It's National Nurses Week!
Take some time to voice your appreciation to the nurses who work so hard to care for those in their charge. Visit the American Nurses Association online to read more about this celebration and learn some history behind the profession.
About Me
- Tuesdays with Tom
- Chico, CA, United States
- Tom Cullen is the owner of Community Care Options, a California State approved vendor operated by a team of caring professionals with more than 30 years of experience in the field. Community Care Options is dedicated to providing continuing education to administrators of both Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly and Adult Residential Facilities and assist in keeping those facilities compliant with state regulations.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Sun and Heat Protection
The warm weather is approaching. Soon it will be hot. This is the time of year when we start taking our residents outside for cookouts and garden parties. You've planned out all the details for your parties - the food, the drinks, the music - but don't forget the most important details for your residents - THE SUN PROTECTION!
As people grow older their skin gets thinner. Skin damage among the elderly is a high concern since their aged skin cannot rejuvenate as well as it once could. Elderly people may forget that fact. Sun damage is the greatest threat to skin, especially among the very young and the very old. We must be diligent about protecting their skin. Here are a few tips to help out.
- Sunbathing is a bad idea. Use an umbrella or sunshade whenever sitting outside in the sun. Any shade will help. Trees are our friends.
- Use sunblock that protects against UV-A & UV-B with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher.
- Limit outside time between the hours of 10am-4pm. The sun is strongest during these times. If your residents like to walk have them do so before 10am or after 4pm. Mornings are best!
- Don't forget the eyes. Eyes can burn as well. Be sure the sunglasses have a UV protection rating.
- Stay hydrated! Drink plenty of water. After coming in from the sun drink juice or Gatorade to replenish salts and electrolytes.
- Limit physical activity. Lay low on hot days to prevent heat related illnesses.
For information on heat related illness try the following links:
Download this guide from Californian Department of Social Services on Heat Related Illness
http://www.ccld.ca.gov/res/pdf/heat.pdf
Download this guide from the American Cancer Society on Skin Cancer
http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/cid/documents/webcontent/003184-pdf.pdf
If you have a question that you would like to have answered on Tuesdays with Tom send him an email. Use the subject line Questions for Tom in your email.
Email Tom at info@communitycareoptions.com
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
New Guidelines for Early Alzheimer's Detection
It seems that things change quickly in Alzheimer's research. As with any disease finding a cure is the ultimate goal. But while we wait for that time to come we are encouraged by new information and new milestones in Alzheimer's research.
In today's news you may have seen headlines about revisions in Alzheimer's Disease diagnosis guidelines. This revision is the first in 27 years. The earliest stage of the disease is referred to as "preclinical Alzheimer's" and diagnosis occurs nearly 10 years before any symptoms are present. The new guidelines officially refer to mild cognitive impairment, or MCI as the beginning of the disease.
Click here to read the entire article at www.reuters.com
In today's news you may have seen headlines about revisions in Alzheimer's Disease diagnosis guidelines. This revision is the first in 27 years. The earliest stage of the disease is referred to as "preclinical Alzheimer's" and diagnosis occurs nearly 10 years before any symptoms are present. The new guidelines officially refer to mild cognitive impairment, or MCI as the beginning of the disease.
Click here to read the entire article at www.reuters.com
Lets start a discussion on Facebook.
If you have a question that you would like to have answered on Tuesdays with Tom send him an email. Use the subject line Questions for Tom in your email.
Email Tom at info@communitycareoptions.com Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Elder Abuse
I have just been sent another article about staff abusing residents in a Residential Care Facility. Last month it was in the Sacramento area. This incident was at a Sunrise Facility in Pennsylvania. In each case the families have placed nanny cams in their loved one's room after suspicions had been raised about the potential abuse.
Although the staff members have been arrested it still makes me mad as hell that this continues to happen in some facilities.
Families bring us their loved ones to make sure they are taken care of and protected. Overall, I feel we are doing a great job but a few can give the whole industry a bad name.
Maybe it is time to train staff in Elder Abuse like we do for universal precautions. The staff would be trained to assume that all rooms have a camera in them. In any case this has to stop.
Click here to read the article
If you have not had abuse training for a while, the Elder Abuse Training Video is now on the D.O.J. web-site, or email my office at info@communitycareoptions.com with the subject "Elder Abuse Training" and we will give you a DVD Class including the abuse training video for free.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Updated POLST
The California POLST task force have conducted their two year review and have released an updated version of the POLST form. Please review the new form and read the Summary of Changes so that you understand what has been changed and why.
It is important to note that CaPOLST.org suggest a best practice of using the revised 2011 POLST form starting April 1, 2011 rather than using up any old forms. Additionally, a POLST form completed prior to the April 1, 2011 date remains valid, meaning they are still good. Lastly, the color of the form has no bearing on its validity.
Get the new form HERE
Review the Summary of Changes HERE
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