Literature Review

LeadingAge: Diverting patients from SNF to home health does more harm than good McKnights Home Care; by Adam Healy; 10/28/24 Mounting evidence suggests that Medicare Advantage plans are directing beneficiaries to home health when they should receive skilled nursing facility care, which is negatively affecting providers’ care quality, according to LeadingAge. The Senate Committee Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations recently reported that MA plans may be diverting patients in need of SNF care to home health as a means of saving money. In an Oct. 25 letter, LeadingAge said this practice damages care quality and patient health outcomes, and asked the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) to investigate the issue further. 

The ‘perfect way to die’ in North Dakota CBS KX News, Bismarck, ND; by Brendan Rodenberg; 10/27/24 Death is not something people tend to look forward to at the end of their lives, but it is important to discuss nonetheless — and while many have ideas of how they would like to pass away, these vary immensely across America. This begs the question: How would North Dakotans like to spend their last moments?  ... [An insurance poll that surveyed 3,000 people from across the nation indicated]  that the perfect death for a North Dakotan would be to pass while hiking White Butte, the state’s highest point. ... The survey also delved deeply into other aspects of one’s last moments, including those surrounding them and what occurs after the moment of death. Below is a list of the most prevalent takeaways from this part of the study.

Less activity, more sitting linked with higher death risks: study McKnights Long-Term Care News; by Kristen Fischer; 10/28/24 Low physical activity is associated with a higher risk of dying from all causes as well as from cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and kidney disease. In addition, the combination of reduced activity and longer sitting time every day is linked with a higher risk of death from any cause, a new study finds. Staying active and reducing sitting time may lower the risks, authors of the report wrote. The report was published Oct. 26 in BMC Geriatrics.Editor's note: Calling all leaders who have desk-bound employees, and who sit too long (yourselves) ... What creative ways do you encourage healthy work habits, movement, and more? Do you provide ergonomic sit/stand desks? Healthy chairs? More? Read this and remember that as we will age, today's habits impact tomorrow's health.

Terminally ill Illinois woman meets her idol, Jelly Roll NBC WETM 18, Elmira, IL; by Taylor Harris; 10/27/24 An Illinois woman battling terminal cancer fulfilled the dream of a lifetime Wednesday — meeting country music sensation Jelly Roll. Keita Miller, of Granite City, was diagnosed with a terminal illness in February 2022 and given just months to live. She has defined the odds, and now she’s been able to meet her musical hero, country star Jelly Roll. Her favorite Jelly Roll song is “Son Of A Sinner,” and she says his music has been a source of comfort during her illness. But more than just meeting the artist, Miller had one special request. ... The James Bess Foundation, a nonprofit that grants dreams to adults from 21 to 65 years old who are battling terminal illness, is making this dream come true.

Cigna considers Humana acquisition – What it means for the stocks MarketBeat; by Jea Yu; 10/29/24 There has been speculation of a massive merger in the medical sector between two massive health insurers. Specifically, the rumor is The Cigna Group NYSE: CI is interested in acquiring Humana Inc. NYSE: HUM. The conjecture caused both stocks to react, as Cigna stock fell 10% as the rumored surfaced on Oct. 18, 2024, and Humana stock remained relatively flat. Based on the reactions, the market doesn't see this as a favorable merger, and for good reason. While there are many potential synergies in a merger, assuming it passes the regulatory antitrust sniff test (which is a big "if"), there is also a major sticking point that sinks any possibility of it coming to fruition called Medicare Advantage (MA). 

Providence Alaska Medical Center tests virtual care model, announces hospice partner Alaska Business - Healthcare, News; 10/28/24 Providence Alaska Medical Center (PAMC) recently launched a new way of caring for patients that combines bedside nursing with a virtual or remote nurse and a dedicated patient care technician or certified nursing assistant. Known as co-caring or virtual nursing, the bedside nurse manages direct patient-care duties while the virtual nurse coordinates other support tasks. Also this month, the Washington-based not-for-profit healthcare system that operates PAMC announced it will partner with Compassus...Co-Caring Model Leverages Skilled Nurses: Virtual nursing is a response to a strained labor market. A study by the National Center for Health Workforce Analysis shows Alaska is projected to lead the nation in nursing vacancies, with as many as 23 percent of openings unfilled, by 2030. The co-caring model helps address the impending shortage while providing added patient care, Providence officials say.

After extensive renovation, original Wright-Patt Fisher House expected to reopen soon Dayton Daily News, Dayton, OH; by Thomas Gnau; 10/28/24 Renovation ends in time to mark home’s 30th anniversary. The original Fisher-Nightingale house at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base has been renovated, and an open house in December is expected to mark its reopening, the executive director of the Fisher-Nightingale Houses in the Dayton area said. The house itself is expected to reopen to serve families in a few weeks. ... The Fisher House Foundation is a national organization, building comfortable homes where active-duty military and veteran families can stay free of charge, while a loved one is in a hospital or in nearby hospice care.

Divorce rates among older adults have almost tripled since 1990McKnight's Senior Living; by Lois A. Bowers; 10/23/24New research finds an almost threefold increase in the percentage of divorced older adults compared with three decades ago. And an increasing number of older adults never have married. The investigators at the National Center for Family and Marriage Research at the Bowling Green, OH, educational institution found that the divorce rate among people aged 65 or more years increased from 5.2% in 1990 to 15.2% in 2022. Or, put another way, one in every 10 people divorcing in the United States today is aged 65 or more years. Although reasons for the increase in divorce were beyond the scope of the study, Brown theorized that contributing factors could include increased life expectancy and the fragility of remarriages.Publisher's note: Interesting implications for hospice care and caregivers.

Palm Harbor family suffers flood after Milton, less than month after mother dies from breast cancer ABC WFTS Tampa Bay, FL; by Jessica De Leon; 10/26/24 One Palm Harbor family is gutting the first floor of their home, destroyed by flood waters after Hurricane Milton. Cali Gignac’s childhood home is not in a flood zone or near any large bodies of water, yet more than two feet of water entered her parents' townhome and destroyed everything just a month after her mother died. “We haven’t had a chance to sort her mementos. We haven’t had a chance to grieve her or anything. And now it’s like... everything is garbage.” Now, they are trying to save what they can, sometimes stopping to take a snapshot of notes or photos that they find. But as tears come, they quickly move on, knowing they have so much to do.“Our photo albums are just, like, melting.”Editor's note: Click here for a public service educational video, "Community Crisis and Grief," with a significant section devoted to coping with "normal" bereavement in the midst of a community crisis. Disclosure, provided by Composing Life Out of Loss, a sponsor of this newsletter.

Mastering leadership: 6 experience-based qualities to align with a changing business worldForbes / HEC Paris Insights; by Marc Beretta, Daniel Brown; 10/25/24In today’s fast-paced world, effective leadership requires much more than traditional managerial skills. The dynamic nature of modern organizations, combined with the increasing complexity of global challenges, calls for a new type of leader - one who can navigate uncertainty, connect deeply with others, and foster a culture of trust and collaboration. Over the course of 20 years of coaching top executives globally, encapsulated in what we call the Six Leadership Landmarks we attempt to move beyond traditional leadership models, emphasizing vulnerability, self-awareness, and connection with others. Through this framework, leaders can not only guide their teams more effectively but also inspire transformation within themselves and their organizations... The six leadership landmarks we’ve developed over the years are awareness, adaptability, trust, vulnerability, kindness, and a shared vision. [Click on the link above for additional context and detail on these leadership landmarks.]

Job lock and parents of children with cystic fibrosis JAMA Network; by Lenore S. Azaroff, MD, ScD; Steffie Woolhandler, MD, MPH; Danny McCormick, MD, MPH; David U. Himmelstein, MD2; David Bor, MD; Samuel Dickman, MD; Adam Gaffney, MD, MPH; 10/28/24 US health care coverage is typically tied to employment, sometimes causing job lock, which deters people from changing employment because they need to maintain coverage. Few studies have assessed job lock due to children’s need for health care. Children with cystic fibrosis (CF) have substantial care needs, including costly medications, tests, and quarterly visits with interprofessional teams. Mortality from CF is higher in the US than Canada, where medical care is typically free, suggesting that financial protection may affect outcomes. We assessed whether parental job lock and other financial and employment factors are associated with access to care for children with CF.

Nonprofit organizes free home cleanings for cancer patients The Dallas Express, Dallas, TX; by Patti Villegas; 10/27/24 When facing a serious illness, even simple tasks can become overwhelming. However, one nonprofit organization is stepping in to help alleviate some of that burden for individuals with cancer. Cleaning for a Reason, founded in 2006, has facilitated free home cleaning services for more than 57,133 cancer patients in the U.S. and Canada, providing services valued at a total of more than $19 million. The non-profit organization partners with residential cleaning companies and community volunteers to “clean the homes of cancer patients to provide hope, relief, control, and cleanliness,” the group’s website states. The volunteers’ work not only enhances the patients’ physical environment but uplifts their spirits as well.