The SCANS content team headed by Jean Bandos along with the development team announced today that the SCANS Version 1.3 - May release is now available. SCANS Version 1.3 is a major content release to the SCANS Knowledge Base.
In order to make more real-world tools for eldercare available more quickly, Jean and the team have devised a "rolling release". For 3 months beginning in May another group of resources, processes, and tools will be made available to geriatric care managers at My Health Care Manager and our affiliates.
The May release contains 57 new and/or revised resources, processes and tools. Some sample items include:
- Behaviors and Alzheimer's Disease
- Grief Education
- Activities of Daily Living Education
- Depression and Alzheimer's disease
- Early Stages and Impact on Health
- Memory & Cognition Questions
- Memory Care Unit Checklist
- Memory Care Unit Education
- Mild Cognitive Impairment
- Sobriety Programs Resource
- Handyman Resource
- Private Handyman Contractor Checklist
- Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detectors
- Daily Money Management Education
- Financial Planning Education
- Trust Education
- Verifying Funeral Arrangements
- Veterans Benefit Information
- Elder Law Resource & Checklist
- Medication Management Procedure
- Medication Reconciliation
- Polypharmacy
- How to Find a Pain Specialist
- Pain Education
- Pain Resources
- Pain Visual Analog Scale
- Arthritis
- Heart Failure
- Hypertension Education
- Family History - Cancer Education
- Family History - Dementia
- Family History - Diabetes Education
- Family History - Heart Education
- Seat Belt Education
- Cataracts Education
- Glaucoma Education
- Hearing Aid Education
- Sensory Changes
- Assistive Devices
- Hospice Education
- Spiritual Connections
Be sure to visit Jean's blog, click here.
Not smoking
I hear it all the time from everyone I know. “I can’t get through to a nurse…I left a message on voicemail and haven’t heard back from anyone…I am tired of pressing 1 for this and 3 for that and never getting any real information or a live person.”
polypharmacy or how many pills or too many? The answer would have to be that different entities in the current health care system define Polypharmacy differently. I have seen it defined as low as two or more medications, but in general it deals with using more than three to five medications or herbal supplements for longer than 90 days in a given year. In my career I have witnessed shoe boxes filled with medications that have numbered over 20 different medications- especially when dealing with multiple chronic diseases, over the counter medications, herbs, and vitamins.
In past blogs I've talked about the 17 dimensions My Health Care Manager uses to build the Personal Health Record.
With 10 prescription medicines and 4 OTCs, the variables of continuing supply with many expirations and prescription renewals combined with generic vs. brand names, dosages and time-of-day preferences were an overwhelming task for her … and her caregivers! Fortunately, we devised a Weekly Schedule and medicine reconciliation program that allowed her to manage her own meds (with our assistance) that has now become a My Health Care Manager computer-based decision aid. However, loading her pill tray every week and managing the time for her diabetes blood sugar tests and consumption of the pills became (and remains) an ongoing challenge. Until becoming exposed to the issues of polypharmacy and older adults, I didn’t understand that normally-prescribed medicines and dosages affect many seniors differently – sometimes even causing symptoms such as confusion and loss of balance. Even multiple medication regimes that were tolerated in the past can at any moment cause problems or unwanted symptoms..jpg)
prescription- not for a medication, but for glasses or contacts. Our vision deteriorates as we age and this can affect our mobility. Home safety is incredibly important for preventing falls- and one key to preventing falls is recognizing a change in vision.
October is the national “Talk About Prescriptions” month, sponsored by the National Council on Patient Information and Education (NCPIE). It’s the perfect time to talk to your loved one about the medication they are taking. Studies have revealed that 40% of seniors cannot read a prescription label, and 76% of seniors cannot understand the medication information given to them. Caregivers can help! Considering that our loved ones often take multiple medications as they age (increasing the chance of interactions) and may have medications prescribed to them by multiple physicians, polypharmacy issues must be addressed. Communication is key- not only within the family, but also (and especially) with your loved one’s geriatrician and other health care providers. So take a few minutes this month to talk your parents, grandparents, and other loved ones about their prescriptions. Encourage them to talk to their doctors, and make sure that all of their physicians have a current list of their prescriptions and medications. For more information, please visit the NCPIE website
George Slater