Literature Review

Hospice of Greater Cleveland: A new partnership between Judson and McGregor Senior Living Communities Morningstar, Cleveland, OH; by PR Newswire; 8/15/24 For Judson and McGregor Senior Living Communities, organizational aspirations have always been to provide continuity of care and quality service through our dedicated teams. ... We are pleased to announce that the two organizations have embarked on a new joint venture. ... This strategic partnership, built on the strengths of both organizations, is designed to provide the utmost comfort, dignity, and support to our hospice residents during their end-of-life journey, ensuring a seamless and enhanced experience for all. ... Hospice of Greater Cleveland will begin its work on August 15, 2024. This partnership reflects the ongoing support of our collective organization and the missions that drive our commitment to seniors in Northeast Ohio.

Person-centered, goal-oriented care helped my patients improve their quality of life Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine; by Lee A. Jennings and James W. Mold; orignially posted 5/24 issue, again on 8/15/24 When the goal is to help patients improve their quality of life, it makes sense to focus directly on the activities and relationships that are most important to each patient. This can be accomplished most effectively by following a three-step process that includes 1) connecting with the patient around what matters to them, 2) co-creating a goal-oriented plan, and 3) collaborating with patient, family, team members, and consultants to increase the probability of success. Once this approach has been mastered and the necessary systems, processes, and relationships are in place, this should not take more time than a problem-oriented approach, and it will almost certainly be more satisfying for both physician and patient. Editor's Note: Simple. Effective. Meaningful.

8-year-old boy's dream of skydiving finally comes true after lazy eye led to terminal cancer diagnosis (exclusive) People; by Angela Andaloro; 8/14/24 "In those moments, he's not a cancer kid," mom Amanda tells PEOPLE of Paxton's big adventures. ... Faced with limited time, Paxton's family are helping make his bucket list dreams, like skydiving, come true and tell PEOPLE about what it means to be able to do so. ... [Click on the title's link to see photos and read more.]

Want to keep talent? Develop your leaders Forbes; by Roberat Matuson; 8/12/24 You're investing heavily in recruitment, yet your top talent might be slipping away. Why? Because 7 in 10 U.S. workers are ready to leave if they have a bad manager. Younger employees are leading this charge, as highlighted in LinkedIn's latest Workforce Confidence survey. With gig work on the rise and many young professionals living at home, they have the freedom to choose jobs that value them. The solution? Transform your managers into leaders worth following. ... 5 Ways to Develop Your Managers into Strong People Leaders:

Death is inevitable. It's time we learned to talk about it. MedPageToday; by Nidhi Bhaskar; 8/13/24 By fostering honest and compassionate discussions, we can provide patients with more dignity. Years ago, in a busy emergency department, I found myself joining my mentor at the bedside of an elderly man experiencing chest pain. After completing the physical exam, the doctor unceremoniously changed gears to abruptly ask our patient, "If your heart were to stop beating, do you want us to do everything?" Between the stress of the situation and the vague and awkward delivery of the question, our patient seemed (understandably) overwhelmed. So was I. ... End-of-life conversations can feel like a "word soup" of sorts ... it is easy for patients and providers alike to feel lost. ... Providers must also consider the nuances of cultural attitudes towards death; the location and family arrangements surrounding a person at the end of life; and the varying emotional responses and feelings of decision paralysis surrounding how one dies and how one feels about dying.Editor's Note: For a related article in our newsletter today, read "Examining the relationship between rural and urban clinicians’ familiarity with patients and families and their comfort with palliative and end-of-life care communication."

The tangled web of pediatric palliative care payment and policy Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 8/13/24 A complex web of state regulations and reimbursement systems can challenge pediatric palliative care access for seriously ill children and their families. The nation’s fragmented health care system lacks clear guidance when it comes to navigating chronic, complex conditions in children, adolescents and young adults, according to Jonathan Cottor, CEO and founder of the National Center for Pediatric Palliative Care Homes. Much of the current state palliative regulations and reimbursement pathways focus on adult patient populations, representing a significant barrier to improved quality and support in the pediatric realm, Cottor said.

For all back-to-school parents, grandparents, and more: You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. ~ Dr. Seuss, Oh the Place You'll Go!

‘The Last Ecstatic Days’ one day screening strives to teach the world how to die without fear Bangor Daily News, Bangor, ME; by BDN Community; 8/13/24 Hospice Volunteers of Waldo County invites Greater Waldo County to a single night screening on Tuesday, Aug. 20 at 7 p.m. Post-screening, there will be a Community Conversation with Hospice and Palliative Care Physician Aditi Sethi, MD and Director of the Center for Conscious Living & Dying/Hospice Volunteers of Waldo County’s Flic Shooter. Sethi, MD’s end-of-life palliative work is featured in the film. “The Last Ecstatic Days” focuses on a young man with terminal brain cancer (Ethan Sisser) as he sits alone in his hospital room. When Sisser starts live-streaming his death journey on social media, thousands of people around the world join to celebrate his courage. Still, he envisions more–to teach the world how to die without fear. To do that, Sisser needs to film his actual death. What unfolds next is a rarely-glimpsed perspective of how a community of strangers helps a young man die with grace.Editor's Note:  This movie has been featured on PBS. The Boston Globe describes, "... courageous end-of-life chronicle, which overflows with compassion." The Louisiana Mississippi Hospice & Palliative Care Organization shared this as a viewing and discussion at their July 2024 conference. For the trailor and more information, click here. 

Blue Ridge Hospice moves forward with new PACE ProgramHospice News; by Jim Parker; 8/12/24 Blue Ridge Hospice is launching its first Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) program, which will begin accepting participants on Sept. 1. The program is branded as Blue Ridge Independence at Home, designed to offer seniors a “comprehensive” suite of services to address medical and nonmedical needs and help them stay in their homes, the organization indicated. The launch reflects a longstanding trend of hospices diversifying their services to include upstream care, an area in which PACE programs are gaining ground. “Our desire to get into the PACE program was driven by a need to make the continuum of care more smooth for the frail aging population, ...” Jason Parsons, CEO of Blue Ridge Hospice, told Hospice News.Editor's Note: Blue Ridge Hospice is in Winchester, VA. 

Hospices leverage community resources to serve vulnerable homeless populations Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 8/13/24 Hospices are increasingly collaborating with community organizations to better address the end-of-life needs of the homeless population. Isolated homeless senior populations are reaching concerning levels nationwide. Many medical and nonmedical issues can be exacerbated at the end of life among unhoused and homeless seniors compared to others, according to James Patrick Hall, executive director of Rocky Mountain Refuge. The Denver-based nonprofit organization offers shelter for people with end-of-life care needs. ... Homeless populations have increased across the country in recent years, with seniors among those reaching “record-high” volumes and outpacing other demographic groups, Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies research recently reported. Editor's Note: For data specific to your state, click here for The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's "The 2023 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress."

Letter: Closing Cottage of the Meadow [Hospice House] is a loss for allYakima Herald-Republic, Yakima, WA; by Lee Murdock; 8/13/24, with news post from 8/5/24 [Letter] To the editor — I was devastated to learn that Cottage in the Meadow, our local hospice facility, is ending hospice care. Both of my parents were fortunate enough to spend their final days in this serene and caring environment. The difference between the overrun hospital setting with its short staffing and the compassionate, individualized care at Cottage in the Meadow was stark. This facility provided invaluable support not only to those at the end of life but also to their families. As our population ages, the need for such services will only increase. Studies have shown that hospice care can reduce healthcare costs by up to 30% compared to traditional hospital care (Journal of Palliative Medicine). Additionally, hospice care significantly reduces hospital readmissions and emergency room visits, further reducing healthcare costs (JAMA). In a healthcare system with ample profit margins, ensuring access to hospice care is the least we can do. ...Editor's Note: This letter to the editor was in response to Yakima Herald-Republic's 8/5/24 article, "Yakima's Cottage in the Meadow will close its hospice house. It will reopen as a skilled nursing facility."

Age bias declines in the workplace, but work remains McKnights Senior Living; by Lois A. Bowers; 8/12/24 Some good news, according to the results of a recent survey by the Age-Friendly Institute, is that it appears that fewer Americans aged 50 or more years believe that “age bias is a fact of life in the workplace” compared with 15 years ago, according to the institute. The organization has been conducting research involving a nationally representative sample of this age group for more than a decade, and the percentage of people answering yes about the existence of age bias at work has decreased over time, going from 96% in 2009 to 83% in 2019 to 65% in 2024. ... But the decrease doesn’t mean there isn’t work to do. “In a society that is increasingly focused on equality and inclusivity, ageism lurks in the shadows,” the institute notes.