Literature Review

Pain management education for rural hospice family caregivers: A pilot study with embedded implementation evaluationAmerican Journal of Hospice & Palliative Medicine, by Lauren T. Starr, PhD, MBE, RN; Karla T. Washington, PhD, MSW; JoAnn Jabbari, MSN, RN; Jacquelyn J. Benson, PhD, MA; Debra Parker Oliver, PhD, MSW; George Demiris, PhD, FACMI; John G. Cagle, PhD, MSW; 7/23Assessing and managing hospice patients’ pain is a common source of anxiety among hospice familycaregivers, especially caregivers in rural communities who face special challenges including distance, limited access, and concerns about opioid misuse... A multisite clinical trial of Ready2Care is warranted; however, its success may require more effective recruitment and retention strategies for rural caregiver participants.

Clinician Perception of Likelihood of Death in the Next Year Is Associated With 1-Year Mortality and Hospice Use Among Older Adults Receiving Home Health CareJournal of Palliative Medicine, by Zainab Toteh Osakwe, Evan Bollens-Lund, Yihan Wang, Christine S Ritchie, Jennifer M Reckrey, Katherine A Ornstein; 2//12/24HHC clinician perception of patients' risk of death or decline is associated with 1-year mortality. A better understanding of HHC patients at high risk for mortality can facilitate improved care planning and identification of homebound older adults who may benefit from hospice.

Patient navigator intervention to improve palliative care outcomes for Hispanic patients with serious noncancer illness: A randomized clinical trialJAMA Internal Medicine, by Stacy M Fischer, Sung-Joon Min, Danielle M Kline, Kathleen Lester, Wendolyn Gozansky, Christopher Schifeling, John Himberger, Joseph Lopez, Regina M Fink; 2/12/24In this randomized clinical trial, a culturally tailored patient navigator intervention did not improve QOL for patients. However, the intervention did increase ACP engagement, AD documentation, and hospice utilization in Hispanic persons with serious medical illness.

Saturday NewslettersResearch literature is the focus of Saturday newsletters - enjoy!

Exploring whether a diagnosis of severe frailty prompts advance care planning and end of life care conversationsNurs Older People, by Stacey Dodson; 2/21/24Findings: Frailty appeared to be complex, multifaceted and at times difficult to identify. A diagnosis of severe frailty did not necessarily prompt advance care planning and end of life care conversations. Such conversations were more likely to happen if the person had comorbidities, for example cancer. Prognostication appeared to be challenging, partly due to the gradual and uncertain trajectory in frailty and a lack of understanding, on the part of healthcare professionals, of the condition and its effects.

Woman tried to kill 88-year-old father in hospice by choking himDeerfield Beach, FL Local News 10; 2/21/23 A Deerfield Beach woman is facing three felony charges, including attempted murder, after deputies said she tried to choke her 88-year-old father to death while he was under hospice care. 

Psychological issues in palliative care: Elissa Kozlov and Des AzizoddinGeriPal podcast, by Alex Smith; 2/22/24Today we talk with two psychologists who are deeply invested in addressing psychological aspects of care for people living with serious illness. Elissa Kozlov, a geropsychologist and director of a new population aging MPH at Rutgers, surveyed AAHPM members, and found that doctors reported major shortcomings in level of comfort and knowledge caring for patients with psychological illness. She conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 38 palliative care trials, finding that many excluded people with serious illness, and a lack of impact on psychological outcomes.  Analyzing the Health and Retirement Study, she found 60% of older adults screened positive for depression in the last year of life.

Planning Ahead: Medicare, Medicaid or Hospice for at-home careThe Mercury, by Janet Colliton; 2/21/24If you are seeking at-home care assistance for a family member that is paid either in full or in part by the government, you can find that the system is complicated and, unless your loved one fits within one of the designated categories, you may be limited to paying from your family member’s asset or your own. Here are some of the differences and criteria.Editor's Note: This concise, user-friendly article by a Certified Elder Law Attorney provides simple descriptions of this all-important information. What Hospice Medicare information does your staff need to know and use? What clarity do you provide to the public / community you serve?

Other Business Headlines of Interest, updated 2/22/24 per nasdaq.com

'One more moment' singer Cat Janice, 31, shares heartbreaking health update weeks after her song to help son through diagnosis went viralThe U.S. Sun, by Olivia Salamone; 2/21/24... Janice underwent surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation and was told that she was cancer-free in July 2022. However, in June 2023, she announced that the disease had come back, this time in her lungs. ... The singer has continued to make music throughout her cancer battles. ... "Dance You Out Of My Head" ... made it to the top 10 worldwide songs on iTunes, and ... number one on TikTok Billboard Top 50. ... The musician transferred the song rights to her son, Loren "which means all the proceeds for the now-viral hit (along with the rest of her catalog) will go directly into his bank account," the outlet continued. ..."I don’t want to die. But I’ve had a really wonderful life, and I got to have this really incredible last moment, and I thank God for it." The U.S. Sun has reached out to Cat Janice for comment and her husband Kyle Higginbotham for an update.

We gave palliative care patients VR therapy. More than 50% said it helped reduce pain and depression symptomsThe Conversation; 2/22/24Our study, published this week in the journal BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care, found more than 50% of patients experienced clinically meaningful reductions in symptoms such as pain and depression immediately after a 20-minute VR session. ... Personalised VR means each person experiences content that is meaningful to that individual. So rather than asking patients to choose, for example, between a rainforest and a beach VR experience, we interviewed the patients before their sessions to gauge their interests and create a VR session tailored to them.

At life's end, the comfort of home: Rutgers study illuminates pathways to hospice careBNN, by Hadeel Hashem; 2/22/24[This] research underscores a simple yet profound truth: the utilization of home health care significantly boosts the likelihood of receiving hospice care at home during one's final days.