ASCP initiative helps reduce medication-related problems in elderly
Medication-related problems are common among older adults, costing billions of dollars a year and reducing the quality of life for many individuals suffering from such problems. Unless something is done to address this issue, the prevalence of medication-related problems will most likely increase as the baby boomer generation ages.
Fortunately, the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) has stepped up to the plate and in the fall of 2008 launched Campaign 2011, a multi-faceted initiative designed to raise awareness of medication-related problems in the elderly, educate seniors and caregivers about the appropriate use of medications, and take additional steps including educating policy makers to reduce medication-related problems.
“ASCP wants to make the public aware of these medication-related problems in older adults, especially as the first of the baby boomers enter the Medicare population in 2011, hence the name of our initiative,” says Katharine Gavett, government affairs manager at ASCP in Alexandria, VA.
Medication-related problems are responsible for 28% of hospitalizations in the elderly and 23% of nursing home admissions and cost approximately 200 billion dollars a year, according to the Campaign 2011 brochure.
“If we can reduce the medication-related problems among older adults, we will improve their quality of life,” Gavett says. “Saving healthcare dollars at the same time is a definite plus.”
The initiative aims to empower consumers and providers through education about the proper use of medications, ensure elderly people at high risk for medication-related problems have access to a senior care pharmacist, and increase the number of pharmacists working to reduce medication-related problems among older adults.
“We encourage our members to go out into the community to address and educate seniors in all settings,” Gavett says. “Nursing homes can also support the different initiatives of Campaign 2011, whether it is educating seniors or supporting policy changes.”
For more information about ASCP’s Campaign 2011, visit www.ascpcampaign2011.com or contact Kathy Gavett at kgavett@ascp.com or (703) 739-1316 ext. 141.
AAHSA unveils Idea House during annual exposition
During the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging’s (AAHSA) Annual Meeting and Exposition in Chicago from November 8-11, the association unveiled it’s Idea House, a 2,600 square-foot model home that uses innovative technologies and design to help older adults maintain their independence at home.
“The majority of older adults would prefer to remain in their home where they can have a higher quality of life and the cost of care is much lower. The Idea House displays technologies that would allow them to do this while enabling caregivers to provide a high level of service,” says Majd Alwan, Ph.D., director of AAHSA’s Center for Aging Services Technologies (CAST) in Washington, DC. “It really brought the future of technology in long-term care to life on the exhibit hall floor.”
The Idea House displays a variety of products, 90% of which are already on the market and available to consumers and providers. In addition to helping older adults remain independent in their homes longer, these technologies and designs can reduce healthcare costs, improve health outcomes, and provide caregivers with up-to-date health information. Some technology and design highlights included in the Idea House are as follows:
- Automatic medication dispenser and reminder
- Electronic medical records
- Height-adjustable bath and kitchen appliances
- Automatic personal emergency response system
- Interactive gaming system
- Artificial intelligent robot in place of live animal therapy
“Although the Idea House is designed as a single family home, many of the architectural design features, such as the wide doorways, zero step entry between rooms, common socialization areas, or adaptability of cabinets, could be easily adopted by nursing homes, assisted living facilities, greenhouse models, and other long-term care residences,” Alwan says.
In addition to health and safety technologies, the Idea House includes products to help seniors maintain their social network. “Although the Idea House aims to help people remain in their home, we don’t want to isolate them; we want to give them a dignified and fulfilling aging experience,” Alwan says. “The Idea House displays several technologies to support social connectedness, such as social networking sites for seniors, communications portals, two-way video conferences, and technologies that work to stimulate seniors both cognitively and physically.”
The Idea House displays a wide variety of groundbreaking technologies and designs, but perhaps the most remarkable was Cyberdyne’s Hybrid Assistive Limb (HAL) device. “Cyberdyne’s device is a robotic suit that uses the bio-electric signals a person’s brain and nervous system sends to muscles to activate an electromechanical limb, which is attached to the actual limb of the person,” Alwan says. “It assists in the motion and can multiply the force of the limb by up to ten times.” HAL can be used as a temporary rehabilitation device, a permanent device for a disabled individual, or a device to help caregivers provide more support and weight-bearing assistance to the people they care for.
Although the Idea House was dismantled and packed away after AAHSA’s Annual Meeting and Exposition ended, it will be available for viewing again at next year’s meeting, where it will display new ideas and products.
AAHSA Idea House 2009 (Photo courtesy of THW Design)
Empathy is key in November, National Alzheimer’s Awareness month
Empathy allows us to understand people suffering from dementia. Sometimes their way of expressing themselves comes across as a challenging behavior. But nursing home staff should see it as a sign of distress and recognize that something is wrong. For example, if a resident becomes violent during a shower, reframe it, and understand they are upset and trying to reach out. Put yourself in their shoes.
Empathy comes from a level of intelligence and acknowledges how we are viewed by that resident and what we’re trying to do. In order to have empathy for someone you need to understand their life story, what’s truly important to them. Then it will be easier to provide daily care. A caregiver needs to know to begin everything with empathy and see beyond behaviors.
For more information on caring for residents with Alzheimer’s disease, visit the Alzheimer’s Resource Center of Connecticut’s Web site.
Handling the needs of residents suffering from incontinence
Residents who cannot control when or where they urinate suffer from urinary incontinence, or UI. There are things that can be done to improve this condition, but it is important to know what the cause is so the right care and treatment can be given. This condition is not the person’s fault. It is not the result of laziness or meanness and it is not a necessary or normal part of growing older. UI is a health problem with a number of possible causes including urinary tract infections, muscle weakness, vaginal problems (women), prostate problems (men), and constipation. The three treatments for UI are:
1. Medicine.
2. Surgery.
3. Behavioral treatments. These work well for residents who have problems getting to the bathroom or who are not able to tell you when they need to urinate. Three behavioral interventions that you can help with include:
- Scheduled toileting (assist the resident to the bathroom every two to four hours on a regular schedule)
- Prompted voiding (check the resident often for wetness, ask the resident if he or she needs to use the toilet, praise the resident for being dry)
- Habit training (use a bladder record to determine what time of day the resident typically urinates, take the resident to the bathroom at those times every day)
Trainer’s tip: Always treat the resident with respect
When offering behavioral treatment, it is important to remember that a resident with UI is not lazy, the individual simply suffers from a medical condition. CNAs must act accordingly. For all behavioral treatments, be sure to:
- Treat the resident as an adult
- Answer a call bell as soon as possible
- Do not rush the resident
- Give the resident plenty of time to completely empty his or her bladder
- Give privacy by closing the door, even if you must stay in the bathroom
- Never yell or be angry with the resident if he or she is wet
- Respect dignity and confidentiality
- Be patient
This is an excerpt from HCPro’s book, The CNA Training Solution, Second Edition.
Recognizing bacteria in long-term care facilities
Illnesses are common in healthcare settings. Long-term care facilities are no different. The following list offers details about bacteria that are often found in facilities:
- Clostridium difficile: Also called C. diff, this is an anaerobic bacterium, meaning it does not need oxygen for its existence. It is often spread through the fecal-oral route, where poor hand washing and cross-contamination are the agents of infection. C. diff leads to a very odiferous diarrhea. Residents with C. diff should be isolated to prevent spreading.
- Clostridium perfringens: Also anaerobic, it is a spore-forming bacterium that can spread harmful toxins in the body. Clostridium perfringens is found in soil, animal and human waste, food, and dust, and can be transmitted from insects as well. It produces flu-like symptoms as well as more serious issues such as gangrene.
- Staphylococcus aureus: A coccus bacterium that has potentially life-threatening implications, Staphylococcus aureus has become resistant to many antibiotics. It is commonly found on skin, within the nasal passages, and on the hands.
- Escherichia coli: Often referred to as E. coli for short, this is a bacterium found in fecal contaminants. It can be fatal, especially to those who are physically compromised. Many forms of E. coli infection come from food, especially uncooked or undercooked meats.
- Salmonella: There are many types, but the two most common are Salmonella typhimurium and Salmonella enteritidis. Those who are infected will often experience severe diarrhea and stomach cramps. Infections can come from food, especially unpasteurized eggs and milk products, or by not cooking these products thoroughly.
This is an excerpt from HCPro’s book, The Long-Term Care Administrator’s Field Guide, by Brian Garavaglia, PhD.
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