Literature Review

Mental health resources: Finding the help you need MSN News; by Lisa Rapaport; 10/23/25 Whether youre coping with anxiety, depression, a substance use disorder, grief, or something else, there are organizations that can help you often for free. Here are some to reach out to when you need mental health support. ...

Size of the financial incentives in Medicare’s Skilled Nursing Facility Value-Based Purchasing ProgramJAMA Network Open; by Robert E. Burke, Franya Hutchins, Jonathan Heintz, Syama R. Patel, Scott Appel, Julie Norman, Atul Gupta, Liam Rose, Rachel M. Werner; 9/25The Skilled Nursing Facility Value-Based Purchasing (SNF VBP) program seeks to reduce all-cause 30-day readmissions from SNF for traditional Medicare beneficiaries recently discharged from the hospital. Under SNF VBP, most SNFs receive a financial bonus or penalty up to 2% of their total traditional Medicare revenues each year, on the basis of their performance on 30-day readmission rates compared with other SNFs, or their own improvement in readmission rates over time. In this cohort study, we found that the size of the financial incentives at the SNF level are relatively small in terms of dollars and as a proportion of net operating income, and that most SNFs experienced substantial variability from year to year in their incentive payments. These 2 factors may have contributed to the relative lack of effectiveness of the SNF VBP program. First, if the level of the penalty is not sufficient to hire additional staff, purchase equipment (such as an x-ray machine or laboratory testing), or invest in new care processes, then SNFs will not be able to improve their ability to manage changes in patient condition. 

[UK] Use of HidraWear in a malignant fungating wound at end of life: A case studyWounds UK; by Alison Schofield; 9/25Malignant wounds are a devastating complication associated with cancer, which are challenging to manage and can be distressing for patients, family members and healthcare professionals (HCPs). Management of malignant wounds can differ significantly from that of any other wound type, particularly as they often occur at end of life. Increased awareness and communication around this difficult wound type is needed, including case studies and sharing of HCPs’ experiences. This case study describes the treatment of an end-of-life patient in a hospice setting, with a challenging malignant fungating wound (MFW). This case highlights the importance of palliative symptom management and the benefits of using HidraWear in practice.

From mom-care to action: Identifying the crises in eldercare Minnesota Women's Press; by Amy Gage; 10/15/25 “I didn’t set out to write a book,” author Judy Karofsky said. ... “My mom was my inspiration.” ... DisElderly Conduct: The Flawed Business of Assisted Living and Hospice (New Village Press, 2025) ... began as a notebook of jokes and one-liners that her mom would toss off during their time together. A one-time amateur comedienne, Lillian Deutsch “was an amazing personality,” Karofsky says. DisElderly Conduct walks readers through Karofsky’s journey through six assisted living facilities and eventual hospice care before her mother’s death in 2018. Several themes emerge in the well-researched book:

How Optum’s Amedisys deal could shake up the hospice marketHospice News; by Jim Parker; 10/21/25The acquisition of the home health and hospice provider Amedisys by the insurance mammoth UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) has far-reaching implications for the hospice community. The UnitedHealth Group subsidiary Optum, in June 2023 inked its agreement to acquire Amedisys in an all-cash transaction of $101 per share, or about $3.3 billion. After leaping a series of regulatory hurdles, including a U.S. Justice Department lawsuit, the deal closed in mid-August... The merger likely makes UnitedHealth Group one of the largest hospice providers in the United States.

Traumatic brain injury in late life tied to elevated dementia risk Medscape; by Liz Scherer; 10/13/25 Traumatic brain injury (TBI) in late life is associated with a significant increase in the risk for new-onset dementia. The risk is especially elevated (by as much as 69%) within the first 5 years following the injury, according to newly published study findings. Though TBI, which results from direct impact or indirect force to the head, has long been recognized as a midlife risk factor for dementia, the risk that TBI poses in adults aged 65 years or older has been unclear.Editor's Notes: Pair this with the article we recently posted, "Why are more older people dying after falls?"

[England] Ambulance team uses advanced ultrasound to help frail patients avoid hospital trips Emergency Services Times; by James Devonshire; 10/16/25 The East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST) is using cutting-edge medical technology to help elderly and end-of-life care patients receive treatment in their own homes, reducing the need for hospital admissions. The service’s advanced practice (urgent care) team has introduced point of care ultrasound (POCUS)—a portable diagnostic tool previously reserved for critically ill patients—to assess bladder and urinary conditions safely and effectively in community settings. Using the handheld Butterfly ultrasound device, paramedics can perform scans and interpret results via software on iPads, allowing for faster and more accurate diagnoses.

You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have. ~ Maya Angelou

Religious traditions and grief in the USA: When it's less about G-d and more about the peopleJournal of Religion & Health; by Emily Scheinfeld, Cassidy Taladay-Carter, Kelly Tenzek; 9/25Many turn to religion or spirituality for personal meaning, purpose, and guidance throughout our lifetime, including in the context of death and dying. Through the qualitative analysis of 159 open-ended survey responses from adults in the USA who had experienced the death of a parent, we examined the types of religious traditions, practices, and/or rituals that participants engaged in during their bereavement. We then explored how those practices were helpful, harmful to, or revealing of emergent interfaith family dynamics throughout their grief journeys. By better articulating the communicative role of religion in death and dying, we broaden the understanding of religion and grief in these important sociocultural contexts. We discuss implications for families and religious communities alike.

End-of-life care in the austere military environmentMilitary Medicine; by Jason David, Stevan Fairburn, Hayden Fogle, Nicholas Dulin, Russell Day; 9/25Throughout the Global War on Terror (GWOT), the U.S. military built a revolutionary capacity to deliver life-saving care-even in austere environments-through rapid evacuation, far-forward providers and resources, and advances in prehospital and trauma-critical care. However, the operational reality of future Large Scale Combat Operations (LSCO), as evidenced by wars in Ukraine, Sudan, and Gaza, will be marked by high casualty rates and limited medical resources. [This review] ... explores how medical providers must shift from curative to comfort-focused care, often without formal palliative training, and how end-of-life care protocols must be integrated into doctrine, triage systems, and commander education. We offer pragmatic guidance on clinical decision-making, communication strategies with both medical and non-medical leaders, and the delivery of pain relief, emotional support, and dignity at the end of life-even in forward-deployed, under-resourced settings.

Hospice social worker and nurse perceptions of the usability of a hospice live discharge protocol (LDP)American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Medicine; by Stephanie P. Wladkowski, Susan Enguídanos, Tracy A. Schroepfer; 9/25Live discharges from hospice are often distressing for patients, caregivers, and hospice providers alike, disrupting care continuity and leading to emotional and logistical challenges. Despite Medicare’s discharge planning requirement, no standardized process currently exists for hospice-initiated discharges, resulting in variable quality of care transitions.  An explicit Live Discharge Protocol has strong potential to enhance the quality and consistency of a live discharge from hospice care. The LDP provides a framework to help smooth the transition from hospice care and provides patients and families with post-discharge support. Feedback from hospice professionals affirmed the relevance and usability of each step within the LDP, while also identifying opportunities for refinement for future implementation.

[Netherlands] Treatment satisfaction with nonoperative management of suspected hip fractures in nursing home patients with a Do-Not-Hospitalize directive: A prospective case series (NONU-HIP)Journal of Palliative Care; by Sverre A I Loggers, Romke Van Balen, Jeroen Steens, Hanna C Willems, Pamela Riezebos, Anja Wagenaar-Huisman, Michael H J Verhofstad, Esther M M Van Lieshout, Pieter Joosse; 9/25Some nursing home residents opt to forgo hospital admission in case of a suspected hip fracture due to the poor prognosis. This study assesses treatment satisfaction and quality of life in nursing home residents with a suspected hip fracture and a do-not-hospitalize directive. This study showed that nonoperative management of suspected proximal femoral fractures in nursing home patients that opted to forgo hospital admission, results in high treatment satisfaction, high quality of dying with good symptom control, and predictable short-term mortality rates.