Literature Review

Governor proclaims Home Care, Hospice, Palliative Care Month 2024Governor.nc.gov - an official website of the State of North Carolina; by Governor Roy Cooper; 11/1/24A PROCLAMATIONWHEREAS, the State of North Carolina recognizes the importance and value of home care, home health, hospice, and palliative care in enhancing the well-being and quality of life for individuals and their families; andWHEREAS, home care, home health, hospice, and palliative care providers offer essential services and support to individuals of all ages, ensuring their ability to receive necessary care in the comfort and familiarity of their own homes; andWHEREAS, being able to receive care and support in the comfort of one's own home allows individuals to maintain a sense of dignity, independence, and quality of life; andWHEREAS, the dedicated professionals of the home care, home health, hospice, and palliative care industry work tirelessly to improve the lives of North Carolina residents, providing compassionate care, emotional support, and necessary medical assistance; and ...WHEREAS, North Carolina's home care, home health, hospice, and palliative care providers play a crucial role in promoting patient independence, reducing hospital readmissions, and minimizing the burden on our healthcare system; NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim November, 2024, as “HOME CARE, HOSPICE, PALLIATIVE CARE MONTH” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens. [Click here to read the full proclamation.]

Blue Ridge Care expands bereavement care with new Center for Hope & Healing Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 11/1/24 Blue Ridge Care has unveiled its new Center for Hope & Healing, a facility dedicated to offering comprehensive grief care. The Virginia-based nonprofit hospice, palliative care and PACE provider financed the center through philanthropic donations. The facility is located in the same building as Blue Ridge’s PACE program, according to CEO Jason Parsons. At the center, Blue Ridge bereavement care staff will offer specialized programs, workshops, support groups and individual counseling. “The center is a central organizing unit of our mission fulfillment in the areas of grief, family support and loss in a place people can come to that’s welcoming, inviting and centered around hope and healing,” Parsons told Hospice News. ... The center was built to create a relaxing atmosphere to help put visitors at ease, according to Parsons, with a sky blue color palette and several murals depicting natural scenes. In one display, a collection of rocks symbolizes the weight of grief. Visitors can write a message on the rocks to “leave that weight behind,” Parsons said. They can also paint their loved ones’ names on a mural of a branching tree in the lobby area. 

Tidewater Rotary cleans, revitalizes outdoor spaces at Talbot Hospice The Star, Easton, MD; 11/1/24 Members of the Tidewater Rotary Club, along with their families and friends, recently gathered to revitalize the backyard patio and garden areas at Talbot Hospice. Over two Saturdays, volunteers transformed the space, giving it a fresh, renewed look. The project supported Talbot Hospice by enhancing outdoor spaces where residents and families can find peace and comfort. Efforts included removing poison ivy and brush, power washing structures, and repainting the pergola and wood fence. Patios connected to patient rooms, leading to the gardens, received newly built benches, minor repairs and a fresh coat of paint. Window trims were repainted, and outdoor furniture was power washed.  

Fear of falling: Do you have an emergency plan? Harvard Health Letter - Tribune Content Agency; by Heidi Godman; 11/1/24 You’re doing everything you can to avoid a fall, but sometimes tumbles occur despite best efforts: one in four U.S. adults ages 65 and older report falling in any given year. As common as these accidents are, most of us never consider what to do in the event of a fall. How would you get help? Should you contact your doctor or go to a hospital? What would happen after that? If you haven’t already, it’s time to come up with a basic emergency plan, while you’re healthy and can think calmly and clearly.

National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation celebrates National Hospice and Palliative Care Month National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI); 10/31/24 In honor of National Hospice and Palliative Care Month, NPHI also shines a spotlight on the true Care Heroes—the dedicated professionals and volunteers who provide compassionate care to those facing terminal or serious illnesses. Their dedication to ensuring comfort, dignity, and quality of life is the foundation of hospice and palliative care. These Care Heroes make a profound impact on the lives of patients and their families, offering essential support during some of life’s most challenging moments. “We celebrate and recognize the invaluable contributions of these Care Heroes—the extraordinary individuals who are delivering exceptional quality care each and every day,” stated Tom Koutsoumpas, CEO. “We invite everyone to join us in sharing their positive experiences of working, volunteering, or caring for those at the end of life.” “This November is a time to recognize the essential role of hospice and palliative care providers in our communities,” stated Carole Fisher, president. “We invite everyone to join us in spreading the word about the impact of these services and in celebrating the dedicated professionals who provide this critical care. To participate in National Hospice and Palliative Care Month, NPHI encourages everyone to join the conversation online using the hashtags #CareHeroes, #HAPCM, #HospiceCare, and #PalliativeCare. You can also explore our Public Outreach Toolkit for more guidance.

PositivelyJAX Award - The purple bench of compassionate St. AugustineNews4JAX; by Melanie Lawson; 11/1/24 This month’s PositivelyJAX Award goes to something unique: a bench. But it’s no ordinary bench—it’s The Purple Bench, powered by people and conversation. The concept was brought to life by a group called Compassionate St. Augustine, sparking empathy and understanding in anyone willing to sit down and listen. This purple bench, located just outside the gates of the Lincolnville Community Garden in St. Augustine, often sits empty, waiting for someone to take a seat and begin a conversation.  When I approached, Eileen Reid was happy to join me. In just a short 10-minute conversation, I got to know her—a retired hospice nurse ... “I’ve been around a lot of endings, and endings are beginnings, but now, now I’m beginning a whole different phase of my life, and it’s interesting. ...”Editor's note: Click on the title's link for the community news article. Click here for a photo and description of this Purple Bench Initiative: "The Purple Bench initiative was formed to challenge the community to engage in compassionate practices despite different backgrounds, religions, ethnicities, and views. In a world divided by polarizing opinions, it is increasingly important to find common ground to help those in need."

Amedisys is now oversold (AMED) Nasdaq; by BNK Invest; 10/31/24 Legendary investor Warren Buffett advises to be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful. One way we can try to measure the level of fear in a given stock is through a technical analysis indicator called the Relative Strength Index, or RSI, which measures momentum on a scale of zero to 100. A stock is considered to be oversold if the RSI reading falls below 30. In trading on Thursday [10/31], shares of Amedisys, Inc. (Symbol: AMED) entered into oversold territory, hitting an RSI reading of 29.4, after changing hands as low as $94.76 per share. By comparison, the current RSI reading of the S&P 500 ETF (SPY) is 44.0. ...

How end-of-life dreams and visions are bringing comfort to dying patients: A conversation with Christopher W. Kerr, MD, PhD The ASCO Post (American Society of Clinical Oncology); by Jo Cavallo; 11/1/24 Just weeks or even days or hours away from death, the majority of conscious terminally ill patients often experience growth and meaning in their lives and the absence of fear through end-of-life dreams and visions, according to research by Christopher W. Kerr, MD, PhD. Dr. Kerr is Chief Executive Officer and Chief Medical Officer of Hospice and Palliative Care Buffalo, New York, and coauthor of Death Is But a Dream: Finding Hope and Meaning at Life’s End (Avery, 2020). ... In this interview with The ASCO Post, Dr. Kerr discussed how end-of-life dreams and visions bring comfort to dying patients, the difference between these experiences and hallucinations, and the importance of ensuring that patients understand the reality of their prognosis when cure is no longer attainable.

Anvoi Hospice welcomes Senate proclamation honoring National Hospice Month AN17 Local News, Loranger, LA; Press Release; 11/2/24 On Friday, November 1, Louisiana State Senator Bill Wheat officially recognized November as National Hospice Care Month with a Senate proclamation presented to Anvoi Hospice. 2024 marks the 42nd anniversary of the first Proclamation recognizing November as National Hospice Month. In 1982, President Ronald Reagan signed into law the Medicare Hospice benefit which ensured that millions of seriously ill Americans could die with dignity while receiving care in their own homes. That same year, the president also declared a National Hospice Care Week, which we now celebrate as National Hospice Care Month. “For more than 40 years, hospice has helped provide comfort and dignity to millions of people, ... We were so pleased to collaborate closely with Senator Wheat’s office on this proclamation, and we thank the Louisiana Senate for recognizing the importance of hospice and palliative care,” said Anvoi CEO, Angelique Richardson.Editor's note: Thank you, Anvoi Hospice for your public advocay. Additionally, we recognize the important leadership and state-wide presence of the Louisiana-Mississippi Hospice & Palliative Care Organization (LMHPCO). 

Mortality and function after widowhood among older adults with dementia, cancer, or organ failureJAMA Network Open; Rebecca Rodin, MD, MSc; Alexander K. Smith, MD, MS, MPH; Edie Espejo, MPH; Siqi Gan, MPH; W. John Boscardin, PhD; Lauren J. Hunt, PhD, RN; Katherine A. Ornstein, PhD, MPH; R. Sean Morrison, MD; 9/24In this cohort study including 13,824 participants in the Health and Retirement Study, widowhood was associated with functional decline and increased 1-year mortality in functionally impaired older adults with dementia and cancer. The study findings suggest that older adults with functional impairment and cancer or dementia are at risk of adverse outcomes following widowhood, including functional decline and a marked elevation in the risk of death, in the year after widowhood.

Patient, staff satisfaction biggest ROIs of trauma-informed hospice care Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 10/23/24 Improved patient and staff satisfaction are among the most significant returns on investment for hospices that are pouring greater resources into trauma-informed training. The ability to build a trusting relationship with patients and their families is a key skill set for any hospice professional to possess, but one that takes on a profoundly different meaning when caring for survivors of abuse, violence and trauma. This is according to Amber Ash, pediatric hospice and palliative care social worker at Ohio-based Hospice of the Western Reserve. Trauma-informed education should be a normalized part of hospice’s interdisciplinary training to help staff recognize and respond to a range of experiences, Ash indicated. This type of training can help provide opportunities for improved goal-concordant care while also aligning with staff’s professional goals and personal values, she stated. 

Family caregiver experience at heart of new project McKnights Home Care; by Foster Stubbs; 10/27/24 In healthcare, the needs of the patient are paramount. But for every patient there is at least one caregiver with needs of their own. Former first lady of the United States Rosalynn Carter understood this and established The Rosalynn Carter Insitute for Caregivers (RCI) to serve this underserved population. ... More than 40 years later, RCI continues Carter’s mission through its newest caregiver support resource. Using over two decades of research on caregiving combined with feedback from actual caregivers, RCI composed a series of 10 different Caregiver Profiles that reflect the unique and diverse experiences of family caregivers. These profiles revolve around the following:

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.