Innovations
by Geriatric Times Staff
| Geriatric Times |
 |
November/December 2001 |
|
Vol. II |
|
Issue 6 |
New Medication Guide Available for Healthy Aging
As part of their Healthy Aging Program, Merck-Medco recently published
Medication Guidebook for Healthy Aging. Geared for those aged 55 years
and older, this guidebook can help patients make sense of the growing number of
pharmaceuticals that might be prescribed for them.
The 800-page guidebook is divided into three sections: facts common to many
medications; medical problems and the medications (including over-the-counter)
often used to treat them; and the reference guides and index, which offer
medication listings, definitions of medical terms and other useful references.
To address the growing concern of adverse drug reactions, each chapter
explicitly outlines potential effects associated with the medications. Readers
are reminded throughout the book to consult a physician or health care
professional regarding side effects that bother them, do not go away or cause
them to discontinue their medication.
"Today, we have a greater number of people taking a greater number of newer
medications over longer periods of time," Lester Paul, M.D., M.S., co-editor of
the guidebook, said in a statement to the press. "This taken together with an
aging population makes it important to educate people on the safe use of
medication and advise them of the real dangers that an adverse drug event could
pose" -- AV
Tracking Systems To Help Find Patients With AD
Over half of people with Alzheimer's Disease (AD) are likely to wander,
according to Brian Hance, director of Safe Return. Two programs have been
initiated that will help in locating these individuals.
Safe Return, initiated by the national Alzheimer's Association, is a
registry program that files information and pictures of its participants. As
soon as Safe Return is notified of the missing person, their information and
photograph are faxed to local law enforcement agencies. Safe Return also offers
family support until the person is found. Patients registered with Safe Return
wear or carry Safe Return's toll-free number, which allows anyone who finds the
missing person to help return them home.
The Digital Angel Senior System is a tracking device in the form of a
wristwatch and pager that uses global positioning system technology to detect a
person's whereabouts. The biosensors in the wristwatch can transmit the
wearer's vital signs as well, and the watch can be equipped to detect whether
the person is upright, in the process of standing or has fallen. The watch also
has an emergency button that can be used to contact the call center and
emergency medical services.
An Alzheimer's Association representative said studies have shown that
almost half of patients with AD who were not found within 24 hours died of
dehydration and/or hypothermia. These new programs and devices can help
eliminate these possibilities -- RR
Meal Kit Makes Preparing for Colonoscopy Easier
Patients preparing for a colon examination are restricted to a liquid diet
two to three days prior to the procedure in order to clear the colon so it may
be accurately evaluated. Patients may also need to take laxatives or recieve an
enema before the procedure. Many patients find it hard to comply with this
advice and eat food that leaves too much residue in the bowel.
The NutraPrep meal kit, designed by E-Z-EM Inc., contains low-residue foods
that replace the liquid diet. The meal kit is intended to provide essential
nutrition while significantly reducing the amount of residue remaining in the
bowel after digestion, in addition to providing patients a tolerable,
easy-to-comply-with regimen.
The meal kit contains a full day's worth of an assortment of foods. The kit
also includes a patient instruction booklet, and each food item is labeled for
use at either breakfast, lunch or dinner.
In a pilot study to assess the efficacy of NutraPrep, 36 patients were
randomized to one of three bowel preparations one day before colonoscopy: the
first group received the NutraPrep meal kit and a laxative preparation; the
second received a modified version of NutraPrep, including only liquid foods,
and a laxative; and the third group received treatment as usual, which
consisted of a clear liquid diet in addition to a double dose of sodium
phosphate solution.
Evaluators found that 50% of patients on the clear liquid diet had
significant amounts of retained residue, while only 25% of patients using the
NutraPrep kit had residue. Overall quality of bowel preparation was rated at
66.7% for those taking the NutraPrep, compared to 33.3% for those on the clear
diet.
The American Cancer Society estimates that 98,200 new cases of colon cancer
will be diagnosed in the United States this year. An accurate colonoscopy can
detect cancer, precancerous lesions and other abnormal growths -- JH
Portable Walkway System Objectively Measures Gait
Gait deviation may predict an increased risk of falls and may be due to
muscle weakness, joint instability, acute or chronic injuries, or other
problems. Proper diagnosis and treatment rely on accurate gait measurement,
which is often based on subjective visual assessment. The GAITRite portable
electronic walkway system provides objective reliable measurements of spatial
and temporal gait parameters.
After several gait cycles, compensatory mechanisms, inconsistencies and
asymmetries are recorded with GAITRite, capturing the relative arrangement,
geometry and applied pressure of each footfall. The data are processed into
footfall patterns and to produce individual, comparison to norms and outcome
reports. The system measures cadence, step length, velocity and Functional
Ambulation Performance (FAP) score.
An electronic walkway that connects to a Windows PC port, GAITRite contains
sensor pads in a roll-up carpet. It can be utilized by patients with or without
shoes; by those using assistive devices such as canes, crutches and walkers;
and without placing any devices on patients themselves. Immediate pre- and
post-treatment feedback is provided, allowing an objective measure of walking
function and fall risk -- EAD