Staying Healthy and Safe in the Summer’s First Heat Wave

In 2023, 34 Missourians died due to heat-related illnesses. Heat is the number one cause of weather-related deaths in the United States.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) urges Missourians to take precautions as heat and humidity rise to dangerous levels. In 2023, 34 Missouri residents, ranging in age from 11 months to 96 years, died due to heat-related illness.

“Heat and humidity can place a lot of stress on the body,” said DHSS Director Paula F. Nickelson. “Heat exhaustion can come on suddenly, with little warning, and lead to heatstroke which becomes a very dangerous situation.”

This early wave of extended extreme heat may not have given Missourians the time to adjust to higher temperatures. This is especially true for some groups like pregnant women, very young children or older adults.

During excessive heat, Nickelson urges Missourians to check on friends and neighbors, especially those who are elderly and chronically ill. To report a senior citizen or an adult with disabilities who is in need of assistance due to the heat, call the state’s toll-free abuse and neglect hotline at 1-800-392-0210, or make a report online.

People who are working or exercising outside in the heat or have certain chronic health conditions such as heart disease, lung disease or diabetes may need to take extra care in the heat. Medications, as well as those with substance use disorder, can impair a body’s response to heat, making one more vulnerable to the heat. Additionally, those experiencing homelessness are at a greater risk of experiencing heat-related illness.

Never leave a child or pet alone in a vehicle. Even on a cooler day, the temperature inside a vehicle can rise by 20 degrees in 10 minutes and is life threating to anyone left inside.

Heat-related illness can affect anyone. Take steps to stay cool in the hottest hours of the day:

  • Prepare your home—Use air conditioning and change air conditioner filters; cover windows that receive morning or afternoon sun with drapes or shades.
  • Stay indoors—Stay in air-conditioned places as much as possible. At home, take a cool bath or shower, use stoves and ovens less often, and keep window blinds and curtains closed to help maintain cooler temperatures. During prolonged periods of high temperatures, use air conditioning – either at home or by seeking shelter in a local cooling center. Don’t rely on fans to keep you cool. Fans are generally okay for providing comfort in temperatures less than 90° F. But at temperatures over 90° F, a fan can make body temperature rise.
  • Schedule activities carefully—Plan outdoor activities for morning or evening hours when the temperatures are cooler.
  • Wear appropriate clothing—Do not over-dress. Good choices are lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
  • Pace yourself—Reduce exercise or physical activity as much as possible during the hottest part of the day and take frequent breaks in the shade or in an air-conditioned place.

Take steps to stay hydrated:

  • Drink plenty of fluids—Take a drink break every 20-30 minutes regardless of your activity level, and do not wait until you are thirsty. Water or hydrating sports drinks are best. Avoid sugary, caffeinated and alcoholic beverages, which actually cause you to lose body fluids.
  • Wear sunscreen—Sunburn affects your body’s ability to cool down and can cause you to become dehydrated.

Take steps to stay informed:

  • Check on friends and neighbors—Especially older adults and individuals with a disability or chronic health conditions, as heat is more likely to affect their health. If you find an emergency situation – call 911. In a non-emergency situation, if a senior or disabled adult is suspected of being in need of assistance due to warm weather, make a call. Make a difference. Call the toll-free Missouri Adult Abuse and Neglect Hotline at 1-800-392-0210
  • Know the signs and symptoms of heat-related illnessWhat to do matters, depending on type of illness occurring. Signs of heat exhaustion may include heavy sweating; cold, pale and clammy skin; dizziness; headache; muscle cramps; tiredness or weakness; nausea or vomiting; or fainting (passing out). If you think you or others are experiencing heat exhaustion, you should stop physical activity and move to a cool place that is preferably air-conditioned, loosen clothing, and sip cool water.

Seek medical attention immediately if you or others are throwing up, your symptoms get worse or symptoms last longer than one hour. Heat stroke is life-threatening and occurs when the body is unable to control its temperature or cool down. Signs of heat stroke may include extremely high body temperature (103°F or higher); hot, red, dry skin with no sweat; fast, strong pulse; throbbing headache; dizziness; nausea; confusion; or loss of consciousness (passing out). You should call 911 right away, as heat stroke is a medical emergency. Then, if you are able, move to a cool place that is preferably air-conditioned. Help lower the person’s body temperature with cool cloths or a cool bath until medical personnel arrive. Do not give the person anything to drink.

  • Pay attention to weather forecasts and heat advisories- CDC’s HeatRisk map is one tool that provides local heat risk information to keep you and others safe.

For more information regarding heat-related illness and prevention, visit the websites of DHSS or the CDC.

Health Education Unit – Upcoming Trainer Info Meet Ups

The SLCR Health Education Unit will be conducting Instructor Information Meet Ups.

July 11, 2024: Online Programs
August 8, 2024: Certified vs. Licensed Facility
September 12, 2024: Scheduling a Test & Students
October 10, 2024: Clarifying 17 hours orientation vs. 16 hours OTJ hours
November 14, 2024: Train the Trainer Info
December 12, 2024: Discuss CMT Process

Please see the CNA Registry webpage for past meetings and more information.

If you have questions, please call our office at 573-526-5686.

Dental Health Pilot Program

Help improve the health of your residents by participating in a dental health pilot program!

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Office of Dental Health (ODH) has developed a pilot program to deliver on-site interventional care to long-term care residents to reduce adverse health risks to residents in a cost-effective manner. Oral infections in older adults significantly increase the risk of pneumonia, acute diabetic problems, cardiovascular events and acute rheumatic arthritis episodes. This highlights the need for good oral health care for long-term care facilities (LTCF) residents.

Please see this flyer for more information.

CNA Training Reimbursement Opportunity for Skilled Facilities

CNA Training Reimbursement Opportunity for Skilled Facilities

Please join us as the Health Education Units hosts an informative webinar with MO HealthNet on July 10, 2024.

You will not want to miss this!! We welcome Carl Meyer and Lee Gerloff from MO HealthNet to be our guest and provide helpful information on what, when and how to submit for reimbursement. HEU will also be available for information regarding regulatory requirements and information related to the training reimbursement.

July 10, 2024: CNA Reimbursement Webinar

Please stay tuned to our CNA Registry webpage for more info and registration to come.

Please contact the Health Education Unit for any questions at the CNARegistry@health.mo.gov.

Infection Prevention Books – Update

The Healthcare-Associated Infections/Antimicrobial Resistance Program is currently packing and shipping the Infection Prevention books to Long Term Care facilities across the state. However, due to the large number of facilities it will take some time for all books to be shipped. These books are being mailed via UPS to each facility and you will be receiving them soon.

Original Message

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

Saturday, June 15th, marks a very special day – World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD). This is a global awareness day officially introduced by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization at the United Nations on this day in 2006. This important day is in support of the United Nations International Plan of Action which recognizes the significance of elder abuse as a public health and human rights issue. It is observed every year to provide an opportunity for communities around the world to promote a better understanding and increased awareness of the cultural, social, economic, and demographic processes affecting elder abuse and neglect. We know that no community or country in the world is immune from the mistreatment of older adults. In Missouri, the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) receives and investigates reports of abuse, neglect, bullying and exploitation of the elderly and disabled. Last year, DHSS received and investigated 43,862 reports, an average of about 120 each day. The National Center on Elder Abuse estimates for every case of elder abuse or neglect reported to the authorities, as many as 23 cases go unreported.

Missouri’s Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) invites you to wear purple anytime throughout the month of June to commemorate this important event and raise awareness of elder abuse, neglect, bullying, and exploitation in later life. The color purple has been adopted as the symbol to raise awareness of elder abuse and the effects of abuse, neglect, bullying, and exploitation in later life.

For more information, please visit https://health.mo.gov/seniors/weaad.php.

2024 Provider Feedback Survey

The Section for Long-Term Care Regulation is again seeking input from providers we work with. We are asking for your help in identifying areas in our Section where excellent customer service is provided and areas where we need to focus on improving our customer service experience.

Please take a couple minutes to complete our 2024 Provider Feedback Survey by June 25, 2024 at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KZXSKB7.

2024 SLCR Annual Provider Meetings

Sponsored by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Section for Long-Term Care Regulation

There is no cost to attend any of these meetings. Please see the flyer.

September 4, 2024: Region 2
Location: Drury Plaza Hotel & Convention Center, Cape Girardeau

September 5, 2024: Region 7
Location: Crowne Plaza St. Louis Airport, Bridgeton

September 18, 2024: Region 1
Location: Oasis Hotel & Convention Center, Springfield

September 24, 2024: Region 6
Location: Special Olympics Missouri, Jefferson City

September 26, 2024: Region 5
Location: Moberly Municipal Auditorium, Moberly

October 1, 2024: Region 4
Location: Stoney Creek Hotel, St. Joseph

October 2, 2024: Region 3
Location: Adams Pointe Conference Center, Blue Springs

MO Health Ambassador Trainings

Attention Missouri Nursing Homes!

Register for a Free In-Person Health Ambassador Training

Sessions Will Be Held in Jackson/Cape Girardeau, Saint Louis and Springfield

Don’t miss this opportunity to register two individuals from your nursing home for a free regional in-person Health Ambassador Training in Missouri being presented by the Health Quality Innovation Network (HQIN) and Johns Hopkins University.

This training uses the Be REAL framework which focuses on building trust by forming relationships, targeting resources responsive to a facility’s population, and always keeping the door open for interactions to improve health outcomes such as immunizations and infection prevention.

Two people may register per facility and a maximum of 40 participants will be allowed for each session. Recommended participants include all staff, such as:

  • Nurses
  • Infection Prevention Nurses
  • Nursing assistants
  • Social services
  • Dietary
  • Environmental services
  • Also, please consider sending a resident, family member or volunteer.

These sessions will be interactive and include group discussion, small-group activities, games, and an opportunity to practice what has been learned. 

MO Health Ambassador Trainings

For questions, please contact us at ltc@hqi.solutions.

These trainings have been made available by the Health Quality Innovation Network (HQIN) and the Institute for Vaccine Safety – Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

VOYCE’s Upcoming Events

April 16, 2024: Community Education: Tips to Remain Fiscally Fit as You Age

Are you worried about being financially scammed, missing bill payments, or neglecting to review your bank account statements? Or have you struggled to update your beneficiaries? If so, a daily money manager can help. These financial professionals offer personal services to individuals, families, older adults, people with disabilities, busy professionals, high-net-worth individuals, and small businesses. Learn more about their services and how you can protect your assets as you grow older.

April 22, 2024: Caregivers’ Resilience and Family Resources

Becoming a sudden caregiver for your loved one can be overwhelming. Identify tips on how to sustain your lifestyle and invest in self-care.

May 2, 2024: Professional Development Webinar: Cultivating an LGBTQ+ Friendly Community

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force has outlined that the population of LGBTQ+ older adults in the U.S. is expected to double in size, becoming six million strong by 2030. Questions about the availability of inclusive housing for older LGBTQ+ people are rising. The purpose of this presentation is to inform attendees about the barriers that LGBTQ+ elders face when seeking out housing and long-term care services. This presentation will also introduce attendees to the Long-Term Care Equality Index (LEI), a tool founded by SAGE and the Human Rights Campaign to assist Long Term Care Communities in becoming more inclusive to LGBTQ+ elders. Attendees will leave this presentation with actionable steps on how to get connected to the LEI and how to start making their communities more inclusive to LGBTQ+ older adults.

May 7, 2024: Legacy Planning 101: Don’t Leave Your Family Guessing

With proper assistance, planning for the next chapter of life need not be stressful. Learn from an elder law attorney about the five essential documents to honor friends’ and relatives’ wishes.

May 20, 2024: ABUSE – Verbal, Physical, Sexual, Financial – Help Protect Your Loved Ones

Learn how to identify the signs of abuse, how and where to report it, and how to support your loved one, friend, or family member if they are experiencing abuse.

MC5 Upcoming Meetings

April 19, 2024: We Honor Veterans Program and End-of-Life Care for Veterans
Location: Cape Girardeau Public Library, Cape Girardeau

The purpose of this program is to bring awareness to issues veterans face at end-of-life and to explain the We Honor Veterans Program. Veterans face different issues at end-of-life that are not often experienced by non-veterans. The We Honor Veterans Program helps navigate caregivers through these issues as well as provides education regarding resources within the community.

April 26, 2024: Person-Centered Program Planning
Location: Brentmoor Retirement Community, St. Louis

Programming is at the center of a community’s culture and can have a ripple effect throughout a community, by fostering inclusivity and an all-hands-on deck approach. We will be discussing various ways to incorporate person-centered values during the programming planning process; as well as giving examples of real-life programming that embodies the whole team and whole community approach. Attendees will be asked to bring a copy of the community activity calendar for an interactive approach to looking at those calendars through another set of lens’.

MANHA’s 2024 Annual Convention

June 2-5, 2024: Kick Off Your Summer with an Unforgettable MANHA Experience!
Location: The Resort at the Lake of the Ozarks

Missouri Association of Nursing Home Administrators is pleased to invite you to attend the 2024 Annual Convention. The goal of this conference is to provide meaningful, forward thinking, and real-time education to pave the path forward while acknowledging the past and working together.

Want to Improve Your COVID-19 Vaccination Rates? HQIN Can Help!

Vaccines protect us all from illness and disease, but they are especially critical for our most vulnerable populations. Particularly, the COVID-19 vaccine provides increased protection to adults ages 65 years and older.

In our continued effort to support the health and well-being of older adults, the Health Quality Innovation Network (HQIN) provides FREE COVID-19 vaccination clinic support, through a partnership with CPESN-USA, a clinically integrated network of community-based pharmacies.

Our team of experts can assist you in securing vaccine doses and coordinating healthcare professionals to immunize and provide vaccine education to residents and staff. In addition to COVID-19 vaccines, support is also available for pneumococcal and influenza vaccines.

Simply complete the Nursing Home COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Support Request Form to start the process today!

Health Education Unit Instructor Info

The SLCR Health Education Unit will be conducting Instructor Information Meet Ups.

March 28, 2024: Q&A – Health Education
2 pm

April 4, 2024: Instructor/Examiner Meet Up
2 pm

April 10, 2024: Instructor/Examiner Meet Up
2 pm

April 16, 2024: Q&A – Health Education
2 pm

April 23, 2024: Instructor/Examiner Meet Up
3 pm

Please see the CNA Registry webpage for past meetings and more information.

If you have questions, please call our office at 573-526-5686.

Eden Conference

June 2-4, 2024: MOVE MOUNTAINS and Embrace Possibilities
Location: King of Prussia, PA

The Eden Alternative 30th Anniversary International Conference

Together, transform challenges into possibilities and make the impossible possible. Share new tools to sharpen skills and reimagine new paths to empowerment. Let’s build a foundation of courage and resilience to strengthen care partner teams who take on this meaningful work – and discover global innovations that translate worldwide.

We are filled with gratitude for all care partners, including Elders, residents, families, friends, and employees, as we celebrate 30 years of revolutionizing care.

Upcoming NHSN Trainings for Long-term Care Facilities: Changes to Definition of Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccines Test

The NHSN Vaccination Team will be hosting two webinars to review important changes to the surveillance definition of up to date with COVID-19 vaccines. These webinars are geared toward long-term care facilities reporting vaccination data through the NHSN COVID-19 Vaccination Modules.

Key Points:

What are the new recommendations?

  • ACIP and CDC provided new recommendations of COVID-19 vaccines for individuals aged 65 years and older.
  • Individuals aged 65 years and older are up to date when they have received 2 doses of the updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine or received 1 dose of the updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine in the past 4 months.
  • There is no change to the up to date definition for individuals younger than 65 years. Therefore, individuals aged less than 65 years are up to date when they have received 1 dose of the updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine (any time since it was approved in September 2023).
  • The new definition applies to both the NHSN Weekly HCP and Resident Vaccination Forms.
  • The up to date definition change for individuals aged 65 years and older will occur at the start of Quarter 2 of 2024 (week of April 1 – 7, 2024).

How should facilities report data beginning with Quarter 2 of 2024?

  • Residents and healthcare personnel aged 65 and older should NOT be counted as up to date with COVID-19 vaccines until they receive a second dose of the 2023-2024 updated COVID-19 vaccine; or if they have received 1 dose of the updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine in the past 4 months.
  • Be careful not to incorrectly over-report the number of residents who are up to date. Residents aged 65 and older who previously had 1 dose of the 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine greater than 4 months ago, should NOT be counted as up to date (question #2).
  • Continue to count residents and healthcare personnel age less than 65 as up to date if they have received 1 dose of the updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine.

Webinar dates and registration

Topic: Updates to Weekly COVID-19 Vaccination Data Reporting: Long-term Care Facilities

When: Wednesday, March 27, 2024, 2:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Register in advance for this webinar: https://cdc.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN__F98eZSGSReD3vznNL2tzg

When: Tuesday, April 2, 2024, 2:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Register in advance for this webinar: https://cdc.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_rjHZrnezSaqzTUzZ0jagxQ

After registering, you will receive a confirmation e-mail containing information about joining the webinar. Both webinars will cover the same information.

Questions
Please use NHSN-ServiceNow to submit questions to the NHSN Help Desk. The new portal can be accessed here and should be used in place of nhsn@cdc.gov, nhsntrain@cdc.gov, and nhsndua@cdc.gov. ServiceNow will help the NHSN team respond to your questions faster. Users will be authenticated using CDC’s Secure Access Management Services (SAMS), the same way you access NHSN. If you do not have a SAMS login, or are unable to access ServiceNow, you can still e-mail the NHSN Help Desk at nhsn@cdc.gov.

MDS Case Mix Review Training

The Missouri Department of Social Services has contracted with Myers and Stauffer to conduct provider training. This webinar will be divided into two sessions. You may choose to participate in one or both sessions.

The Morning Session (9:00 am – 10:00 am CST) will include:

    • Case Mix Review Process
    • Web Portal Access and Submissions

The Afternoon Session (1:00 pm – 2:30 pm CST) will include:

    • Supportive Documentation Requirements

Please plan to join us during one or both of the scheduled sessions. Registration is required.

March 19, 2024
Morning Session: 9:00 am – 10:00 am CST
To register for this webinar, click here!
To join by phone, dial: 1-844-740-1264
Access Code: 2421 836 0727
Event Password: MOTraining

Afternoon Session: 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm CST
To register for this webinar, click here!
To join by phone, dial: 1-844-740-1264
Access Code: 2428 242 0685
Event Password: MOTraining

March 26, 2024
Morning Session: 9:00 am – 10:00 am CST
To register for this webinar, click here!
To join by phone, dial: 1-844-740-1264
Access Code: 2438 288 2508
Event Password: MOTraining

Afternoon Session: 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm CST
To register for this webinar, click here!
To join by phone, dial: 1-844-740-1264
Access Code: 2437 705 7018
Event Password: MOTraining

MC5 Conversations Event

March 27, 2024: Supporting Person Centered Cultures
Special Guest: Stacey Bergmann, Director of Community and Network Relations, Center for Innovation (CFI)

In her role at CFI, Stacey is carrying on the mission of Pioneer Network, working together with leaders from the state culture change coalitions. Together with MC5 board member and conversation host, Kim Fanning, attendees will explore with Stacey what is happening around the country as CFI, along with state coalitions, work to find ways to help providers grow their person-centered cultures.

MC5 Hybrid Meeting

April 3, 2024: Care Connection – Opportunities to Create Positive Aging Experiences
Location: First United Methodist Church Celebration Center, Sedalia
Presenters: Wendy Martin, MHA; Rona McNally, Care Connection; Marilyn Gunter, BSW,MSW

Join facilitators from Care Connection who will provide information about their person-centered approach to services. During this presentation it will be shared how Care Connection maintains a person-centered focus in the development and delivery of services. Attendees will learn the importance of family caregiver support for person-centered care and how the Long-Term Care Ombudsman program supports individuals’ rights and choices, serving as advocates and educators. Also, the Missouri SMP (Senior Medicare Patrol), will inform attendees of current Medicare/Medicaid fraud trends and the importance of protecting health care benefits.

DMH Free Webinars – Tools for Everyone

March 5, 2024: Registration
March 14, 2024: Registration
March 20, 2024: Registration

Tools of Choice is an evidence-based program focused on the implementation of universal positive practices. This two-hour introductory training is open to community members, parents, and professionals. It covers key concepts of the Tools of Choice curriculum, including: What is behavior, building positive relationships, and how to increase desirable behavior. Join the Positive Support Consultants in learning strategies to make positive change by implementing universal positive practices.

Registration is also available on the Upcoming Webinar Webpage.