DiagnosTEX October 2016 Newsletter
DiagnosTEX October 2016
Clinical Café Newsletter
By: Ronda Polansky M.S. CCC-SLP
Fall! October, here’s to you. Here’s to the heady aroma of the frost-kissed apples, the wine-y spell of ripened grapes, the wild-as-the-wind smell of hickory nuts and the nostalgic whiff of that first wood smoke. – Ken Weber
FLU season – We ask that if you or a family member or even the patient is ill with an active cough, sneezing, and/or fever that you do not attend the MBSS on the mobile clinic or reschedule the patient, as we do not want to contaminate our small area. We see many fragile individuals in a day in this small environment and also our staff is small and their absence is greatly felt if they become ill. Please be considerate during this flu season and refrain from being on the van if you or a family member does not feel well. If the patient is ill, please reschedule for another day. Thank you!
Patient Respiratory Stability
Also if you are bringing a patient out on O2, please check the O2 tank and the patients O2 sats prior to bringing them to our van. If tank is low and 02 sats are low, or vitals are unstable in any way, we will return them to the facility and reschedule for another day.
Patient Oral Care
As a dysphagia treating SLP, we are very sensitive about oral care. If a patient comes out to the van with profoundly reduced oral care with dried and crusted oral mucousa along the tongue base, palate, and gum line, we will return the patient to the facility, notify staff and reschedule for another day. We will not administer food or barium when oral hygiene is so poor.
Alzheimer’s facts
- 5.4 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease.
- Every 67 seconds someone in the USA develops Alzheimer’s
- Approximately 500,00 people die of Alzheimer’s each year, 1 in 3 seniors
- One in eight older Americans has Alzheimer’s disease.
- Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States and the only cause of death among the top 10 in the United States that cannot be prevented, cured or even slowed.
- More than 15 million Americans provide unpaid care valued at $210 billion for persons with Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
- Payments for care are estimated to be $200 billion in the United States in 2012
- In her 60’s a woman’s estimated lifetime risk for developing Alzheimer’s is 1 in 6, breast cancer is 1 in 11. Almost 2/3 of Americans with Alzheimer’s are woman
The Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s™ is the nation’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Held annually in more than 600 communities nationwide, this inspiring event calls on participants of all ages and abilities to reclaim the future for millions. Take the first step to a world without Alzheimer’s by finding a Walk near you. Once you register, you will have access to a wide range of tools and support through your Participant Center, ensuring a successful and fulfilling experience. When you participate in Walk, your fundraising dollars fuel our mission-related initiatives of care, support and research. In addition, your actions, both through fundraising and participating in the event, help to change the level of Alzheimer’s awareness in your community.
As many of you, I have a chilling front row seat to the effects of this disease professionally, but also personally. My family is making a personal commitment to the Grapevine WALK TO END Alzheimer’s this month. If you would like to follow our walk for this cause, please log on to www.alz.org and look for our team page: HEELS FOR HOPE.
October CEU’s
Ampcare will be in Tulsa, OK October 7, and Dallas, Texas October 21. Please go to www.ampcarellc.com for more information and to register.
DiagnosTEX Fall Conference – Information COMING SOON!
Dysphagia Tidbit – Changi General Hospital teams up with food firm for ready-to-eat meals
SINGAPORE: Chicken masala, seafood otak and five-spice chicken may not be typical food options for those with swallowing difficulties, also known as dysphagia. But a new collaboration between Changi General Hospital (CGH) and food company Health Food Matters, announced on Monday (Sep 19), has made it possible for dysphagia patients as well as elderly patients who prefer softer meals to enjoy these dishes outside of the hospital – in the form of ready-to-eat meals. The hospital will provide formulas and recipes for its meals to Health Food Matters, which will in turn produce, market and distribute the meals in Singapore, Japan, New Zealand and Australia. The meals are available in three textures – finely minced, coarsely minced or blended.
Fourteen local recipes have been created by CGH- including sweet and sour fish, and steamed fish with coriander sauce – with the aim of appealing to the local palate, while meeting nutritional needs. The hospital came up with the recipes after gathering feedback from patients on their preferences. Ms Magdalin Cheong, head of dietetic consultation at Changi General Hospital, said: “Fish and chicken are … really common among most people and there’s no concern for ethnic or religious limitations. And for the older population, they like strong tasting food and spicy food. So some of the recipes we have used include spices, chilli and strong things like ginseng, so it will enhance the taste of the food.” She added that the aim of the collaboration with CGH is to help these patients rediscover the joy of eating, as many of those with swallowing difficulties often find current food options rather bland.
The ready-to-eat meals can be purchased next January.