Keep Your Residents Safe in the Bathroom According to the CDC, roughly 1,800 older adults living in nursing homes die every year from fall-related injuries. Those who fall and survive are still likely to suffer injuries that result in permanent disability and a reduced quality of life.1 Many of the falls that occur each year happen in the bathroom, with the majority involving injuries occurring in or around the tub or shower and on or near the toilet.2 To help combat bathroom falls, the CDC recommends making environmental changes that allow residents to move around more safely.1 Such modifications could include installing grab bars and raised toilet seats, among other bathroom safety tools. ProMed stocks a complete suite of bathroom safety products to protect your residents and give you peace of mind, including: Portable commodes Raised toilet seats Shower and bath chairs Bath lifts Handheld shower sprayers Grab bars Tub rails Bath steps To learn more about any of these products, contact your ProMed territory manager, give us a call at (800) 648-5190 or visit us online at promedsupply.com. We’re ready to help you create a comprehensive fall prevention plan! References 1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Falls in Nursing Homes. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/Falls/nursing.html. Accessed July 2, 2015. 2 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nonfatal Bathroom Injuries Among Persons Aged ≥ 15 Years – United States, 2008. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6022a1.htm. Accessed July 2, 2015.

OSHA Expands Hazards List, Nursing Homes to Face Tougher Scrutiny A new key hazard list from OSHA will lead to nursing homes facing tougher scrutiny. The expanded hazards include musculosketal disorders related to resident handling, workplace violence, bloodborne pathogens, tuberculosis and slips, trips and falls. OSHA stated the goal of the expanded list is to reduce overexposure to these hazards through a combination of enforcement, compliance assistance and outreach. About half of all injuries to nursing home workers involve preventable musculoskeletal disorders that are often caused by movements used to lift, reposition and transfer residents. These disorders can include conditions such as tendonitis, muscle strains and lower back injuries.

To avoid unnecessary manual handling, OSHA said nursing homes must: Make sure they have an adequate number of lifts, assistive devices and accessories for each resident requiring a lift Ensure they have enough charged batteries to power the assistive devices throughout an entire shift To read the memo, click here.

This deluxe all-in-one commode has steel-welded construction for added strength and durability and plastic arms for comfort. Additional features: 350 lb weight capacity Durable plastic snap-on seat with lid Removable tool-free back Grey powder-coated frame Comes complete with 12 quart commode bucket with metal handle, cover and splash shield WARRANTY: Lifetime limited

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