Product Spotlight and LTC Resources - April 2013

MagnaReady Shirt Provides Dignified Dressing for Elderly Patients

Elderly persons with physical or cognitive disabilities often require assistance in their activities of daily living, including dressing. Adaptive clothing is a term that describes types of garments that have been modified to enable easier, more independent, and more dignified dressing. These garments are frequently used in the long-term care setting, where conditions that impair motor skill functioning, such as frailty, arthritis, and Parkinson’s disease, are widely prevalent. The MagnaReady shirt presents a new option for older men who have difficulty with dressing. The MagnaReady shirt uses concealed magnets instead of buttons as the shirt closure, but nonfunctioning, decorative buttons are sewn onto the front to give the appearance of a dress shirt. MagnaReady shirts are wrinkle-free, stain-resistant, and come in men’s sizes small through double extra-large.

“For long-term care caregivers, we have found our product to be beneficial for many reasons,” said Maura Horton, CEO of MagnaReady, in an interview with Annals of Long-Term Care.^® “For the Alzheimer’s patient, it’s living without added chaos; for the stroke victim, it’s a simple step in the recovery process; for a wounded warrior [ie, veteran], it’s dressing with dignity; and for all, it’s a step toward independence.” Shirts can be purchased individually for $54.99. Discounts are available to healthcare providers wishing to place a bulk order. Visit www.magnaready.com for more information. Those interested in placing a bulk order should call customer service representatives directly at (866) 635-8866.

Wellsense MAP System Helps Reduce Incidence of Pressure Ulcers

Pressure ulcers have been reported to affect up to 23% of nursing home residents. Because these lesions are difficult to heal and carry a high risk of morbidity and mortality, prevention is key. To address this need, Wellsense developed the MAP System to enable caretakers to position residents to optimize pressure distribution and ensure adequate off-loading of pressure points. If used properly, Wellsense reports that the MAP system may reduce the overall incidence of pressure ulcers by 50% to 60%.

The product, which is compatible with any existing bed, is the only continuous bedside pressure mapping system currently on the market. The MAP System consists of two vital tools: a pressure-sensing mat, which is made of a textile that constantly measures pressure from thousands of discrete points, and a real-time graphic monitor, which displays an outline of the patient with color ranging from blue to red, highlighting low and high pressure points, respectively. To provide this information, the monitor is connected to a control box at the foot of the pressure mat, and because the visual feedback is live, physicians and caregivers can reposition the patient until the impact of high pressure points is shown to be reduced in real-time. The monitor also produces an alert to inform caregivers when it is time to reposition patients to avoid the development of pressure ulcers.

The MAP System is waterproof, easy to clean, and can hold up to 550 lb. It is recommended that the pressure-sensing mat be replaced after 6 months of continual use. The MAP System is a prevention tool and does not guarantee complete treatment of existing pressure ulcers. More information is available at www.themapsystem.com.

ALFA Releases Tool Kit to Prevent and Manage Bed Bugs

Like pathogenic microbes, insect infestations can spread quickly throughout senior living communities, placing residents at increased risk of a wide array of illnesses from the bugs and from the insecticides used to eradicate them. Recently, there has been a noticeable increase in bed bug infestations throughout the United States, including in long-term care (LTC) facilities. In some cases, the infestations have become so pronounced that facilities have lost their operating license and were forced to relocate residents, as occurred at one facility in North Carolina this past fall. To help prevent, identify, and address bed bug infestations, the Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA) has released a new tool kit, Effective Bed Bug Detection and Management in Senior Living Communities.

ALFA’s kit includes a white paper and a variety of slideshow presentations, video recordings, tip sheets, checklists, and policy samples that LTC facilities can use to minimize their risk of bed bug infestations and to handle them efficiently and appropriately if they occur. The kit also reviews litigation threats that surround bed bug infestations and detail how to build a risk-management plan for dealing with this pest. For more information on the tool kit or to order it, visit www.alfa.org. The list price is $100 for ALFA members and $150 for nonmembers.