Anyone who has an elderly or disabled loved one or works with such patients knows that a fall can be devastating to their health and well-being no matter where it happens. A fall threatens independence and overall health. According to the CDC, more than one in four Americans 65 and older fall each year. These falls not only affect the health of those who experience them but generate significant personal and economic costs. But falling does not need to be an inevitability of aging and/or physical impairments; there are measures and programs that can be used to significantly reduce the risk of falling for our aging and disabled population.

While utilizing pill-splitters or crushers is beneficial in a hospital and other environments, there are also risks for using such a device. These risks include cross-contamination of different drugs, especially if there is not a cleaning procedure between different patients or drugs.1 This article will help break down the best practices of using a pill-splitter device to follow Joint Commission Standard: MM.05.01.07, which explains how to safely prepare medications.

National Service Dog Month is observed during the month of September. In this article, you’ll learn about service dogs, the environments they are trained to work in, and products that can be of assistance to you while you wait for your new companion.

Pilates is a perfect exercise regimen for older adults because it does not have the impact on the body that other forms of exercise do and is not nearly as severe on the joints as most workouts. Learn more about Pilates and its benefits to find out if it's the right exercise program for you!