Literature Review

Meet the death doulas who bring comfort to people at the end of their lives Fortune Well; by Liz Seegert; 5/7/24... “The essence of doula care is to provide non-judgmental support and guidance to individuals and families through times of critical, transformative life change,” according to the National End of Life Doula Alliance (NEDA), a member-based nonprofit that offers trainings and directories. Their role complements that of other services, such as hospice or palliative care, with physical, emotional, spiritual, and practical support. That can include holding someone’s hand or listening as a patient reminisces, or simply being a calming presence during the dying process. On the practical side, a doula might help the patient draft advance directives or family members with tasks like care coordination, vigil planning, respite care, and bereavement support. 

Financial strain on nursing homes sparks buying binge Modern Healthcare; by Diane Eastabrook; 5/8/24Skilled nursing facility deals increased more than 80% in the first quarter of 2024 compared with the same period in 2023. There were 57 nursing home acquisitions valued at nearly $1.4 billion in the first quarter of this year compared with 31 deals valued at $448 million during the same period last year, according to Levin Associates, which tracks healthcare mergers and acquisitions. ... Last year was the worst year for healthcare bankruptcies in five years, according to restructuring and consulting firm Gibbins Advisors. Senior living and pharmaceuticals accounted for half of the 79 Chapter 11 filings in healthcare in 2023, the company said. It predicted continued distress for the senior care industry this year in a January research report.

New dementia guide provides best Standards of Care from 100+ not-for-profit hospice, palliative and advanced illness organizations PR Newswire; by National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI); 5/9/24 The National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI), the national voice for not-for-profit hospice care, in collaboration with Aliviado Health and the Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC), announces today the release of the NPHI "Dementia Care Resources Provider Guide." The new guide aims to improve the quality of life for patients with dementia, reducing hospitalizations, and easing the burden of advanced illness for families and caregivers. A dementia diagnosis poses substantial challenges for both patients and their families, impacting millions of Americans nationwide. Shockingly, the Alzheimer's Association reports that an estimated 6.7 million individuals in the U.S. currently live with dementia. 

Paris in spring, Bali in winter. How ‘bucket lists’ help cancer patients handle life and death The Conversation; by Vivan Lam; 5/8/24 In the 2007 film The Bucket List Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman play two main characters who respond to their terminal cancer diagnoses by rejecting experimental treatment. Instead, they go on a range of energetic, overseas escapades. Since then, the term “bucket list” – a list of experiences or achievements to complete before you “kick the bucket” or die – has become common. ... But there is a more serious side to the idea behind bucket lists. One of the key forms of suffering at the end of life is regret for things left unsaid or undone. So bucket lists can serve as a form of insurance against this potential regret. The bucket-list search for adventure, memories and meaning takes on a life of its own with a diagnosis of life-limiting illness. Editor's Note: Health acuity (especially for hospice patients), finances, and other practical factors can prevent acutalization of the person's bucket list wishes. Yes, fulfilling items can happen! And when not possible (perhaps the most common response), the clinician's sensitive presence, validation of the person's hope, and gentle exploration of why it matters can bring relevant, meaningful support. Involving family members (with the patient's permission) can inspire other generations to fulfill the person's wish, bringing new purpose to mourning and grief-restoration processes ahead.

Action is key to continue to break down barriers for equitable cancer care OncLive; by Ryan Scott; 5/8/24 Experts from the University of Wisconsin (UW) School of Medicine and Public Health, including Catherine Zhang, MD, MPH, ... Monica Patel, MD, ... Janelle N. Sobecki, MD, ... and Loyda Braithwaite, NP ... participated in an interview with OncLive® on disparities in cancer care. In [this] interview, these experts addressed significant barriers to equitable cancer treatment and highlighted challenges for rural communities to access specialized oncologic care. Furthermore, they emphasized financial limitations affecting treatment access, specifically for marginalized groups, and the need to push for health policy changes.  ... 

SXSW 2024: ‘Flipping the Script on End of Life’The Michigan Daily; by Olivai Tarling; 5/7/24 If you asked me to describe a Hollywood death scene, I’m pretty sure I could do it perfectly. ... This panel discussed the taboo topic of death and the dangers of its inaccurate portrayals on screen. Panel members included Zoanne Clack (“Grey’s Anatomy”), doctor-turned executive-producer, screenwriter Scott Z. Burns (“Contagion”) and Julie McFadden, hospice nurse and social media personality, as they discussed the taboo topic of death and the dangers of its inaccurate portrayals on screen.

“I wonder if my first breath was as soul-stirring to my mother as her last breath was to me.” -  Lisa Goich-Andreadis, 14 Days: A Mother, A Daughter, A Two-Week GoodbyeEditor's Note: Remembering my mom, Jane.

Ascension health care network disrupted by cyberattack, interrupting clinical operations CBS Chicago News; by Adam Harrington and Matthew Cramer; 5/9/24 The Ascension health care network announced Wednesday that its clinical operations have been disrupted by a cyberattack. In a news release, Ascension said it responded immediately, and access to some systems has been interrupted with remediation efforts in progress. "Our care teams are trained for these kinds of disruptions and have initiated procedures to ensure patient care delivery continues to be safe and as minimally impacted as possible," Ascension said in a news release. "There has been a disruption to clinical operations, and we continue to assess the impact and duration of the disruption."

Addus HomeCare expects 2024 acquisitions Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 5/7/24Addus HomeCare Corp. is poised for further acquisitions, potentially including some hospice deals. The company is seeking to pair its clinical services with its personal business in its existing markets. This is a cornerstone of its acquisition strategy. But Addus Chairman and CEO Dirk Allison does not rule out the possibility of moving into new markets if circumstances are right. ... When examining new markets, Addus focuses on regions where they can quickly become the largest or second-largest provider by market share, according to CFO Brian Poff. ... Addus’ roughly 33,000 employees provide hospice, home health and private duty nursing services across more than 200 locations in 22 states.

The Check-Up: How seniors can better take care of their mental health The Keene Sentinel; by Olivia Belanger Sentinel Staff; 5/8/24 My generation talks about mental health a lot. In our late 20s, my friends and I routinely check in to see how we’re feeling, reschedule plans because we’re in a mental funk or talk about how we can help support each other when we’re not feeling mentally healthy. ... But I know that for older generations, this can be hard to come by. ... [Older] adults are more likely to experience life changes — like coping with a serious illness or losing a loved one — which can lead to feelings of grief, social isolation or loneliness, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Loneliness in particular is one of the biggest threats to seniors, especially those who live in rural areas like the Monadnock Region where reliable transportation is limited. Research shows loneliness is as bad for people’s health as smoking 15 cigarettes per day, according to the U.S. Surgeon General. Signs that you may need to help your mental health, NIMH says, include: ... 

Honoring National Nurses Week: 11 hospital executives' thank-you notes to nurses Becker's Clinical Leadership; by Mariah Taylor and Kelly Gooch; 5/6/24 The American Nurses Association's theme of National Nurses Week, "Nurses Make the Difference," highlights nursing excellence and how nurses embody the spirit of compassion and care in every healthcare setting. ... [Click on the title's link for] Becker's collected messages of appreciation from hospital and health system leaders across the U.S. ...

Hospice Certifying Physician Medicare Enrollment InformationPalmetto GBA email; 5/6/24Pursuant to our authority under section 6405 of the Affordable Care Act, and as part of CMS' larger strategy to address hospice program integrity and quality of care, certifying physicians, including hospice physicians and hospice attending physicians, must be enrolled in or opted-out of Medicare for the hospice service to be paid. Effective June 3, 2024, (delayed from May 1, 2024) CMS will begin implementing edits to enforce this new rule and will deny hospice claims if the physician entered in the Attending field on the claim is not in the Provider Enrollment Chain and Ownership System (PECOS) as an enrolled or opted-out physician.