5 Tips for Families to Help Seniors Enjoy the Holidays

Some residents go home with family for the holidays.  When the senior is able to do so it is generally a good idea.  However, sometimes in the hectic holiday activities, seniors become fixtures in a chair instead of participants in the festivities.  Help your residents family members and your caregivers by sharing these tips.

1. Plan Ahead.  Whatever the activity, outing or event is, make plans to accommodate the elder.  Consider food, location, seating and restrooms.
2. Be Inclusive.  Try to include everyone in holiday preparations.  Examples are decorating cookies, folding napkins, setting out dinnerware, or arranging flowers.
3. Share Memories.  Get out the old photo albums, listen to nostalgic music, tell stories, and ask about the old days.
4. Make New Memories.  Tradition is fine but mix it up a little.  Don't forget that elderly folks look forward to new things just as much as the rest of us.  Try a party game or karaoke.
5. Monitor Alcohol & Medications.  It's easy to make the mistake of filling the wine glass to often without consideration of your loved one's medications.  Know what medications are being taken and be familiar with the alcohol interactions.

There are many other ways to make the holidays fun and safe for seniors.  Consider having a staff meeting where your staff can brainstorm for new ideas.

Have a very happy and safe Holiday Season!

Thanksgiving Food Safety

It's the start of another holiday season so to get it going in the best way possible let's talk about food.

We all love to enjoy a holiday feast but when food is not prepared with care the feast can cause foodborne illnesses that can be severe or life threatening to our elderly or frail residents.  According to the FDA there are 4 things to remember to prevent foodborne illness.

1.  Keep it CLEAN! - Make sure hands, utensils and prep surfaces are constantly kept clean.

2.  SEPARATE Foods! - Do not allow bacteria to cross contaminate from raw foods to prepared foods.

3.  COOK it Through! - Make sure cooked foods, especially meat and poultry, are cooked to the proper temperatures.  Turkey should be 165 degrees internal temperature.

4.  Don't Forget to CHILL! - Refrigerate leftovers quickly!  Bacteria grows fast at room temperature. 

One more tip.  Do not stuff your turkey.  Stuffing is the leading cause of foodborne illness on Thanksgiving.  Why?  This is classic cross contamination.  In most cases the stuffing does not reach 165 degrees so it's an ideal spot for bacteria to grow.  It's safer to cook your stuffing in a casserole dish.  Here's a recipe and a related article.

When the food is on the table have a glass of wine.

For more Food Safety info click these links!

1. Countdown to Thanksgiving 
2. Food Safety for Older Adults 
3. Don't Cross Contaminate 
4. Cooking for Groups 
5. Don't Forget the PIE! (Safety related - because it's not safe for the cook to forget the pie.  There could be a revolt.)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

New Veterans Homes in CA

I've been hearing about these two new veterans residential care facilities for quite some time.  As many of you know there is a great need for them.  So many of our injured and aging veterans are left without options due to the high cost of residential care and not qualifying for long term nursing care.  It's disappointing now to learn that these two brand new facilities, one in Redding and the other in Fresno, cannot open due to budget woes.  Who knows, maybe this would be a good opportunity for someone to come in and manage these buildings for the state.  Who's ready?  Read the Sac Bee article here.

DOJ Fingerprint Alert

The Department of Justice is upgrading their fingerprint system which will require them to take it offline for about a week starting November 9,2011.  If you're planning on sending someone in to get fingerprinted I'd suggest getting it done today.  You can still utilize the Livescan services but a complete report will not be available until after November 15, 2011.  Please be aware of this.  Go to the CCLD website to read the actual alert by clicking here.

EVICTION PROCEDURES - New for the Evaluator's Manual

A really hot topic with administrators I've met across the state is how to properly evict and stay out of trouble doing so.  Now, The Evaluator's Manual (aka The Blues) has been revised a bit to address this procedure.  The first noted change is that you no longer need to seek approval from licensing to give a 30 day notice. 
Thirty (30) day evictions do not need prior approval by the licensing agency.  A resident may only be evicted for the reasons cited in California Code of Regulations, title 22, section 87224(a).
This change effects 17 pages in the Evaluator's Manual.  Please click here to view and download a new copy from the state website.