Literature Review

The identity dilemma: Navigating rebranding decisions in home health M&A Home Health Care News, by Patrick Filbin; 3/14/24 ... While some companies swiftly integrate acquired businesses into their brand and splash their logo, marketing materials and likeness on the newly acquired assets, others opt to maintain the selling company’s identity. In home-based care, the decision to “rebrand or retain” takes into account a number of factors, sources told Home Health Care News. They include operational efficiency, patient/client retention, market positioning and more.

Breast cancer palliative care and metastatic disease: Looking beyond end of life MedPage Today, by Shalmali Pal; 3/15/24 ... It is important to inform patients that they can receive palliative care at any timeopens in a new tab or window during their treatment, from the time of diagnosis to end of life. ... At some juncture, the options for metastatic breast cancer treatment become limited. Progression can be classified into four general types: 

Most Americans would rather feel 25% healthier than live 25% longer. Here’s how to lengthen your health span Fortune Well, by Alexa Mikhail; 3/15/24 Across all generations, more Americans would choose to feel 25% healthier than live 25% longer. Broken down, 60% of Gen Z and millennials say they would choose to feel healthier rather than live longer as compared to 67% of Gen X and 70% of Boomers, according to a consumer trends report from The New Consumer in partnership with Coefficient Capital. Only 15% of Boomers, 22% of Gen X, and about a third of Gen Z and millennials say they would rather live 25% longer.

Today's Encouragement: You think winter will never end, and then, when you don’t expect it, when you have almost forgotten it, warmth comes and a different light.” ― Wendell Berry

When Medicaid comes after the family home The New York Times, by Paula Span; 3/16/24Federal law requires states to seek reimbursement from the assets, usally home, of people who died after receiving benefits for long-term care. ... The letter came from the state department of human services ... It expressed condolences for the loss of the recipient's mother, who had died a few weeks earlier at 88. ... Medicaid estate recovery means surviving family members may have to sell the home of a loved one to repay Medicaid, or the state may seize the property. Editor's Note: Please share this article with your hospice bereavement counselors. (Access might be limited, per NYT subscriptions.)

Hines VA introduces new monitoring system for hospice and nursing home Veterans VA Press Release; 3/15/24 Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital has begun integrating a new patient monitoring system to improve Veteran health and assist medical staff. The AvaSure© Continuous Video Monitoring System places portable cameras in patients’ rooms who may need closer monitoring. Staff can observe up to 15 patients simultaneously through a virtual interface to monitor for issues such as a patient out of bed or patient-caused medical device interference. ... The monitoring system will be used in Hines VA’s Community Living Center (CLC), which includes short- and long-term nursing home care and hospice. 

Colorado Senate passes bill to shorten ‘Medical-Aid-in-Dying’ waiting period Colorado Newsline, by Sara Wilson; 3/8/24 The Colorado Senate approved a bill Friday that would alter the state’s medical aid-in-dying law by shortening the required waiting period and allowing more medical professionals to prescribe the medication. ... Senate Bill 24-68 would tweak the law by shortening the waiting period between a patient’s first and second request for the medication from 15 to seven days. ... Statistics from Denver Health’s medical aid-in-dying program show that about 1 in 4 patients died from their illness during the current 15-day waiting period... The bill would also allow advanced practice registered nurses to prescribe the medication... The bill was amended in committee to reinstate a Colorado residency requirement.

'It's been really inspiring': Grace House continues end-of-life care despite challenges Akron Beacon Journal, by Kelsie Horner; 3/13/24Through a flood and financial challenges, an Akron nonprofit has continued to provide end-of-life care and companionship for people who might otherwise die alone. Since opening its doors 1½ years ago, Grace House has cared for 66 residents during their final days. ... Grace House is one of only three organizations in the nation to provide free, “non-barrier” end-of-life care for people who are unhoused or alone.

Johns Hopkins study reveals medical marijuana lowers pain, hospital visits BNN, by Wojciech Zylm; 3/5/24Recent research highlights significant improvements in well-being for cannabis users, offering hope for those with chronic illnesses. The study showcases a potential shift in the perception and utilization of medical cannabis in healthcare.

Why home care leaders are now banking on ‘Caregiver-First’ culturesHome Health Care News, by Patrick Filbin; 3/4/24 Over the last several years, a notable trend is emerging in home care: Top-tier companies are shifting their focus from prioritizing customers to prioritizing caregivers. This strategic move reflects a growing recognition of the critical role caregivers play, and aims to address persistent caregiver shortages.

CMS hears you, hospice providersMcKnights Home Care, by Liza Berger; 3/8/24 Rarely does the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services succeed in shocking us. The large bureaucracy, which is not exactly known for its nimbleness, managed to do so this week when it abruptly cancelled the hospice component of the Value-Based Insurance Design Model. ... For those who wonder whether advocacy works, I’d chalk this up to a win for providers — and a clear example of advocacy in action. 

Rising suicide risk among seniors due to loneliness, mobility, financial insecurity, study finds McKnights Home Care, by Adam Healy; 3/5/24As the number of adults over 65 continues to grow, suicide rates among older adults have also been rising, according to data from the National Center for Health Statistics. Between 2008 and 2017, the share of suicide-related emergency department visits among adults 65 years and older more than doubled. These older adults face age-related stressors that can negatively affect mental health, such as declining physical health, reduced mental sharpness, or the loss of friends or loved ones, which can heighten the risk of suicide. 

Correcting health disparities at end-of-life in persons of colorJournal for Nurse Practitioners, by Leah D. Ward, Anthony Young; 4/24Forty years after the creation of the Medicare hospice benefit, low use of hospice and palliative care services in persons of color increases suffering and aggressive care at the end of life related to social determinants of death... This article provides tools for nurse practitioners and other health care personnel in spiritual, cultural, and goals-of-care assessments, quality improvement, and an explanation of the benefits of faith-based programs and partnerships