The rules are: Mention six quirky, yet boring, unspectacular details about yourself. Tag six other bloggers by linking to them. Go to each person’s blog and leave a comment that lets them know they’ve been tagged. If you participate, let the person know who tagged you you’ve posted your quirks!
My six quirky details
1. I like going to bed at 8:30pm and getting up at 6am.
2. When I set the table the knife has to be on the right hand side next to the plate, the spoon next to the knife, the fork has to be on the left side of the plate and I prefer that all the silverware matches.
3. I have to have a table cloth on my dining table.
4. I like to wash my towels and washcloths with bleach.
5. I like my ice tea on the weak side and will add water to the tea at a restaurant (this embarrasses my adult children when they are with me at a restaurant)
6. My favorite snack is sliced fresh strawberries, sliced sharp cheddar cheese stacked on top of Ritz crackers.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Thursday Thirteen Edition #7
Thirteen foods that fight aging
1. Broccoli
2. Cantaloupe
3. Carrots
4. Spinach
5. Sweet Potatoes
6. Brussels sprouts
7. Grapefruit juice
8. Orange juice
9. Papayas
10. Almonds
11. Cabbage
12. Onions
13. Seafood
Congratulations to Jerry & Kandy on the birth of their baby girl this morning!
To read more Thursday Thirteen
1. Broccoli
2. Cantaloupe
3. Carrots
4. Spinach
5. Sweet Potatoes
6. Brussels sprouts
7. Grapefruit juice
8. Orange juice
9. Papayas
10. Almonds
11. Cabbage
12. Onions
13. Seafood
Congratulations to Jerry & Kandy on the birth of their baby girl this morning!
To read more Thursday Thirteen
Monday, August 25, 2008
Summer fun and safe food handling
Residents enjoy a change of pace. Many facilities will host barbecues for residents and their families. Part of the planning needs to include adequate means to keep food hot and cold food such as potato salad cold, along with hand washing stations. Summer is fun and it is important to be safe when it comes to handling food.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Thursday Thirteen Edition #6 Suggested steps for an investigation by staff in an Assisted Living Center
13 steps suggested for an Investigation for food borne illness
1. Select a number of residents from the total number of residents who became ill; review their records for documentation of when the symptoms started and when they stopped.
2. Determine the time frame to be investigated.
3. Examine the dishwasher. Is the dishwasher cycle reaching 165 degrees for hot water temperature dishwasher? Is the dishwasher chemical dispensing system dispensing adequate amounts of chemical sanitizer to register adequately on the test strips? Check the dishwasher logs for the time frame being investigated.
4. Are the dishes clean after being processed through the dishwasher?
5. Is the dishwasher operating as it should according to the manufacturer’s directions? If staff are having to manually turn on and off the water to the dishwasher something is not operating correctly.
6. Examine the hand wash sink and the supplies staff use to wash their hands. Is the sink functioning properly? Is there adequate soap and paper towels?
7. Observe the food preparation process used by the cook. Is the cook following safe food rules? Changes gloves between different tasks? Was left over hot food cooled with in the parameters of safe food handling?
8. Are staff properly washing their hands the required length of time and using correct technique? Changing gloves when appropriate?
9. Review the meal menus, the actual food that was served to residents during the time frame being investigated. Was the food obtained from an acceptable food vendor?
10. Review food temperature logs for the dates and food that was served to residents during the time being investigated. Was the food cooked to the correct temperature? Check the thermometer being used; that it is functioning according to manufacturer’s specifications.
11. Review staff schedules for staff that worked and were in contact with the residents or the residents’ food in the sample of residents. Were any of the staff sick and if so what were their symptoms? If staff called in sick what were their symptoms and when did they start?
12. Review the facility’s policies for infection control. Did staff follow the policy? Does the policy/procedure need to be updated?
13. Analysis your collected data and determine follow up action based on the data.
1. Select a number of residents from the total number of residents who became ill; review their records for documentation of when the symptoms started and when they stopped.
2. Determine the time frame to be investigated.
3. Examine the dishwasher. Is the dishwasher cycle reaching 165 degrees for hot water temperature dishwasher? Is the dishwasher chemical dispensing system dispensing adequate amounts of chemical sanitizer to register adequately on the test strips? Check the dishwasher logs for the time frame being investigated.
4. Are the dishes clean after being processed through the dishwasher?
5. Is the dishwasher operating as it should according to the manufacturer’s directions? If staff are having to manually turn on and off the water to the dishwasher something is not operating correctly.
6. Examine the hand wash sink and the supplies staff use to wash their hands. Is the sink functioning properly? Is there adequate soap and paper towels?
7. Observe the food preparation process used by the cook. Is the cook following safe food rules? Changes gloves between different tasks? Was left over hot food cooled with in the parameters of safe food handling?
8. Are staff properly washing their hands the required length of time and using correct technique? Changing gloves when appropriate?
9. Review the meal menus, the actual food that was served to residents during the time frame being investigated. Was the food obtained from an acceptable food vendor?
10. Review food temperature logs for the dates and food that was served to residents during the time being investigated. Was the food cooked to the correct temperature? Check the thermometer being used; that it is functioning according to manufacturer’s specifications.
11. Review staff schedules for staff that worked and were in contact with the residents or the residents’ food in the sample of residents. Were any of the staff sick and if so what were their symptoms? If staff called in sick what were their symptoms and when did they start?
12. Review the facility’s policies for infection control. Did staff follow the policy? Does the policy/procedure need to be updated?
13. Analysis your collected data and determine follow up action based on the data.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Factors that may affect a resident interview
At first glance interviewing a resident or patient about an event would seem simple and straight forward. Interviewing an individual about an event that may have traumatized them, needs to be handled with patience and sensitivity which requires more than simply getting answers to multiple questions. Some things to keep in mind.
1. The individual may be experiencing anger at what happened to them.
2. The individual may feel victimized.
3. The individual may feel embarrassed or ashamed that they allowed this to happen.
4. The individual may be in a state of shock and hasn't realized what happened.
5. The individual may feel the need to protect whoever the perpetrator is.
6. The individual may fear retaliation if they tell someone what happened.
7. The individual may deny the event or blame themselves.
8. The individual may distrust anyone who tries to talk with them about the event.
9. The individual may be confused due to the effect of what happened.
10. The individual may be in pain, physical or emotional.
11. The individual may be experiencing grief over the event, maybe tearful.
12. The individual may be withdrawn.
13. The individual may be unable to relate accurately the facts of the event.
Because of all the above possible factors it is extremely important to write down exactly what the resident/patient/individual states. If you do not understand what the individual says request that they repeat their statement. Do not guess at what they said. Interviewing is a skill and takes practice.
1. The individual may be experiencing anger at what happened to them.
2. The individual may feel victimized.
3. The individual may feel embarrassed or ashamed that they allowed this to happen.
4. The individual may be in a state of shock and hasn't realized what happened.
5. The individual may feel the need to protect whoever the perpetrator is.
6. The individual may fear retaliation if they tell someone what happened.
7. The individual may deny the event or blame themselves.
8. The individual may distrust anyone who tries to talk with them about the event.
9. The individual may be confused due to the effect of what happened.
10. The individual may be in pain, physical or emotional.
11. The individual may be experiencing grief over the event, maybe tearful.
12. The individual may be withdrawn.
13. The individual may be unable to relate accurately the facts of the event.
Because of all the above possible factors it is extremely important to write down exactly what the resident/patient/individual states. If you do not understand what the individual says request that they repeat their statement. Do not guess at what they said. Interviewing is a skill and takes practice.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Thursday Thirteen Edition #5
Thirteen suggestions to investigating falls or incidents involving residents
1. Ask the resident involved what happened - write down verbatim what they say.
2. Inquire if anyone in the area witnessed the incident or heard anything. Write down who you talked to and what was said with the date and time.
3. Survey the environment where the incident happened.
4. Make a list of possible contributing factors, such as time of day, lighting, temperature, activity prior to incident etc.
5. Review resident's diagnoses and allergies.
6. Review resident's medications. Are there any new medications causing interactions? side effects?
7. Interview family members. They could know a piece of the puzzle and not realize it.
8. Interview the person that completed the report.
9. What was the mental/emotional status of the resident? Were they upset prior to the incident, are they experiencing confusion?
10. Was the resident doing something out of the ordinary? If so why?
11. Evaluate the data. Can you answer WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, WHY.
12. Was the incident caused by lack of knowledge or skill of the caregiver?
13. Develop preventative strategies based on the evaluation and data of the investigation.
This is just a starting point of suggestions. Doing an in depth investigation requires time and experience.
To read more Thursday Thirteen
1. Ask the resident involved what happened - write down verbatim what they say.
2. Inquire if anyone in the area witnessed the incident or heard anything. Write down who you talked to and what was said with the date and time.
3. Survey the environment where the incident happened.
4. Make a list of possible contributing factors, such as time of day, lighting, temperature, activity prior to incident etc.
5. Review resident's diagnoses and allergies.
6. Review resident's medications. Are there any new medications causing interactions? side effects?
7. Interview family members. They could know a piece of the puzzle and not realize it.
8. Interview the person that completed the report.
9. What was the mental/emotional status of the resident? Were they upset prior to the incident, are they experiencing confusion?
10. Was the resident doing something out of the ordinary? If so why?
11. Evaluate the data. Can you answer WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, WHY.
12. Was the incident caused by lack of knowledge or skill of the caregiver?
13. Develop preventative strategies based on the evaluation and data of the investigation.
This is just a starting point of suggestions. Doing an in depth investigation requires time and experience.
To read more Thursday Thirteen
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Thursday Thirteen Edition #4
Thirteen ideas to help an older person
1. Offer to spend time with them even if it is for only 20 minutes.
2. Ask the older person to talk about places they have been.
3. If the person is vision impaired offer to read something to them they would enjoy.
4. Assist them to get connected with services for the blind, such as books on tape.
5. Offer to do a task that is now difficult for them to do, such as dusting.
6. Ask the person to share what their life was like growing up.
7. Ask them what they did for fun as teenagers.
8. Ask them who their favorite actor or actress is.
9. Ask them about who they think was the best president and why.
10. Ask them about hobbies they use to do.
11. Offer to drive them somewhere they need to go or drive them to church.
12. Offer to run an errand for them.
13. Remember to always thank them for their time and shake their hand or give a hug if appropriate.
Monday, August 4, 2008
Photo Contest!
Please visit more Photo contest Members at Five minutes for Mom! This photo contest is sponcered by Skinny Dippers!I chose this picture of my granddaughter because she looks so spontaneous and dancing with wild abandonment. Seeing her so happy warms my heart.
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