our complete line of bed linens, blankets, spreads and terry. Click on the link above to download the brochure now!

To learn more, contact your ProMed territory manager, give us a call at (800) 648-5190 or visit us online at promedsupply.com.

Study: Injectable Drugs Cut Risk of Blindness-Related Nursing Home Admission

Researchers have found that injectable drugs introduced in the last decade have decreased the risk of blindness-related nursing home admission by close to 20 percent among people with wet macular degeneration.

The drugs, Lucentis and Avastin, inhibit vascular endothelial growth factors (they're commonly referred to as anti-VEGF mediations). The researchers found that within two years of receiving anti-VEGF injections, recipients were 19 percent less likely to be admitted to a long-term care facility.

Compared to earlier treatments, anti-VGEFs reduce vision loss by more than 40 percent and slow the onset of severe vision loss and blindness by more than 45 percent.

To learn more, click here.