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Protect your Aging loved ones this Winter

Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011 by mackenzie

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As temperatures drop across the county, and many states see the first signs of snow, it is apparent that winter is on it’s way.  This is a good time to brush up on your winter safety tips, especially to help the aging members of your family and community stay safe. Here are a couple things to remember this winter.

Avoiding Slips & Falls

  • Snow and Ice need to be cleared from around the home, but it can be dangerous if an elderly person does it themselves.  If possible, help them by shoveling the snow, get them a snow blower or hire a service to come clear away the snow.  If they insist on doing it themselves make sure they are taking proper precautions so that they don’t fall or overwork themselves.
  • For everyday errands, make sure your aging loved one has non-skid boots and that the rubber tips on their walker or cane is fairly new and has treads.

Preventing Hypothermia

  • Help your aging loved one bundle up during the winter season.  Seniors with Alzheimer’s and dementia can tend to wander off and forget to wear enough warm layers, which leaves them subject to hypothermia and frostbite.
  • Make sure the heat is on.  Occupants older than 75 should never have the thermostat set below 65 or 70 degrees.
  • Check for these signs of hypothermia in your aging loved one:
    • Confusion or memory loss
    • Sleepiness
    • Slowed, slurred speech or shallow breathing
    • Weak pulse or low blood pressure
    • Exhaustion
    • A change in behavior during cold weather or a change in the way a person normally looks
    • A lot of shivering or no shivering; stiffness in the arms or legs
    • Poor control over body movements or slow reactions
    • Chilly rooms or other signs that a person has been in a cold place

Avoid Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

  • If you have a fireplace, gas furnace, or gas powered space heater, you should invest in a carbon monoxide detector.   The effects of carbon monoxide poisoning are devastating on the elderly and it is something that’s easy to prevent.
  • Make sure you also have a working smoke alarm and that it is on.

For other Winter Weather safety tips, check out your state’s health website.

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Find a Job as a Caregiver Today

Friday, October 28th, 2011 by mackenzie

At Seniorhomes.com we are consistently getting inquires about jobs at the communities we feature on our site.  We are not able to tell the person if the community is hiring, but we try to help them anyways by offering resources that can help.

But, Caregiverlist has taken the next step and created a easy to use widget that can direct you straight to a caregiver job in your area.  Once you find a job you can also use their site to help you build you resume or brush up on your caregiver knowledge with a certification course.

Providers please let us know what you look for in a caregiver and we will share it with our readers!

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Assisted Living Residents Take Part in the Olympics

Wednesday, September 28th, 2011 by Angela Stringfellow

As part of a celebration of “Active Aging Week,” seniors at Coventry Meadows Assisted Living Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana took part in their very own Olympic games, the News-Sentinel reports. Seven other assisted living facilities took part in the games, hosted by Coventry Meadows. Residents took part in activities such as cornhole, ladder golf, Wii bowling and basketball. Assisted living residents celebrate Active Aging Week

According to Nathan Jackson, general manager of Coventry Meadows, a total of 45 seniors participated in Tuesday’s games. While some residents have more physical capabilities than others, all had a great time whether or not they performed well.

This fun scenario was just one of many events taking place at assisted living homes across the nation this week, as seniors celebrate Active Aging Week, an annual event sponsored by the International Council on Active Aging. Active Aging Week aims to bring awareness to the importance of maintaining an active lifestyle throughout our golden years to improve longevity and quality of life.

Other components of Active Aging Week include:

  • Presentations on healthy lifestyle
  • Brain fitness activities and promoting healthy outlooks
  • Complimentary health and fitness assessments
  • Group exercise, strength training, yoga and more
  • Games and other physical and cognitive challenges
  • Solitary and group strolls and walks
  • Health fairs, government programming
  • Food, prizes, free pedometers, free t-shirts and other health-related gadgets

The goal of Active Aging Week is to promote activities that enable seniors and residents of senior living settings to learn about ways they can stay active both physically and cognitively. Activities are designed to be free, fun, lighthearted and friendly yet competitive. Educational activities are welcomed, whether to improve cognition or to build awareness about healthy lifestyles.

International Council on Active Aging Conference

The International Council on Active Aging also hosts an annual conference. This year’s event marks the 10th anniversary of the International Council on Active Aging and will be held from December 1 through December 3, 2011 in Orlando, Florida. Professionals from every corner senior care industry will be in attendance, including fitness professionals, physical therapists, assisted living and nursing home executives, retirement professionals and even representatives from general health and wellness fields. This diverse group of professionals offers the unique opportunity to bring a variety of fields of expertise together to improve ideas and strategies for active aging.

If you’re planning to attend this year’s conference, don’t forget your workout gear: Your ticket entitles you to daily, early morning workouts!

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Posted in Aging, Health News, Senior Living News | 1 Comment »

Alarm Fatigue a Growing Concern in Health Care Systems

Saturday, September 24th, 2011 by Angela Stringfellow

Alarm fatigue has resulted in the death of a 60-year-old patient at the UMass Medical Center, the second reported death attributed to this phenomenon in four years at the facility. Alarm fatigue is also known as the “cry wolf” syndrome, according to ABC News, and it describes the tendency for medical staff to ignore the constant stream of beeps and warning signals that plague hospital (and sometimes nursing home and assisted living, to a lesser degree) hallways and corridors.  Too many alarms cause nurses to drown them out

Implementing additional alarms may seem to be the solution. A louder, shrill beep to signal a dire emergency appeals to logic, yet more alarms simply add to the cacophony already invading the halls. More alarms simply makes it even more difficult to discern those that are important from those serving as a reminder  that it’s time to perform a standard, non-urgent task.

Standard alarms become so mundane that nurses and other professionals staffing hospitals and nursing homes tend to drown out the noise in order to focus on the task in front of them. But this tendency to drown out the constant beeps becomes dangerous when important alarms go unnoticed and unattended to.

Not having alarms to signal less important events isn’t the answer, either. Device manufacturers must incorporate appropriate notification signals or find themselves liable should a simple need be overlooked as a result. In the healthcare setting, even the simplest oversight can lead to disaster.

Alarm fatigue and “too much information” (TMI) a growing healthcare concern

According to the FDA’s Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience database, approximately 566 deaths in the United States have been attributed to alarm issues between 2005 and 2008. An overhaul of the system would require cooperation from health systems, physicians and medical device manufacturers. The solution may lie in a systematic fine-tuning of current alarms, investigating areas in which the threshold can be raised; for example, raising the point at which a blood oxygen level signals an alarm to increase the importance of an individual alert.

The Association of Advancement of Medical Instrumentation is hosting a conference next month in Herdon, Va. More than 250 medical device manufacturers and other healthcare professionals will convene for a medical device alarms summit with alarm fatigue as the central focus of discussion.

Medical errors in any sense are devastating for both families and the professionals involved. But a collaborative effort to improve the effectiveness of medical alarms could result in a reduction of deaths and errors resulting from alarm fatigue.

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House Calls by Paramedics Aim to Reduce Emergencies, Assisted Living Admissions

Sunday, September 11th, 2011 by Angela Stringfellow

It used to be that if an ambulance was parked in front of someone’s home, there was likely a medical emergency.  Now, that’s not always the case.

With ever increasing budget cuts, a declining number of family practice physicians and the desire for many ailing seniors to stay out of traditional senior living centers like assisted living facilities and nursing homes, health systems are developing innovative ways to serve the patient base.  In several states, paramedics are now being used to provide non-emergency services to home-bound patients.

According to an Associated Press article posted on MSNBC, the paramedics are able to do such tasks as draw blood, check blood pressure, change bandages, and check medication compliance.  These are all basic tasks done by paramedics regularly in the field.  “Instead of taking out the blood and guts, this is a move into preventative care, so people don’t have to call 911,” reported Eagle County Colorado paramedic Kevin Creek.

The Colorado pilot-program is designed to see if there are financial and health benefits to using paramedics in this capacity.  With its 52,000 Medicare-eligible residents, officials are hoping to see savings at both the state and federal levels.  Currently, funding is being provided through a $700,000 grant, but the goal is to have Medicare and Medicaid eventually agree to cover the costs.

Doctor’s OrdersParamedics Giving Preventative Care

Paramedics working in this capacity are not making medical decisions independently; they are working under the supervision of participating physicians.  Medical information collected during visits is evaluated by the doctor who will ultimately decide the course of action.   “We’re the eyes and ears of the primary care physician in the home,” said Lisa Ward, program coordinator. “It’s out-of-the-box health care, and it’s the future.”

For many seniors who are foregoing skilled nursing care and assisted living homes, this can be a win-win situation.  The chronic diseases that often plague the elderly and lead to many hospital admissions like diabetes, congestive heart failure and COPD, can all be monitored by paramedics in this program without patients making the arduous trip to the doctor’s office or hospital.   It’s reminiscent of days gone by when house calls were common place.

For non-emergencies only?

But if paramedics are providing preventative care, who will be available in the event of a true emergency?  Dr. Jeffrey Beeson, past president of the American College of Emergency Physicians, believes such programs can, in fact, reduce the number of ambulance calls.  In a similar program in Fort Worth, Texas, paramedics have visited more than 200 patients when they would have otherwise been waiting for emergency calls.

The answer to this question may lie in Eagle County’s pilot program. The grant, which is provided by the Colorado Department of Health, two private health organizations and the ambulance district, has provided opportunity for Creek and a colleague to be assigned to providing these services to its residents.  This way, there is no shortage of emergency personnel.

So, don’t be surprised if in the near future your doctor decides to make a house call. Only, it most likely will be the local paramedic who comes knocking instead of the doc himself.  Would  you be comfortable with a paramedic performing basic, non-emergent care for your loved one?

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Caregivers Encouraged to Obtain Flu Vaccinations

Wednesday, September 7th, 2011 by Angela Stringfellow

If you’ve been to your local pharmacy anytime during the last few weeks, you may have seen the signs advertising the availability of flu shots.  You might be thinking to yourself, “Already? It’s only September.”

With a typical flu season doesn’t peak until late January or early February, some doctors are waiting to vaccinate their patients until early fall.   Dr. Scott Major of Summit Primary Care in Tennessee told USA Today that he is advising his patients to wait until the end of the month or beginning of October before rushing out to get the vaccine. “It is incredibly rare to see the flu before October,” he said. Flu season is approaching; seniors in assisted living at risk

Why wait?

Dr. Kelly Moore of the Tennessee Department of Health compares the flu shot to a tank of gasoline.  “The vaccine makes your body produce antibodies against the flu, but over time the amount of antibodies decline, kind of like a tank of gas,” she said.  The elderly are particularly vulnerable because they tend to run out of these antibodies sooner.

That being said, the Centers For Disease Control (CDC) is recommending that doctors begin vaccinating their patients as soon as they vaccine shipments arrive. Those at the highest risk for complications from influenza include: adults 65 years and older, people with chronic medical conditions such as asthma, heart disease, and diabetes, pregnant women, children younger than five, and American Indians and Alaskan Natives.

This year’s vaccine will offer protection against two strains of influenza, in addition to H1N1 (the strain that lead to the swine flu outbreak in 2009).  At this time, there is no particular strain in “wide circulation.”

Should you get vaccinated?

The short answer: Yes.  The CDC is recommending that any person over the age of 6 months receive the vaccine.  The CDC is strongly urging not only those at high risk for complications related to the flu to get the vaccine, but also their care providers.   Caregivers, both in hospitals and long-term care settings as well as those caring for at-risk loved one at home, can help slow the spread of the virus by getting vaccinated.

For in-home care givers this may be an essential way of keeping aging and frail elderly out of hospitals and nursing homes this flu season.  Many care givers still have full-time jobs or spend time socializing with others where the opportunity to come in contact with someone who has the flu is great.  A quick handshake with a just-sneezed-in hand can bring the flu virus back home, compromising an already at-risk loved one.

The CDC has been examining the role of vaccinations for providers in long-term care setting and hospitals. It has been shown that low vaccination rates among providers in these types of facilities lead to influenza outbreaks; whereas higher vaccination rates prove to reduce flu-like illnesses, and even deaths associated with the virus.

For caregivers at home, in an assisted living facility, nursing home or hospital, the risk of being exposed to the flu virus is great.  The risk of spreading that same virus to your patients, to your co-workers or to your family and friends is great.  If your employer doesn’t offer flu vaccinations, perhaps a quick trip to your local pharmacy can help save a life.

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Medicare Bundled Payments a New Money-Saving Tactic

Wednesday, August 24th, 2011 by Angela Stringfellow

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is implementing a new bundled payment structure for medical providers as part of the Affordable Care Act, a tactic which could save Medicare money. The strategy incentivizes providers to work together, shifting the focus from payments based on the quantity of care to one focused on quality. Currently, physicians have no financial incentive to help patients to quick recovery; in fact, the more office visits a patient makes, the more money the physician earns. CMS introduces bundled payments

Bundled payments will also force providers to work collaboratively to effectively manage patient care. Instead of a per-visit sum, a predetermined fee will be paid for, say, heart attack care, and nurses, specialists and various care settings must coordinate their care across settings to treat the patient. Electronic health records management will become essential in the success of this initiative, according to an article on GovHealthIT.com.

Called “Bundled Payments for Care Improvement Initiative,” the program could potentially revamp the way patients are cared for. Currently, each provider, such as the physician, hospital, skilled nursing facility and surgeon, sends a separate bill to Medicare. In essence, this is a really inefficient and scattered method, but it’s the one providers are accustomed to. Because only a set fee will be paid for an “episode of care,” providers will earn more by treating patients quickly and more effectively. An episode of care is a specific illness requiring a period of care, such as a hip replacement, and would include the initial evaluation, hospital stay, treatment and any post-operative care.

Bundled payments will most certainly force providers to offer a better continuum of care and reduce unnecessary duplication of services, such as repeat tests in different settings. In order to ease the transition, CMS has opened an application process for providers willing to participate in a testing phase. Participating providers will be able to choose from four broad bundled payment structures and will have input into what classifies as an episode of care and what services are included, which will help customize the program for providers of different sizes and capabilities.

GovHealthIT.com reports on a demonstration project which showed the potential for bundled payments to save money: “For example, a Medicare heart bypass surgery bundled payment demonstration saved the program $42.3 million, or about 10 percent of expected costs, and saved patients $7.9 million in co-insurance payments while improving care and lowering hospital mortality.”

The approach makes a lot of sense for patients and will result in a smoother transition across settings. Patients will have greater confidence that their providers are well informed of their condition, prior testing and treatment. Providers may struggle with the increased coordination required and the initial shift in thinking from a quantity-based to a quality-based approach as a financial incentive, but it’s precisely this financial incentive that will force practitioners to act in ways that make the most sense for the patient.

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Nursing Home Demonstration Project Focuses on Frequent Hospitalizations

Thursday, July 21st, 2011 by Angela Stringfellow

It’s not uncommon for nursing home residents to have inpatient hospital stays, but the frequency of these visits is a growing concern for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The problem isn’t that nursing home residents sometimes require acute inpatient services, but rather the fact that so many hospital stays are avoidable. Hospital visits are, of course, quite expensive, so this places unnecessary financial strain on the already fragile Medicare and Medicaid systems.  Nursing home resident hospital stays are costly

In 2005, CMS determined that 314,000 inpatient hospital stays for skilled nursing residents were potentially avoidable, creating $2.6 billion in unnecessary expenses. In response to this increasing problem, CMS has launched a demonstration project to create programs that can reduce the number of unnecessary hospital visits and save the system billions of dollars, according to Healthcare Finance News.

About 150 skilled nursing facilities with high hospitalization rates and a high percentage of Medicare/Medicaid dual eligibles will receive intervention services from third-party independent organizations selected by CMS. Currently, no independent partners have been announced and CMS will continue to accept proposals through July 29th.

Partner Competition is Stiff

Organizations wanting to participate in the project have their work cut out for them. A number of strict requirements have been set forth by CMS, including evidence-based results, coordination of care and communication strategies reaching patients, families and communities. Prevention is also heavily emphasized, such as reducing urinary tract infections, adverse drug interactions, falls, pressure ulcers and dehydration–all common complications in nursing home residents that often lead to inpatient hospital stays.

Programs may include the use of nurse practitioners and will also emphasize transitioning residents between nursing homes and acute care facilities. Organizations selected for the project will work under a 12-month contract, which can be extended for three additional 12-month periods pending the success of the programs.

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Assisted Living Super Food: An Apple (Peel) a Day

Wednesday, June 22nd, 2011 by Angela Stringfellow

Dining services in senior living facilities may be adding a new “super food” to their menus.  According to a new study published on MSNBC.com, the waxy substance found on apple peels may hold the key to preventing muscle wasting.

With advancing research, scientists are uncovering medical breakthroughs that will hopefully one day change the face of aging and disease.  Researchers at the University of Iowa have been able to identify that ursolic acid counteracts genetic changes in muscle cells and in animal studies it has been shown to prevent muscle weakening.  Researchers are not certain that the study’s results will translate from mice to humans but they are hopeful that this discovery will lead to advances that help improve quality of life. An apple a day may keep atrophy away

“Muscle wasting is a frequent companion of illness and aging,” said study researcher Dr. Christopher Adams, an endocrinologist at the University. “It prolongs hospitalization, delays recoveries and in some cases, prevents people from going back home,” Adams said.

According to the National Institute of Health, there are two type of muscle atrophy: disuse atrophy and neurogenic atrophy.  Disuse atrophy is more prevalent in residents in both nursing homes and assisted living facilities since it is associated with lack of physical exercise.

Although muscle atrophy can be a normal symptom of aging, other causes may include alcoholic associated myopathy, long-term immobilization, long-term corticosteroid use, rheumatoid arthritis, stroke and diabetic neuropathy among others.

Adams tells MSNBC that they are hoping to begin human trials with ursolic acid in the future.  Hopefully this type of research will lead to advances in diseases such as Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS).

The researchers were also excited to see that the mice given the ursolic acid became leaner with lower blood levels of glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides.  The researchers suggest that ursolic acid may be responsible for some of the benefits of healthy eating.

Apples and their waxy peels are not alone in helping prevent against aging and its associated symptoms.  There are several other foods that not only taste good but can easily be incorporated into everyday menus. Dietary managers in assisted living and other senior care settings may consider adding some of the following foods to the menu.

Other “Super Foods” which often associated with aging and illness.

  • Blueberries: These little berries contain anti-oxidants that have anti-cancer and anti-aging properties. They also can help lower cholesterol and strengthen artery walls
  • Garlic: A natural remedy for colds and flu and has been shown to reduce cholesterol
  • Oily Fish: Top source of Omega-3 Fatty Acids which have been shown to reduce the risk of blood clots and buildup of fatty deposits in arteries.
  • Avocado: High in monounsaturated fats and in vitamins E and C.
  • Brazil Nuts: Also high in monounsaturated fats and good source of selenium, which helps clean up free radicals in the body.
  • Olive Oil: Has been proven beneficial in improving blood vessel function and helps lower cholesterol.
  • Honey: A powerful anti-bacterial with healing powers.
  • Bananas: High in minerals and providing potassium and good carbohydrates, bananas help maintain energy levels.
  • Tomatoes: A source of lycopene which absorbs free radicals in the body and has been shown to help protect against prostate cancer.
  • Broccoli: A good source of iron and has been shown to protect against breast and prostate cancer

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Posted in Aging, Health News, Senior Living News | 6 Comments »

Happy Hour in Assisted Living? Substance Abuse Among Seniors on the Rise

Friday, June 10th, 2011 by Angela Stringfellow

When grandpa says he’s going to rehab, the first thought is of physical rehabilitation after a hip replacement or lengthy illness.   Today, however, rehab may very well be for drug and alcohol counseling.

It’s not just senior living facilities that are seeing an increase in residents now that the baby boomers are coming of age. According to an article published by the Associated Press, the number of treatment (drug and alcohol) admissions has doubled between 1992 and 2008 and is expected to grow as the baby boomer generation ages.

Odyssey House in New York is one center offering substance abuse treatment programs designed specifically for the senior population. Peter Provet, Ph.D., President and CEO of Odyssey House, tells the Associated Press, “There is a level of societal denial around the issue. No one wants to look at their grandparent, no one wants to think about their grandparent or their elderly parent, and see that person as an addict.”

But in reality is there is a problem.  According to the Federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services AdmiHappy Hour in Assisted Livingnistration, one of every eight older adults sought help for substance abuse in 2008.

Alcohol has been reported by the experts to be leading substance of abuse, with nearly 60% of those seeking treatment over the age of 50 doing so because of alcohol.  Alarmingly, heroin accounted for 16% and cocaine for 11.4%, doubling and quadrupling their 1992 rates, respectively.

Many members of the Boomer generation have had past experience with substance abuse. In fact, a majority of those using into their Golden Years have had some relationship with their substance of choice for many years. It’s much less common for people like Don Walsh, a participant at Hanley Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, who says he didn’t develop a problem until after he retired. He replaced his 14-hour, stress-filled work days with wine-filled lunches and dinners. It wasn’t until he blacked out in his garage that he began treatment.

How will an increase in substance abuse among seniors impact long-term care providers?

Skilled nursing facilities and assisted living communities may be reluctant to offer accommodations for those who are actively using, citing increased risk and liability to their other residents as reason for the denial.  But, it’s these exact types of facilities that may begin to see an increase in referrals for chronic users, especially since Medicare only offers coverage for out-patient treatment. With health complications, such as chronic liver disease and memory loss, as well as social isolation often accompanying the substance abuse, many of the aging abusers need assistance with their activities of daily living (ADLs), their desire and ability to be compliant with prescribed medications and their impulse control when it comes to using.

Are senior living facilities equipped to provide addictions counseling to residents?

Most long-term care providers aren’t equipped to handle substance abuse treatment as a primary diagnosis. Further, as senior living providers aim to meet the demands of today’s active adult lifestyles, happy hour and cocktail parties are becoming increasingly common in independent living and assisted living facilities. These types of activities will present unique challenges should one or more residents have a history of substance abuse.

However, with the number of substance abusers expected to continue rising, there is hope that more specialized treatment facilities will begin catering to the needs of the aging population.  Facilities that are already providing specific therapy programs are seeing success because their participants are able to relate to one another and remain focused on their own treatment, rather than playing mentor to younger addicts.  Dr. Provet and the staff at Odyssey House have watched such a program garner the highest level of success, with 85% of their participants completing the program during their last fiscal year.

One thing is certain: The statistics being reported are only from those who have begun to look for treatment and answers. Addiction knows no age, and the number of those truly being affected is limitless.

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