Literature Review

[Kazakhstan] Mechanisms of chronic pain in Alzheimer's Disease: A narrative reviewCurrent Medicinal Chemistry; Roman Konovalov, Mina Aubakirova, Dmitriy Viderman; 4/25AD [Alzheimer's Disease] causes structural and functional alterations in the affected brain, including shrinkage of gray matter volume and disruptions in brain network connectivity. Besides memory loss, pain is a significant yet often neglected symptom. Effective pain management in AD is challenged by the adverse effects of pain-relief medications and communication difficulties, especially as the disease progresses. Pharmacological options include opioids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, paracetamol/acetaminophen, and adjuvant pain relievers like antidepressants and antiepileptic medications, though these are not officially approved for pain relief in AD. Non-pharmacological strategies, such as exercise therapy, music therapy, Reiki, reflexology, and behavioral therapy, are preferred to prevent the side effects of medication. The review highlights a crucial link between neurological changes in AD and the perception of pain, underscoring the need for customized pain management approaches for this population.

Saturday newsletters focus on headlines and research - enjoy!

CMS budget proposal would shift nursing facility oversight Becker's Hospital Review; by Elizabeth Gregerson; 6/4/25 Key changes put forth in President Donald Trump’s proposed fiscal year 2026 budget may have downstream effects on the survey and certification of skilled nursing facilities. ... Here are three things to know about the proposed changes:

NPHI proud to announce its partnership on the upcoming documentary for PBS, Caregiving, from Executive Producer Bradley Cooper National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI), Washington, DC; 5/19/25 The National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI) is proud to announce its partnership on the upcoming PBS documentary Caregiving, a powerful new film executive produced by Academy Award-nominated actor, director, and producer Bradley Cooper. Created in collaboration with Cooper’s production company, Lea Pictures, as well as WETA Washington, D.C., and Ark Media, Caregiving will shine a national spotlight on the often unseen yet essential work of caregivers across the country. NPHI is honored to serve as a national partner on this important project. Narrated by Uzo Aduba (The Residence, Orange Is the New Black) and directed by Chris Durrance, Caregiving intertwines deeply personal stories of caregivers with the untold history of the American care system. The documentary examines how caregivers—often family members, friends, and frontline professionals—navigate the immense challenges and unseen achievements of their roles.

The Alliance champions community-based solutions at Senate palliative care briefing National Alliance for Care at Home, Alexandria, VA and Washington, DC; Press Release; 6/4/25 The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) played a lead role in [Wednesday's] Senate Comprehensive Care Caucus briefing, which focused on expanding access to palliative care services for patients with serious illness. The bipartisan event, hosted by Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV), John Barrasso (R-WY), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Deb Fischer (R-NE), underscored the need for innovative models that deliver person-centered care in the home and community. Hillary Loeffler, Vice President of Policy & Regulatory Affairs for the Alliance, moderated the panel discussion, guiding thoughtful conversation on access, workforce, and innovation in care delivery. 

I need to be outside. I need to be in the world and to remember that I am of it. ~ John Green

HOPE Assessment Tool blog series: All about active diagnosesCHAP blog; by Jennifer Kennedy; 6/5/25The implementation date of the HOPE assessment is now five months away and providers should be well on the path for readiness... This blog series has been working its way through the domains of the HOPE assessment tool and this edition will discuss patient diagnoses and health conditions... This domain (Section I) and its items refer to the patient’s primary diagnosis and any active co-morbidities. It includes the most common principal diagnoses among hospice patients, as well as comorbidities and co-existing conditions...

Hospice chaplain provides comfort in life's final moments Central Florida Public Media, Orlando, FL; by Bryan Gozalez and Claire Macchiarola; 6/4/25 The hum of an oxygen machine fills the room as Mary Durkin is helped from her bed and slowly takes a seat on her couch. As someone under home hospice care, the goal of her caretakers is to ensure the comfort of their patient as she nears the end of her life. And one of those caretakers is Vishisho Awomi, known to her patients as Chaplain Avika. She sits beside her, clasping Durkin’s small hands in her own for their weekly visit. Durkin is one of roughly 150 patients that fall under Avika’s spiritual care. As a hospice chaplain with VITAS Healthcare, it is Avika’s job to comfort, pray, or just be present with all of her patients. “I get to build that personal relationship and build that connection, I get to know that person from beginning to end,” Avika said. ...

Gaps in the coordination of care for older adults with or at risk for cardiovascular disease The American Journal of Managed Care; by Lisa M. Kern, MD, MPH,Joselyne E. Aucapina,Samprit Banerjee, PhD, Joanna B. Ringel, MPH, Jonathan N. Tobin, PhD, Semhar Fisseha, MPH, Helena Meiri, MA, RN, Madeline R. Sterling, MD, MPH, Kurt C. Stange, MD, PhD, Monika M. Safford, MD, Paul N. Casale, MD, MPH; 6/3/25 ... To determine whether older adults with cardiovascular disease (CVD) or CVD risk factors perceive gaps in communication among their providers and whether they consider those gaps to be consequential, we conducted a cross-sectional survey of Medicare beneficiaries 65 years and older with CVD or CVD risk factors and highly fragmented ambulatory care (reversed Bice-Boxerman Index score ≥ 0.85).

Experts warn of scams during Medicare Fraud Prevention Week Public News Service; by Suzanne Potter; 6/4/25 Medicare loses $60 billion to $80 billion a year to fraud and this year, for Medicare Fraud Prevention Week, your local Senior Medicare Patrol has good advice on how to spot a con. There are plenty of scams to be aware of. Karen Joy Fletcher, communications director with the nonprofit California Health Advocates, said beware if a caller asks to verify your Medicare number, claiming the program needs to send out a new type of card. ... ... Caregivers can be on the lookout for medical equipment arriving at the house even though the beneficiary never ordered it. Another red flag? A stranger may approach you in a parking lot asking you to sign up for new, free Medicare services like house cleaning or meals, which are then fraudulently billed to the government. ... Another scam involves tricking people into unknowingly signing up for hospice care. It is especially dangerous, because once a person is on hospice, Medicare will only approve palliative care and could mistakenly deny an essential surgery or medication.

Home health provider Intrepid USA files for bankruptcy Home Health Care News; by Joyce Famakinwa; 6/3/25Home health and hospice provider Intrepid USA has recently filed for bankruptcy. The company filed a petition for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in the Southern District Court of Texas in late May, according to court documents. Filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy results in a straight liquidation, according to Adam Stein-Sapir, a bankruptcy expert at Pioneer Funding Group LLC. ... In 2024, New Day Healthcare acquired Intrepid USA’s hospice operations in Missouri and Texas. Prior to these sales, Dallas-based Intrepid USA operated more than 60 home health and hospice locations across 17 states.

Missoula community celebrates opening of Hope Hospice Center NBC-KULR, NonStop Local Billings, MT / Missoula, MT; by Taylor Richardson; 6/3/25 The Hope Hospice Center celebrated its opening with a ceremony in Missoula, marking a significant milestone for elder care in Western Montana. The new facility will provide critical end-of-life care for people across the region. The state-of-the-art center spans 15,200 square feet and offers 24-hour end-of-life services. It includes 12 private patient rooms, spaces for family visits, and areas for religious and cultural practices. Amanda Yeoman Melro, Executive Director of Partners Hope Foundation, expressed her excitement about the center. "I think it has exceeded our wildest dreams of what a hospice center could possibly be," she said. The facility was made possible through community fundraising efforts led by the Partners Hope Foundation, which raised more than $15 million.