Study: Turn Down the Music for Better Short-Term Memory

The positive benefits of elderly people listening to music have long been celebrated, but a new study suggests that it might also cause seniors to be less able to commit simple information to short-term memory. 

During the study, college-aged individuals and older adults were asked to match faces and names they were given under two scenarios, the first being silence and the second being listening to musical rain or non-lyrical rock music (including lesser-known songs from Eric Clapton, Jefferson Airplane and Rush). 

The researchers found that both age groups found the music distracting, but older adults remembered 10 percent fewer names when listening to music. 

The researchers said their findings could be useful to long-term care facilities in activity planning. 

To learn more, click here. 

Disinfecting Products: What to Use Where?

Clorox, the name you know and trust for surface disinfection, has products to suit all of your facility’s cleaning needs – but which one should be used where? We’ve put together the handy list below to help.

Clorox 4 in One Disinfectant & Sanitizer
Effective against: 24 microorganisms
For use on: Soft surfaces including mattresses, curtains, cushions, and rugs and for sanitizing the air

Clorox Disinfecting Wipes
Effective against: 99.9 percent of household germs, including viruses that cause colds and flu
For use on: Countertops, faucets, tiled surfaces, appliance exteriors, finished wood surfaces, glass, mirrors

Clorox Commercial Solutions Disinfecting Wipes
Effective against: 99.9 percent of illness-causing germs, including Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella enterica, E. coli and viruses that cause colds and flu
For use on: A variety of common surfaces found in offices, exercise areas, kitchens and bathrooms

Clorox Healthcare Hydrogen Peroxide Cleaner Disinfectant Spray and Wipes
Effective against: More than 40 microorganisms, including 13 antibiotic-resistant organisms, with the fastest non-bleach disinfecting times available
For use on: Hard and soft surfaces, including polyester, cotton, stainless steel, glass, glazed tile, porcelain enamel, plastic, vinyl, backed enamel, glazed ceramic, laminated surfaces, Formica, chrome, glazed porcelain, painted surfaces and polycarbonate

Clorox Healthcare Bleach Germicidal Spray
Effective against: 41 microorganisms, including norovirus and C. diff spores
For use on: Clinical surfaces such as autoclaves, blood glucose monitors, IV poles, bed railings, dialysis machines, respiratory equipment, ultrasound transducers and probes, plastic mattress covers, phlebotomy trays, reception counters, wash basins, wheelchairs, doorknobs, bathtubs, sinks and toilets

Clorox Healthcare Bleach Germicidal Wipes
Effective against: 51 microorganisms, including norovirus, TB and C. diff spores
For use on: Clinical surfaces such as stainless steel, plastic, glazed ceramic, glass, porcelain and more, as well as equipment including glucometers, oximeters and blood pressure monitors

Clorox Broad Spectrum Quaternary Disinfectant Cleaner
Effective against: 90 microorgansisms, including MRSA, HIV, VRE, Hepatitis B and C and more
For use on: Nonporous medical surfaces, such as counters, carts, bedside tables, bed rails, walls, mattress covers, commodes and wheelchairs

Clorox Urine Remover
Effective against: Urine odors and stains as well as other bodily fluids including feces, blood and vomit
For use on: Hard-to-clean porous and soft surfaces, including porous grout, carpet and mattresses

To learn more about the complete line of Clorox products available from ProMed, contact your territory manager, call our Customer Care team at 800.648.5190 or click here.

Create a Sweet Valentine’s Day

If you haven’t planned your facility’s Valentine’s Day party yet, don’t worry. We’ve got plenty of ideas to help you make the holiday memorable for your residents!

Create your own Valentines
Thanks to pre-cut paper shapes, it’s easier than ever to make homemade Valentines. Visit your local craft supply store to stock up on multicolored paper hearts, Cupids and lace doilies. Provide your residents with non-toxic glue sticks to attach the shapes to each other. You could also give them large, flat-backed rhinestones to easily “bedazzle” their creations.

Make better-for-you goodies
There’s no need for residents with diabetes to completely avoid sweet treats on Valentine’s Day. The American Diabetes Association has whipped up recipes for healthier takes on desserts, including Low-Fat Crème Brulee, Peppermint Mousse and Individual S’more Desserts.

Share hot cocoa and memories
Encourage your residents to gather together in a common room for cocoa and reminiscing about Valentine’s Day. You can get the ball rolling by asking questions. For example, do they prefer to receive chocolates or flowers? Did they ever have a secret admirer? What is their fondest Valentine’s Day memory? You might be surprised by what you learn!

We wish you and your residents a Happy Valentine’s Day!

Survey: Assisted Living Salaries Solid

The new Assisted Living Salary & Benefits report, published by the Hospital & Healthcare Compensation Service, showed that assisted living salaries have remained solid since 2013.

Among the findings:

• Administrators earned a median salary of $80,830 in 2014, up two percent over 2013
• Chief financial officers earned an average salary of $128,969
• CEOs/presidents earned an average salary of $120,082
• HR directors earned an average of $70,000
• Directors of information services earned an average of $76,000
• DONs earned an average of $64,000

The figures were gathered from more than 1,600 assisted living facilities nationwide. The majority of the facilities are for-profit communities. 

To learn more, click here. 

Take the "Ouch" Out of Diabetic Testing

Finger-stick blood glucose testing enables caregivers to quickly and effectively monitor residents with diabetes, but let's face it – it can be a pain (literally). Luckily, the following strategies can help make it a more pleasant process for everyone involved:

• When choosing a lancet, remember that a higher gauge number means a thinner, and typically less painful, lancet tip. Keep in mind, however, that it might be more difficult to get a large enough blood sample using the thinnest lancets.
• Test on the side of the finger rather than the pad. There are fewer sensitive nerve endings on the side.
• Make sure the fingertip is prepped before trying to obtain a blood sample. The fingertip should be warm, not cold. If it's cold, try rubbing or shaking the hand to get blood to the fingertips.
• If the fingertips are sore following repeated testing, check to see if your meter is approved for alternate-site testing. You might also try switching fingers.
• Choose a lancet that has linear needle tracking. This feature helps to reduce tissue damage caused by vibrations from the needle.
• Keep hands moisturized between tests to eliminate the skin hardening that can be caused by repeated finger-sticks.

ProMed's exclusive single-use MicroLance PF lancets and CareSens N Blood Glucose Monitoring System are the perfect solutions for your diabetic testing protocol. To learn more, contact your ProMed territory manager, give us a call at (800) 648-5190 or visit us online at promedsupply.com.

Furnishing You with Quality

You already trust ProMed for the disposable medical products that help you meet your residents’ daily needs, but did you know that we also offer durable furnishings? We can connect you with everything you need to create a comfortable, homelike environment.

Our skilled territory managers can help you select the following:

• Powered reclining loungers
• Safety gliders
• Head- and footboards in a variety of finishes
• Bedside cabinets
• Three- and four-drawer dressers
• Roomy wardrobes
• Armchairs upholstered in fabrics designed to stand up to institutional use
• Durable tables for dining and activites

Contact your ProMed territory manager now to start the new year with a fresh new look for your facility! You can also give us a call at (800) 648-5190 or visit us online at promedsupply.com.

Practice Safe Shoveling

Did your facility get socked by Winter Storm Linus this weekend? Here at ProMed's headquarters in New Lenox, Illinois, we received more than 14 and a half inches of snow and faced blizzard conditions!

With all of the white stuff on the ground, now is the perfect time to review safe snow removal techniques. The National Safety Council recommends taking the following precautions:

• Take extra care if you are relatively inactive or over the age of 40
• Do not shovel without a doctor's permission if you have heart trouble
• Do not shovel after eating or while smoking
• Pace yourself
• Stretch out and warm up before beginning to shovel
• Shovel only fresh snow
• Push the snow as you shovel
• Do not pick up too much snow at once
• Lift with your legs bent, not your back (keep your back straight) 
• Stop before you're exhausted - if you run out of breath, take a break
• Dress warmly

To learn more, click here.