Pathways participates in SVGives May 6th Campaign

Pathways Home Health & Hospice is participating in the one-day SVGives campaign. You should start seeing social media promotions from numerous non-profits that serve residents in the San Francisco Bay Area about this event. SVGives is scheduled for May 6^th.   

Here is a brief video that explains what SVGives is and how through the power of coming together, we can bring services and comfort to those who need it the most in our communities.

Learn More about SVGives

Selecting & Using a Cane

When a resident has limitations in balance, joint motion, coordination or strength, a cane can sometimes be a useful tool in restoring mobility.  The first key is having the right ambulation aid for the user’s needs and abilities.  The second is gait training to achieve the safest walking pattern.

Considerations

The resident’s vision, balance and stability need to be considered, as well as his or her ability to learn new things and use good judgment.  If a cane is the right aid for the resident, it can provide support, balance, stability, safety, independence and relieve stress on the legs and feet.

A quad cane with four feet is the appropriate choice for a resident who is weaker on one side than another, such as after a stroke.

Measuring

Here’s one way to determine the right height for the cane:  Turn it upside down with the handle on the floor.  With the resident’s arms at his side the tip of the can should be level with the wrist.  Wooden canes can be shortened by removing the rubber tip and cutting with a saw.  Aluminum canes have holes and pins to adjust height by the inch; there are extenders for very tall people. 

Using a Cane

To use a cane, the resident should hold it on his or her stronger side.  When walking, the resident should move the cane and the weaker leg together.  When climbing up stairs, the resident should first step up with the stronger leg, then push to move the cane and the weaker leg up.  To go down stairs, the resident should first step down with the weaker leg and the cane.  Then, using the cane for support, he or she can lower the stronger leg down.

Great Catheter Care: Preventing Infections

Good catheter care is the biggest factor in preventing catheter-associated urinary tract infections.  Here are some tips for great catheter care.

• Wash your hands.  It sounds simple, but this is the single most important step in preventing infections.  Wash your hands BEFORE and AFTER putting on gloves.
• Use catheters sparingly—only when necessary.
• Use the smallest catheter that will do the job.
• When inserting the catheter, lay out a sterile field and maintain it.  If a person is obese or has contractures you may need two people to insert the catheter while maintaining a sterile field.
• Lubricate the tip of the catheter to prevent damage to the urethra during insertion.
• Use good lighting.  If you accidentally insert the catheter in the vagina, leave it there as a marker until you have placed a second, sterile catheter.
• Keep the system (catheter, tubing and bag) closed if possible.  The system should never be opened simply for convenience.
• Keep the drainage bag below the level of the bladder (but not lying on the floor).  Use clean technique when emptying the bag.
• Secure the catheter to prevent bleeding, trauma, tissue damage or bladder spasms that can be triggered by the catheter or balloon.  Tape can be hard on the skin; use a commercial device when possible.
• Keep the perineum clean.  Treat the catheter area like any other part of the body, washing as you would any other body part.
• If the resident is also incontinent of stool, check frequently to prevent stool from contaminating the catheter.
• Keep residents with catheters away from residents with infections.

Suspected infection:

If you suspect a urinary tract infection, remove the catheter and replace it with a new one.  Get a urine sample for culture and sensitivity from the new catheter.  Antibiotics should only be used for infections that are symptomatic.

Leakage

If catheter leakage occurs, check that the balloon is inflated and that the catheter is in the right place.  Make sure the balloon is inflated completely.  It is never acceptable to use a 30 cc balloon partially inflated.  Before changing to a larger catheter, keep in mind that constipation and fecal impaction may also contribute to leakage.  Larger catheters with larger balloons can damage the neck of the bladder.

YOU are the key to good catheter care that can prevent infections and discomfort, and save time and money.

Vitamin D May Reduce Falls in the Elderly in SNFs

Dietary Supplements

Recent studies indicate that adding Vitamin D supplements to the diets of nursing home residents may reduce the frequency of falls, a leading cause of death and disability in the elderly.

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with muscle weakness, which can contribute to falls and fractures. Nursing home residents are especially vulnerable to falling due to advanced age, health problems, and weakened eyesight. In fact, approximately 50% of nursing home residents fall every year, and those who are injured become even more prone to future falls.

Although exercise, appropriate equipment, adequate staffing and a risk-free environment are important, research done at the Sydney Medical School at the University of Sydney in Ryde, Australia found that Vitamin D was a effective measure, although they are not sure why. 

Fall Prevention Resources, Available Online

In an effort to increase awareness about fall prevention hazards the Fall Improvement Taskforce (FIT) at Pathways created colorful flyers that can be printed and used as check-off lists to ensure your environment remains safe and to minimize the risk of falls.

Topics include: “Did you know that clothing can contribute to falls?”; “Medications can increase the risk of falls”’; and “People with vision deficits are twice as likely to fall”.

These helpful resources can be downloaded via our website at www.pathwayshealth.org/resources.