Literature Review

For people with dementia and their caretakers, Phoenix-area groups ease challengesazcentral / Arizona Repblic, by Alexis Waiss; 1/28/24Several Season for Sharing nonprofits provide support for people experiencing memory loss and respite for caregivers, including:

Despite need, adequate dementia care severely lacking among adult day service providersMcKnights Home Care, by Adam Healy; 1/29/24... More than a quarter of adult day service patients have been diagnosed with dementia, including Alzheimer’s, according to a recent National Health Statistics Report by the HHS and CDC. ... Roughly 23% of adult day service center (ADSC) patients with dementia are enrolled in a center that lacks the capabilities to adequately care for their condition.

Petoskey hospice center to close with transition to community-based care Interlochen Public Radio, by Ed Ronco; 1/26/24A hospice center in Petoskey will shut down, despite earlier statements by officials that there were no plans to do so. McLaren Health Management Group said Friday that it “will no longer continue operations” at the seven-bed Hiland Cottage, effective March 1. McLaren Hospice says it’s transitioning its care to community-based services. A statement from McLaren says patients and staff at Hiland Cottage will be moved to other facilities “in coordination with patient family, caregivers, and providers.”

Most US adults fail to recognize heart disease as leading killer of Americans, study findHCP Live, by Patrick Campbell; 1/24/24The American Heart Association's annual report on heart disease and stroke statistics for 2024 sheds new light on the impact and level of public education surrounding the impact of heart disease and stroke in the US and abroad.

'What my terminal cancer diagnosis taught me about life' BBC News, by Nicola Bryan; 1/27/24Forget striving for a bigger home and a better car. Slow down, be grateful for what you have and take time with the people you love. This is the advice from Megan McClay, 30, who is living with terminal cancer. ...  Megan's story is one of several being told at 'What matters most?', an exhibition at Senedd Oriel at the Senedd, or Welsh Parliament in Cardiff Bay [Wales]. Through photographs and short films the exhibition shares the perspectives of people with terminal illnesses, their families and those who work in palliative care.Editor's Note: Click here for this exhibition's "What matters most?" website, film, and many video storie.s

Use of complementary health approaches overall and for pain management by US adultsJAMA, by Richard L. Nahin, MPH, PhD; Amber Rhee, MHS; Barbara Stussman, BA; 1/25/24Millions of US adults use complementary health approaches (CHAs) each year; ... Previously, the safety and efficacy of many of these approaches lacked rigorous clinical trials. Over the past 2 decades, increasing evidence has supported the safety and efficacy of selected approaches for pain management. We examined trends in CHA use among US adults at 3 time points: 2002, 2012, and 2022.

Steward Texas medical center closing campusBecker's Hospital CFO Report, by Madeline Ashley; 1/25/24Port Arthur-based the Medical Center of Southeast Texas, part of Dallas-based Steward Health Care, is closing its Beaumont campus, including its emergency department and all hospital-related services, effective Feb. 2.

Changing payment dynamics are forcing home-based care providers to level up in value-based careHome Health Care News, by Patrick Filbin; 1/24/24When home-based care professionals were tasked with providing the “greatest challenge” facing them in the new year, 58% responded staffing. After that, 31% said changing payment dynamics, while 7% and 4% said consolidation or non-payment regulatory changes, respectively. Those findings come from a recent survey conducted by Home Health Care News and Homecare Homebase.

Minnesota lawmakers kick off debate on joining other states that permit physician-assisted suicideThe Associated Press, by Steve Karnowski; 1/25/24The Minnesota Legislature kicked off debate Thursday on whether the state should join the list of those that allow physician-assisted suicide.

New blood test that screens for Alzheimer’s may be a step closer to reality, study suggestsCNN, by Jacqueline Howard; 1/22/24Testing a person’s blood for a type of protein called phosphorylated tau, or p-tau, could be used to screen for Alzheimer’s disease with “high accuracy,” even before symptoms begin to show, a new study suggests.

Haven Hospice receives $25k for dementia careThe Ponte Vedra Recorder, by Anthony Richards; 1/25/24Haven Hospice recently received a $25,000 grant from the Thomas A. Plein Foundation that will go toward supporting its dementia care program. The program is all about promoting education of dementia and what it entails for members of the Haven staff, patient caregivers and community partners. ... The grant will help in the creation of memory cafes and caregiver support groups, as well as helping fund additional tools designed to help dementia patients.

Series of 19 online videos address paliative care issuesPress-Republican, by Robin Caudell; 1/26/24Project Compassion began with conversations over coffee after Mass between a doctor and a retired priest. Seventy-one percent of U.S. adults have never heard of palliative care. More than 12 million adults are living with a serious illness now and that number is growing exponentially, according to a press release. To help address this need, Project Compassion was developed by Father Charles Vavonese and Dr. Paul Fiacco thanks to a $500,000 grant from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation.

CMS looks to tackle Medicare Advantage's 'black box'Becker's Payer Issues, by Rylee Wilson; 1/26/24CMS is seeking input on improving transparency in the Medicare Advantage program. The agency issued a request for information Jan. 25, seeking public feedback on how data collection and transparency in the program can be improved. In a news release, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said increased transparency is key to increasing competitiveness in the program and ensuring Medicare dollars are spent correctly.