Literature Review

I have one life and one chance to make it count for something. ~ Former President Jimmy Carter

Big senior living stories of 2024McKnights Senior Living; by Lois A. Bowers; 12/23/24Here’s a look at some of the big stories involving senior living providers that captured the attention of McKnight’s Senior Living readers this year.

The top long-term care stories of 2024 McKnights Long-Term Care News; by James M. Berklan; 12/20/24 Workforce issues dominated the long-term care provider landscape in 2024 — but in far more ways than just coping with the finalization of the nation’s first-ever nursing home staffing mandate. As new legal and political winds may eventually push that controversial regulation off providers’ desks anyway, it was clearly apparent this year that McKnight’s Long-Term Care News readers’ interests span a wide array of personnel and workplace issues. Below are the top stories, topics and issues that our readers showed they were most intrigued about when it came to doing their jobs better, and about the sector in which they spend so much daily energy.

Children’s Hospital New Orleans dedicates new ‘Bella’s Room’ ComfortCare Suite NewOrleans.com, New Orleans, LA; by Site Staff; 12/26/24 Children’s Hospital New Orleans recently celebrated the opening of “Bella’s Room,” a ComfortCareSM suite designed to serve as a sanctuary for children in need of end-of-life care and their families. ... “With the generous support of the Bella Bowman Foundation, honoring Bella’s lasting legacy, Bella’s Room will transform the way children and families across Louisiana and the Gulf South experience serious illness and end of life care,” said Lindsey Casey, RN, senior vice president and chief nursing officer for Children’s Hospital, said in a release. “This beautiful space will help our team provide family-centered end of life care, while offering a comfortable and serene home-like setting for the entire family to be a part of the care experience.” 

As a hospice nurse, Jaffrey's Nancy Folsom helps make the journey easier The Keene Sentinel, Keene, NH; by Elijah de Castro; 12/28/24 Nancy Folsom has been working around death since she was a teenager in her family’s funeral home, where she was an embalmer apprentice. From there, she took a step back, pursuing a career as a home hospice nurse in the Monadnock Region, where she helps those who are dying confront death. “Death is never easy, at any age or any time,” Folsom said. “We want to make it as human as possible. I’ve always been comfortable with death.” ... Folsom, 62, of Jaffrey, “has never had a boring day” on the job. When she’s not out in the community working, she’s in the Peterborough office of Home Healthcare, Hospice and Community Services, a local nonprofit provider of home health services that also has offices in Keene and Charlestown. ... Over the years, Folsom has gained experience in how to best read a situation when she gets a new patient. Building trust between a hospice nurse and a patient, Folsom said, takes time, something many of her patients don’t have. Folsom resolves this dilemma by first making sure she is comfortable herself and cultivating a calm, abiding presence. ...

UnitedHealth Group waives deadlines to complete $3.3B home health acquisition The MInnesota Star Tribune; by Brooks Johnson; 12/27/24 UnitedHealth Group has filed for more time to complete a $3.3 billion deal to buy Amedisys, a home health care and hospice company, after the companies agreed to waive deadlines in the face of antitrust scrutiny. The U.S. Department of Justice and several states last month sued to block the deal, alleging the merger would give the Minnetonka-based health care conglomerate a commanding stake in many areas. “ ... UnitedHealth and Amedisis agreed to waive two deadlines to complete the deal, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission document filed Friday. One would have given 10 days after a court ruling to complete the deal; the other gave the companies until the end of 2025. UnitedHealth will now have to pay $275 million if the company backs out of the deal, a $25 million increase, and that figure could rise to $325 million.

Hospice volunteering isn't for everyone but a rewarding way to give back News Talk 830 WCCO; by Susie Jones; 12/27/24 Volunteering is big part of the holiday season for some, with people wanting to help others even in difficult times. Being a hospice volunteer isn't for everyone.  It can certainly be scary to sit with someone who is dying. "It's not just a job, it's not just a volunteer gig, and I can always, always welcome new volunteers," says Allina Health hospice program administrator Erika Schuld. However, Schuld says it can be very rewarding. "You're in these really intimate, vulnerable settings, and you just form bonds really quickly, and it really is our honor in hospice to walk along with patients and families," explains Schuld. Doctor Glen Varns is the medical director of the program and he says volunteers do not administer medication. Instead they do other things to support families. Editor's note: The CMS standard 42 CFR §418.78(e) requires hospices to use volunteers for at least 5% of patient care hours. This was waived during the COVID-19 pandemic, and then reinstated May 11, 2023 when the Public Health Emergency (PHE) officially expired. CMS's volunteer requirement is unique to hospice care. Ensure that your hospice provides appropriate selection, background checks, required TB tests, job descriptions for different volunteer roles, matching of the volunteer to the best role, training, supervision, and tracking of hours for CMS's requirement. Additionally, your hospice must adhere to applicable state laws and internal HR Policies and Procedures regarding volunteers. Click here for the CMS standard.

Beyond the bedside: How an online Master's in Healthcare Administration impacts patient care University of the Cumberlands, Florence, KY; 12/26/24 Healthcare is about more than just bedside care. Behind every smooth-running hospital or clinic is a team of administrators ensuring that patients receive high-quality treatment efficiently. Healthcare administrators bridge the gap between clinical operations and organizational management, directly influencing the patient experience. By implementing policies, optimizing resources, and supporting healthcare teams, these professionals make it possible for caregivers to focus on what they do best: treating patients. With this in mind, earning an online master’s degree in healthcare administration can equip professionals with the leadership skills and strategic insight needed to improve patient outcomes on a broader scale. ...

Accountable Health Communities (AHC) Model: Third evaluation report (2018-2023)CMS press release; 12/27/24The Accountable Health Communities (AHC) Model tested whether connecting beneficiaries to community resources for their health-related social needs (HRSNs) improved health care utilization outcomes and reduced costs. [The five core HRNS's include housing instability, food insecurity, transportation problems, utility difficulties, and interpersonal violence.] Collectively, these findings provide evidence that navigation can transform the delivery of care in ways that address major HRSN barriers to health and promote health equity for underserved populations.

Jimmy Carter, the 39th US president, has died at 100 Associated Press (AP), Atlanta, GA; by Bill Barrow; 12/29/24 Jimmy Carter, the peanut farmer who won the presidency in the wake of the Watergate scandal and Vietnam War, endured humbling defeat after one tumultuous term and then redefined life after the White House as a global humanitarian, has died. He was 100 years old. The longest-lived American president died on Sunday, more than a year after entering hospice care, at his home in the small town of Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife, Rosalynn, who died at 96 in November 2023, spent most of their lives, The Carter Center said. “Our founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia,” the center said in posting about his death on the social media platform X. It added in a statement that he died peacefully, surrounded by his family. ...

Flu season is here. Here’s what you can do about it. USA Today; by Eduardo Cuevas; 12/26/24 Holidays are upon us — and so is the flu. More Americans are getting infected with seasonal influenza and seeking care, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. “It is clearly the season,” Dr. Eduardo Azziz-Baumgartner, a medical epidemiologist in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Influenza Division, told USA TODAY. One important step, if people haven’t done so, is to get vaccinated, he said. Full protection takes a couple weeks to kick in, but it has benefits in preventing serious illness. “The flu season still has weeks to go, so they will still get protection from the flu shot if they get it soon,” he said. Last year, the flu led to 470,000 hospitalizations and 28,000 deaths.

Statement on the passing of former President Jimmy Carter National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI), Washington, DC; by Matt Wilkinson; 12/29/24 With profound sadness, Tom Koutsoumpas, CEO of the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI), the leading advocate for not-for-profit advanced illness, hospice, and palliative care providers, today released the following statement on the passing of former President Jimmy Carter: “With heavy hearts, NPHI joins the nation in mourning the passing of former President Jimmy Carter — an incredible statesman and humanitarian. His long and impactful life, spanning almost a century, is reflective of a steadfast dedication to service. As a Nobel Peace Prize recipient, he will be remembered for his persistent efforts in seeking peaceful solutions to conflicts, advancing democracy and human rights, and promoting economic and social development. When President Carter chose to receive hospice care in his hometown of Plains, Georgia, he and his family made the decision that countless others do — to receive care in the comfort and solace of their homes, surrounded by the love and support of family. President Carter’s nearly two-year journey in hospice care highlights its profound value, challenging the misconception that hospice is solely for the final days of life. His experience illustrates how hospice can provide comfort, dignity, and compassion for those navigating life’s final chapter. Our heartfelt condolences are extended to the entire Carter family and to those who drew inspiration from his life’s extraordinary work.” 

EverHeart Hospice expands and offers growth in the community Mercer County Outlook, Mercer County, OH; 12/19/24 EverHeart Hospice is thrilled to announce the opening of its newly expanded Inpatient Care Center. This significant milestone marks a new chapter in their commitment to providing compassionate care to patients and families experiencing life-limiting illnesses. The grand opening event, held in their new space on the 3rd floor of Wayne HealthCare, was a resounding success, bringing together community members, healthcare professionals, and local dignitaries. Attendees had the opportunity to tour the new space, which featured enhanced patient rooms, advanced medical equipment, and comfortable family areas designed to create a serene and supportive environment.