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California Rules About Violence Against Health Workers Could Become A Model 

10/31/2016

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Workers in California's hospitals and doctors' offices may be less likely to get hit, kicked, bitten or grabbed under workplace standards adopted by a state workplace safety board.
Regulators within the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health approved a rule last Thursday that would require hospitals and other employers of health professionals to develop violence prevention protocols and involve workers in the process. The standard now will be reviewed by the Office of Administrative Law, which proponents expect will approve the new rules. The earliest they could take effect would be January 2017.
"This is a landmark day for the entire country," said Bonnie Castillo, a registered nurse who is director of health and safety for the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United, which represents 185,000 registered nurses across the U.S.
There are no federal rules specifically protecting workers from violence, but some states, including California, New York, Illinois and New Jersey require public employers to take preventive measures, according to the American Nurses Association.
The Cal/OSHA rules apply to private health care facilities in the state and are more robust than existing workplace protection rules, union officials say. Site-specific assessments will be done to identify violence risks, and the resulting plans to prevent injuries will address concerns identified by workers.
"California has now set the bar with the strongest workplace violence regulation in the nation," wrote Castillo in a statement.
Two unions, the California Nurses Association and the Service Employees International Union, have been pushing for more comprehensive protections because of what they see as an alarming rate of health care workplace assaults, such as the 2010 strangling death of a nurse at a state-run psychiatric hospital in Napa.
"Unfortunately, [violence] is sort of a daily occurrence," said Kathy Hughes, a registered nurse and spokesperson for the SEIU Nurse Alliance of California. She said her union formed a campaign and talked to hundreds of health care professionals, many of whom had accepted the idea that assaults happen at work. But "violence shouldn't be part of the job," said Hughes.
The California Nurses Association sponsored the 2014 bill that required the board to adopt the violence prevention rules this year.
National research shows that health care workers are at a "substantially higher" risk of workplace violence than the average worker. In 2013, for example, private-sector hospital workers were five times more likely to take time off from work because of an injury caused by violence than a typical private sector worker.
Workplace safety standards already exist in California, but the Cal/OSHA rules are specifically designed to prevent violence.
"It can't be a cookie-cutter approach," said Hughes, adding that emergency departments and pediatric care units pose different dangers to workers, so safety protocols can't simply be a canned plan found on the Internet.
Both the California Nurses Association and SEIU say they hope the new California standards will become a national model.
Testimony at hearings leading up to the approval of the rules to prevent violence suggest that worker assaults vary in severity.
As a student nurse at a San Francisco hospital, Amy Erb remembered being kicked in the head by an agitated, confused patient with a traumatic brain injury.
Other health care workers told stories about patients throwing lamps, lifting caregivers up by their necks or stuffing dirt into the mouths of their colleagues.
Under the new rules, California employers wouldn't be liable for every act of violence against a worker, such as a mass shooting, but they could be cited by Cal/OSHA for not following protocols, Hughes said. The standard applies to hospital-affiliated facilities and clinics, including home health care settings and drug treatment programs.
Hospitals and physicians were at the table when regulators hammered out the workplace rules. The California Hospital Association didn't provide comment for this story, but it had been opposed to creating new standards when lawmakers looked at the issue in 2014. Hospitals also wanted "workplace violence" to be better defined.
The hospital trade association said several recent trends may contribute to violence at health care facilities. Cuts to mental health care services lead to more psychiatric patients in hospitals. The aging patient population may include more Alzheimer's patients, some with aggressive tendencies. And hospitals caring for current or recently released prisoners face a higher risk of violence.
This story was produced by Kaiser Health News, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation.
 

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NAHC to File Lawsuit to Stop Pre-Claim 

10/28/2016

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By Amy Baxter | October 26, 2016

​​  A national association is striking back against the “failed” Pre-Claim Review Demonstration (PCRD) with a plan to file a lawsuit against the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

The board of directors of the National Association for Homecare & Hospice (NAHC) has authorized a lawsuit against CMS, which the association says “is currently ravaging our Illinois members and threatening to do the same across the country.” The lawsuit likely will be filed within weeks and will seek an injunction to stop pre-claim in Illinois, William Dombi, NAHC’s vice president for law, told Home Health Care News.

The PCRD has been under way in Illinois since August 3 and was originally scheduled to spread to Florida, Texas, Michigan, and Massachusetts, periodically over the coming months before CMS delayed implementation.

The action is the latest attempt to deter the demonstration, which requires home health care agencies to submit claims to Medicare earlier in the care process, from spreading to other states. NAHC calls the action a “last resort,” but believes CMS has left the association “with no alternative,” according to a post on the association’s website. NAHC has filed a number of lawsuits over the years against CMS, according to Dombi.

NAHC has been extremely vocal that the demonstration is harmful to the home health care industry, causing punishing administrative burdens and delaying care in Illinois. Home health providers across the country and in Illinois have also spoken up about their concerns over the demonstration, with one provider calling it the “worst regulations” he has ever seen. Agencies have also voiced their discontent with CMS.

The Alliance for Home Health Quality and Innovation and the Visiting Nurse Associations of America (VNAA) are two organizations that have reached out to federal agencies over their concerns of PCRD.

“The Alliance and VNAA have repeatedly questioned CMS’s authority to implement the Pre-Claim Review Demonstration project,” the organizations said in a joint statement to HHCN. “We remain strongly concerned with the impact on patient access to high quality home health care.”

NAHC is resolute in its effort to fight back.

“One of the things that happens is that people mistake niceness for weakness,” NAHC President Val Halamandaris said at a policy briefing during the association’s annual meeting in Orlando this week. “Those of us in the home care and hospice community have always tried to lead our lives in a very high standard…sometimes they think they can kick us around. They’re wrong. They need to understand that some of the toughest people you will come across are those who have devoted their lives to caring for the sick and the dying.”

A ‘Grueling Case’

To be successful, the case will have to prove that the demonstrations been harmful not only to home health care providers, but also to patients, according to Dombi, who noted that the lawsuit could be a “grueling case.”

The lawsuit is not the first attempt to stop the demonstration in its tracks. Several lawmakers have already taken a stand against the expansion of the rollout, and even included a one-year halt to the program in a bill that was introduced in Congress earlier this month.

However, NAHC is not betting Congress will act on pre-claim anytime soon, particularly in the midst of a heated election.

“While we continue to seek help from Congress, the outlook for opportunities after the election led us to add the court to the forums we are using to address the reclaim issues,” Dombi told HHCN.

To involve the home health care industry, NAHC plans to lead a tour of Illinois to “publicize the damage pre-claim is doing to home care patients and providers in the state so that it can be brought to an end and not extended to anywhere else in the country,” according to the association’s website post.

CMS Stands Behind Data

While CMS delayed implementing the demonstration to the other four pilot states, the agency has made no moves to stop the model in Illinois. It appears likely, at this point, the demonstration will be implemented in the other pilot states in the future.

CMS recently released data that appeared out-of-sync with reports on the ground in Illinois from home health agencies, many of which have reported sky-high non-affirmation rates for submitted pre-claim review requests.

By comparison, CMS data cited the average affirmation or partial affirmation rates of pre-claim review requests reached 66% during the first eight weeks of the program. As of October 15, 2016, CMS reported that 78% of requests were either affirmed or partially affirmed.

However, CMS did note a “wide variation in the affirm rates,” with some home health agencies receiving a 100% affirmation rate while others have had none of their claims affirmed. Sixty-five home health agencies in Illinois reported that none of their claims were affirmed, according to the latest data from CMS. Just 58 said they had a 100% affirmation rate, with only 18 agencies reporting a 75% affirmation rate. 

​CMS declined to comment for this story.

Written by Amy Baxter



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Senior-Specific ERs, Home Care Could Reduce Hospital Admissions

10/27/2016

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By Elizabeth Ecker | October 25, 2016

Hospital admissions have always been a major concern for the aging population, but the sheer numbers will make a rising problem even worse without alternatives to help take pressure away from hospitals.

With an influx of senior patients using emergency health care services, some health systems are exploring the ways in which they can improve the experience for seniors, specifically, and they’re also looking closely at care provided in the home before and after ER visits to help cut down on senior ER admissions and readmissions.

The University of California, San Diego, which operates multiple hospital campuses in greater San Diego, through grant funding of $12 million from San Diego-based West Health, is under way with plans to build a senior-specfic emergency room. It also has piloted a project to provide acute care at home. The care at home project is not restricted by age, but 90% of the patients are over age 65.

In the period of time 24 to 72 hours after a hospital admission, nurses provide care in the home such as blood draws, intravenous antibiotics administration and other medical services.

An additional layer involves encrypted text messaging between the nurse and the physician who assumes the care at home and can intervene if needed.

The Senior-Specific ER:

The acute care at home project is one avenue UCSD is pursuing to improve the care process for seniors and all patients while taking some pressure away from emergency rooms. A senior-specific ER is also being designed with a similar goal in mind.  

The $14 million, 8,500-square-foot project anticipates completion in 2018. 

Current emergency medical facilities do not have the capacity to serve the wave of senior patients that is coming via the “silver tsunami,” said Dr. Ted Chan, chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at UC San Diego.

“When we look at the numbers in emergency medicine, there is one emergency department visit for every two folks over the age of 65,” he said on a panel last week during MedCity’s Engage conference in San Diego. “That’s over 500 visits per 1000 people over 65… As the population grows, we imagine that will grow. It’s a significant challenge.”

There are currently around 100 emergency rooms nationwide that market themselves as geriatric ERs, Chan said, although few are taking such a comprehensive approach as UCSD’s. The university is collaborating in its research with a couple of figureheads when it comes to geriatric ERs, including Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago and Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York City.

The approach to developing a senior-specific ER involves both research and data analysis, said Dr. Zia Agha chief medical officer for West Health, on the same panel.

"On the research side we are doing research with UCSD and on a national level,” he says. “We are looking at data from three EHRs. One initiative is to create a data warehouse, allowing more rapid cycle research. [We’re] also looking at using data as an opportunity to create quality measures.”

Redesigning Emergency Care:

In very loose terms, a geriatric ER is one that has specific accommodations for senior patients. This could mean materials used for flooring that can help prevent falls, for example. The UCSD project, which will break ground in 2017, is also looking at a number of other elements: ample windows for natural light; ambient light that will prevent patients from becoming disoriented; acoustics and sound absorption to help patients who are hard of hearing; considerations for mobility issues including fall prevention; and ample space for caregivers in the ER, since in many cases the caregiver accompanies the patient.

But in addition to the physical aspects of the ER, training of medical staff is a major consideration. UCSD and West Health are exploring the approach of staff, including care processes and transitions.

“The first element is much more extensive screening in terms of cognitive decline,” Chan says. “We are missing opportunities to pick up on early cognitive decline.”

All nursing staff will be trained on this screening, as well as in care transitions. Post-discharge planning and communication is yet another prong of the research where opportunities lie, Chan says of an acute care at home project aimed at reducing hospital readmissions.

“If we can get [patients] home or to assisted living, but we’re not able to make it to their home, there’s [some service we can provide] from the ED that may result in some significant costs saving,” he said.

That might include nurse visits within the first 72 hours post-discharge to perform IV antibiotic administration or blood draws as in the acute care at home program. And as construction gets under way, the researchers and partner institutions will learn more about what works in the senior ER, in hopes to help address a rising issue before it becomes a problem.

“Forty-two million [seniors] in 2030 will be seen in the ER,” Chan says, citing projections. “We don’t have the resources to manage that.”

Written by 
Elizabeth Ecker


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Home Health Execs Sentenced In $34 Million Fraud

10/24/2016

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By Alana Stramowski | October 24, 2016                                                                    

​ 
The owner and medical director from an in-home health provider located in New Orleans were sentenced to prison this week for a $34 million Medicare fraud scheme they took part in.

Elaine Davis, 60, was the owner of Christian Home Health, Inc. and was sentenced to 96 months in prison, and medical director Dr. Pramela Ganji was sentenced to 72 months by Chief U.S. District Judge Kurt D. Engelhardt of the Eastern District of Louisiana, according to the Department of Justice.


Christian Home Health offered home health services around the clock. Their services included skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupation therapy, speech pathology, medical social work and home health aides. The agency is now permanently closed.

Davis and Ganji were both found guilty by a jury on March 17, 2016 of one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and one count of health care fraud.

It was found during the investigation and presented as evidence during the trial that Davis orchestrated a huge Medicare fraud scheme by dishonestly billing Medicare for purported home health care services that in many cases did not need to be completed, the DOJ said.

Ganji’s role in the scheme was perpetrated during her time as Christian Home Health’s medical director from 2010 to 2015. Ganji falsely claimed that beneficiaries she had never examined were qualified to receive home health services, evidence showed.


Davis and Ganji billed Medicare claims through Christian Home Health for more than $34.4 million, of which Medicare paid more than $29.6 million, the trial revealed. A large percentage of those claims were found to be fraudulent.

Judge Engelhardt scheduled a restitution hearing for Dec. 7, 2016.

​Written by 
Alana Stramowski
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3 Myths Holding Back Aging in Place

10/20/2016

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The majority of the aging population in America, which is responsible for at least $7.1 trillion in annual economic activity, has the desire to stay in their homes, but many are hesitant to call themselves “old” or even have conversations about aging in place.
The myths and stigmas that surround these conversations are why many people are hesitant to even bring up the idea, so debunking them is the first step in opening a dialogue, according to HomeAdvisor’s Aging in Place Report2016.
Based in Golden, Colorado, HomeAdvisor is a provider in digital home services with tools and resources for home repair, maintenance and improvement projects. The 2016 Aging in Place Report is based on the results form a survey conducted between August 10, 2016 and August 23, 2016 to 279 professional respondents and 586 homeowners 55 years and older.


A top myth among the older generation is that aging in place is about aging, the report said. This assumption can easily be debunked because aging in place is really just about livability.
Even for homeowners who are 55 and older, 40% say that they aren’t completing aging-related renovations because they don’t have physical disabilities. Though aging-related renovations are not just for homeowners with physical disabilities, Marianne Cusato, author of the report and HomeAdvisor’s housing expert, explained.
“Making homes safe and accessible for seniors is an important and primary objective of aging-in-place projects,” Cusato wrote. “Thriving in place, however, is about much more than adding grab bars and wheelchair ramps. In fact, many popular aging-in-place improvements—wider doorways, open floor plans, zero-step entrances, remote-controlled window coverings and motions-tenor lights, just to name a few—can enhance the quality of life in a home even as they make the home safer.”
Another myth believed by the 55 and older population is that aging in place is only practical in the suburbs. Among older homeowners, suburban/rural homeowners are less likely than urban homeowners to have completed or considered an aging-in-place renovation, the report said.
But what many of those homeowners may not know are the benefits of aging in place in cities. Larger cities often have better public transportation systems and increased social opportunities, which can be ideal for aging adults who may not want to drive anymore but want to maintain a social life.
Technology also brings up mixed feelings when it comes to homeowners 55 and older. Of those surveyed, 67% think smart home technology could be useful as they age, but just 19% say they have considered installing smart home technology. This could be because technology is still considered a luxury convenience instead of a necessity, Cusato pointed out.
“Older homeowners’ reluctance to adopt smart-home technology for aging in place is not surprising,” she wrote. “Older adults are less likely than younger adults to be familiar with technology in general, and smart home technology in particular is still coming into existence—and, therefore, still expensive.”
No matter what age someone is, many aging in place upgrades—such as seating in the shower, or lower cabinets—can improve quality of life, the report stresses.
“Looking at aging in place through a new lens that acknowledges how we live—not just show long we live—will usher in a new generation of home-improvement project that benefit the young, the young at heart and everyone in between,” Cusato said.
Written by Alana Stramowski
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Clots May Be the Cause of Fainting in Some Elderly

10/19/2016

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By Amy Norton
HealthDay Reporter

(HEALTHDAY)

 WEDNESDAY, Oct. 19, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- When elderly adults suffer a fainting spell, a blood clot in the lungs may be the culprit more often than doctors have realized, a new study suggests.
Italian researchers found that among 560 patients hospitalized for a first-time fainting episode, one in six had a pulmonary embolism -- a potentially fatal blood clot in a lung artery.
One U.S. physician said the findings are eye-opening.
They do not mean that everyone who faints needs to be evaluated for pulmonary embolism, stressed Dr. Lisa Moores, a professor of medicine at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Md.
But the condition should be on doctors' radar with certain patients, according to Moores, who is also with the American College of Chest Physicians. She wasn't involved in the study.
"Pulmonary embolism may be a much more common cause than we've thought," she said.
Most often, a pulmonary embolism is caused by a blood clot in the legs that dislodges and travels to the lungs, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health.
The most common symptoms include chest pain, cough and difficulty breathing.
Pulmonary embolism occasionally causes fainting -- and that has been considered a sign of a more-severe blockage, Moores said. That is, the clot is large enough to abruptly cut off blood flow to the brain and cause a loss of consciousness.
Still, Moores said, fainting spells are "certainly not at the top of the list" of pulmonary embolism symptoms.
Partly because of that, she explained, people hospitalized for fainting are not typically evaluated for pulmonary embolism -- unless there are other suspicious symptoms, such as chest pain or swelling in the legs (a sign of a blood clot in the legs).
The new study appears in the Oct. 20 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. Its aim was to figure out how often pulmonary embolism really is the culprit when people are hospitalized for fainting.
Researchers at 11 hospitals in Italy performed a "systematic workup" for pulmonary embolism in 560 patients admitted for a first-time fainting spell.
The patients were 76 years old, on average, and had been admitted from the ER for various reasons: The cause of their fainting was not apparent; there was reason to suspect a heart-related cause; they had other serious medical conditions; or they'd been injured when they fainted.
In the end, just over 17 percent -- or roughly one in six -- were diagnosed with pulmonary embolism.
That included 13 percent of patients who'd had a potential alternative explanation for their fainting, such as a heart condition.
Still, fainting spells can have many potential causes, Moores pointed out. Those include seizure, a drop in blood pressure (from dehydration or standing up quickly, for instance), and heart-rhythm disturbances.
So people who faint should not assume they have a pulmonary embolism, Moores stressed.
Study co-author Dr. Sofia Barbar, a physician at the Civic Hospital of Camposampiero in Padua, Italy, agreed.
Barbar stressed that the study focused on "high-risk" patients who had to be admitted to the hospital after arriving in the ER.
In general, she said, people who faint far more often have "reflex syncope." That refers to a short-lived loss of consciousness due to certain triggers, such as seeing the sight of blood, or standing in a hot, crowded area.
But when it comes to certain patients, Barbar said, this study suggests that pulmonary embolism is a more common issue than thought.
"In elderly patients presenting with [fainting]," she said, "the attending physician in medical wards should consider [pulmonary embolism] as a possible differential diagnosis -- particularly when an alternative explanation is not found."
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The Right to Sue — RestoredBy TERESA TRITCH

10/18/2016

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Prevent and Recover from Falls

10/17/2016

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www.homecaremag.com/aging-place/september-2016/prevent-and-recover-falls
Prevent and Recover from Falls

​SEPTEMBER 2016 ISSUE

The Free2Go Rollator provides safety and discretion for public restrooms
This handy checklist can make your home safer
by Laura CastoIn 2013, the number of people age 65 and older totaled 44.7 million. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, that number will double by 2060 to 98 million seniors. Consequently, demand for quality fall prevention products and education has significantly increased. Manufacturers are tasked with determining where and how these falls are occurring, and then working to present consumers with innovative solutions to prevent future falls.
The bathroom remains one of the most hazardous rooms in the home for seniors. More than 200,000 people are injured in bathroom accidents annually, and that number is slowly increasing as baby boomers get older. Many consumers make the mistake of using the glass shower door, towel rack or shower curtain for assistance when entering and exiting the bathing area; however, these items are not designed to support much weight.
Reducing these types of risky behaviors starts with proper education. Manufacturers, medical professionals and caretakers must place extra emphasis on educating consumers about what products are essential to preventing falls, how to use them and how to avoid dangerous situations. For example, educating seniors on how to safely get in and out of the bathtub or shower and equipping their homes with necessary safety precautions can greatly reduce the potential for a fall.
To prevent falls in the bathroom, seniors should have the following essentials on hand:
  • Nonslip rubber mats in front of the sink, toilet and shower or tub
  • Grab bars inside and outside of shower or bath
  • Toilet safety frame or raised toilet seat with arms
  • Bright, easily accessible lights
The risk of falling increases as we age. This is the result of normal changes that come with aging, as well as medical conditions such as arthritis, vision problems, high blood pressure or even as a side effect of medications. One of the most effective ways to preserve healthy balance is to stay active with an exercise regimen designed to improve balance, stability and overall mobility, such as yoga and walking activities.
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Many patients, especially those holding on to their independence, are embarrassed about their need for fall prevention products. Other patients are put off by the clinical appearance of items. For this reason, many manufacturers are developing traditional fall prevention products such as canes, walkers and grab bars, but introducing more contemporary design elements to the products. Designed with style in mind, there is less stigma and embarrassment associated with these products.
Once the consumer has purchased suitable fall prevention products, they also need to know how to properly use them. Because caregivers purchasing products for their loved ones predominantly shop this category, many manufacturers have updated their packaging with marketing that targets the caregiver as opposed to the patient.
Many caregivers are often overworked and overburdened with their day-to-day duties and find themselves struggling to make the right decisions for their loved ones. With clear packaging demonstrating the product in use and in-store educational resources, manufacturers ensure customers are choosing the right product the first time.
The best fall prevention products seem to have three traits in common: patient weight capacity, ease-of-use and assembly and portability. Caregivers, manufacturers and retailers alike should ensure that fall prevention products always meet the following standards:
  • Patient weight capacity—Make sure the item will adequately support the patient’s full weight when needed. All adaptive equipment must be appropriately fit to the customer.
  • Ease of use and assembly—Look for tool-free designs that are easy to assemble and install, as well as quick-start guides that feature easy-to-follow instructions.
  • Portability—Baby boomers are looking to remain active and also travel in their golden years. Choose items that can be used at home or on the go.
It is also helpful to keep in mind that most falls occur in the home. Consumers can prevent falls at home by following these simple steps:
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  • Fasten any loose rugs firmly to the floor or ensure they have nonslip backing.
  • Move electrical cords and telephone wires so they are not in walking areas where one can trip on them.
  • Install handrails or suction-cup grab bars in the bathroom, inside and outside of shower/bath and on either side of the toilet. These are much stronger than towel racks, which are not meant to support weight. Or consider a toilet safety frame around the toilet or a raised toilet seat.
  • If having difficulty getting in and out of the shower or bathtub, consider using a transfer bench.
  • A shower chair can provide stability for someone with difficulty balancing and a resting place for those who have difficulty standing for long periods of time. A good shower chair has rubber tips on the legs to prevent sliding. When used with a handheld showerhead, the user can remain seated while bathing.
  • Put a rubber suction mat or nonslip stickers in the tub or shower.
  • Place nonskid mats or carpet on all surfaces that may get wet, such as in front of the sink and toilet.
  • Install handrails on both sides of the stairs for extra support.
  • Reorganize the home, placing everyday items accessible and within easy reach. Avoid placing anything too high or even too low.
  • Install night lights in the bedroom, hallways and bathrooms, and make sure bright lights are easily accessible. A poorly lit pathway can easily cause a fall.
  • Always wear shoes with firm nonskid, nonfriction soles. Although slippers may be comfortable to wear in the house, they can also cause a trip, slip or fall.
  • When waking in the morning or even getting up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom, patients should try to get into the habit of sitting at the edge of the bed for a few moments to allow their blood pressure to adjust before standing up.Getting up too quickly could cause dizziness, throw off balance and possibly cause a fall.
How can active seniors and their caregivers prevent falls in public? There are many products that can help older adults continue an active lifestyle. Many manufacturers have developed innovative ways to provide consumers the independence they crave, while keeping them safe. For instance, Roscoe Medical has partnered with an inventor, Lesli Jenkins Wang, to introduce the Free2Go Rollator, which combines the benefits of the rolling walker (“rollator”) with a toilet safety product, allowing one to safely, confidently and discreetly use a toilet in any restroom.
The Free2Go Rollator addresses a common problem that many seniors face when using a public restroom where the toilet is positioned too low or does not offer the support needed when sitting or lifting. There is a common misconception in the marketplace that ADA-compliant toilets address all the concerns of every individual with reduced mobility; however, this is not the case. ADA-compliant restrooms are often designed for someone transferring from a wheelchair, not for those using a walking aid. There was an obvious gap in the HME/DME industry, and the Free2Go Rollator addresses this gap and promotes independence.
Although preventing falls is a vital aspect of properly caring for aging seniors, it is also imperative that individuals receive proper education about how to proceed in the unfortunate event that a fall has already taken place. Reacting properly to a fall can be the difference between a serious fall and a less serious one, and helps to decrease any physical and psychological consequences. Proper reaction enables a person to regain their confidence quickly, and to continue to be as independent as possible. Practicing some simple steps with your loved one can really make a difference.
When a fall occurs, try to remain calm. If there is no pain or discomfort, then try to get up, keeping the following steps in mind:
  • Lie on your side, bend the leg that is on top and lift yourself onto your elbows or hands.
  • Pull yourself toward an armchair or other sturdy object, and then kneel while placing both hands on the chair or object.
  • Place your stronger leg in front, holding on to the chair or object.
  • Stand up.
  • Very carefully, turn and sit down. If there is any discomfort or you are unable to get up, try to get someone to help.
  • Call out for help if you think you can be heard.
  • If you have an emergency call device or telephone at hand, use it.
  • If you do not, try to slide yourself toward a telephone or a place where you will be heard.
  • Make noise with your cane or another object to attract attention.
  • Wait for help in the most comfortable position for you.
  • Try to move your joints to ease circulation and prevent stiffness.
When a senior experiences a fall in their bathroom, around their home or in public they should always be sure to notify their doctors. Statistics show that less than half of older people who fall tell their doctor, usually due to embarrassment or from fear of losing their independence. This habit is dangerous because, if left untreated, the impact of a fall could lead to other serious health problems.
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How to Reverse Dementia

10/14/2016

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    C. Michaud

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