Literature Review

Improv for Caregivers receives a grant from the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts EINPressWire; by A. A. Cristi; 9/23/24 The New London Barn Playhouse received an arts in health grant from the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts to continue and expand their Improv for Caregivers program through a larger umbrella program titled “Improv for a Cause.” “Improv for a Cause” will encompass two communication programs that use a similar process to reach different communities. The first, Improv for Caregivers, in partnership with Lake Sunapee Region VNA & Hospice, is an ongoing communication workshop series for those who care for loved ones with dementia and Alzheimer's. ... Each improv workshop session combines insight from healthcare professionals with improvisational theatre techniques, with a goal of developing new communication skills, strategies to cope with stress, flexibility in relationships, and an understanding of loved ones' changing perspectives. With guidance from the VNA and caregivers in the community, the team of actors prepare short scenarios that portray situations caregivers commonly face, such as sundowning, taking away car keys, collaborating with care staff, and hallucinations. ...

CMS: Kidney Care Choices Model boosted home-based dialysis, but more data needed Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 9/23/24 The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation’s (CMMI) Kidney Care Choices (KCC) Model demonstration has increased utilization of dialysis in the home and has fostered greater clinician training in addressing related conditions. However, more time and data are needed to evaluate the reimbursement model’s impact on quality and cost, according to the first annual model evaluation report from the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The report includes the agency’s analysis of KCC model results during the first performance year since its launch on Jan. 1, 2022. Having this reimbursement path available could ease pressures for palliative care patients making decisions about their serious illness care options.

Why hospital-at-home, other providers are pressing worker safety Modern Healthcare; by Diane Eastabrook; 9/24/24 At-home care providers are testing strategies to better protect workers who are raising the alarm on workplace safety. A new survey of more than 400 home healthcare workers found more than half said they experienced or witnessed at least one act of violence or harassment in the workplace, according to Transcend Strategy Group, which conducted the poll on behalf of home care providers. The report, which echoes similar findings from a National Nurses United survey, comes as hospital-at-home programs expand and more care moves to where patients live. ... Home-based care providers are trying to address the issue because concerns about personal safety could make it harder to recruit and retain workers in a competitive job market. The concerns are also coming up in contract negotiations between unions and providers.

Twenty years of yachts and care The Montecito Journal; by Sigrid Toye; 9/24/24 ... The Santa Barbara Yacht Club (SBYC) members once again gathered to host their annual Charity Regatta benefiting VNA Health and its mission of caring with compassion. Although always a huge event in the Santa Barbara community, this year’s Charity Regatta marks its 20th anniversary! For two decades this annual benefit has raised over $2.5 million in support of VNA Health and its services for our families, friends and neighbors. Dependent on the generosity of our community, VNA Health is an organization that provides a safe harbor for those in need regardless of resources or insurance. ... VNA is the only medically-certified nonprofit provider of home-health care, palliative care, and hospice care in Santa Barbara. The organization also owns and operates Serenity House, the largest nonprofit inpatient hospice facility in California known as a place to transition at the end of life with dignity and comfort. Editor's note: A photo shows that this event raised $220,387.

Family caregivers need greater support from Medicare, advocates say McKnights Home Care; by Adam Healy; 9/20/24 Though federal agencies have made substantial progress on initiatives supporting family caregivers, more can be done to assist people providing unpaid care for older loved ones, according to the National Alliance for Caregiving. “While we’ve made strides, the urgent needs of family caregivers demand more ambitious action,” Jason Resendez, president and chief executive officer of NAC, said Thursday in a statement. “The time for bold action is now.” NAC specifically urged Congress to boost federal funding for national and state-level grants that support family caregivers, and recommended policies that help caregivers access paid family and medical leave, tax credits and Medicare- and Medicaid-sponsored support programs.

The evolving landscape of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A fatal disease!  Delveinsight; 9/24/24 Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease characterized by the progressive degeneration of motor neurons, leading to muscle weakness, paralysis, and ultimately, death. ... Despite ALS being relatively rare, affecting 2-5 per 100,000 people worldwide, the question Is ALS on the rise? is gaining attention. While global prevalence has not significantly increased, improved diagnostic techniques, earlier detection, and greater awareness have led to a more accurate identification of ALS cases. Many researchers believe that enhanced surveillance and better tools for genetic testing are uncovering more cases than previously recognized, rather than a true rise in the disease’s incidence. However, with an aging global population, the burden of ALS may grow, as age is a major risk factor. Editor's note: Do you provide disease-specific training for your staff? ALS patients' and families' needs are unique. A significant disease comparison is between ALZ (Alzheimer's) and ALS. With ALZ (Alzheimer's), the brain decreases its abilities to function while the body can remain strong; the person is mobile with cognitive limitations. In contrast, with ALS, the body decreases its abilities to function while the brain/mind/emotions can remain strong. The person is immobile with cognitive awareness, but extreme physical limitations in communicating one's thoughts, emotions, and needs. ALS-specific communication tools provide crucial help for all. For more information in your location, visit The ALS Association's USA map.

10 fastest growing C-suite roles Becker's Hospital Review - Leadership & Management; by Kristin Kuchno; 9/23/24 Organizations in the U.S. are expanding their C-suite with technology- and human-focused executive roles. LinkedIn analyzed the fastest growing C-suite roles from 2022 to 2023 using member profile information, ... Here are the top 10 fastest growing roles LinkedIn found [from #1 highest to #10]: 1. Chief data officer; 2. Chief legal officer; 3. Chief human resources officer; 4. Chief product officer; 5. CEO; 6. Chief technology officer; 7. Chief commercial officer; 8. Chief information security officer; 9. Chief people officer; 10. Chief marketing officer.

East Lansing caregiver sentenced for role in freezing death of elderly womanOIG press release; 9/17/24Colleen Kelly O’Connor, 58, of East Lansing, was sentenced to two years of probation with the first 6-months in jail by Judge Cori E. Barkman of the 29th Circuit Court in Clinton County for her role in the death of an 82-year-old woman in December 2022, announced Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. O’Conner was convicted in June by a Clinton County jury of one count of Vulnerable Adult Abuse — Second Degree. The victim, who was under O’Connor’s care at Vista Springs Imperial Park at Timber Ridge, an assisted living facility in Clinton County, died of exposure after being left unsupervised. O’Connor was also ordered to pay $1,115.00 in restitution to the daughter of the victim... During the very early morning hours of December 23, 2022, O’Connor twice observed the victim attempt to go outside without appropriate attire into a blizzard with single-digit temperatures, subzero windchill, and blowing and drifting snow. As a caregiver, O’Connor recklessly failed to act to prevent the victim from going outdoors into the storm, resulting in her death. A snowplow driver found the victim in the parking lot around 7 a.m., partially buried in snow.

Hospice fraud prevention toolkitCMS press release; 9/24People with Medicare should beware of scammers offering older Americans in-home perks, like free cooking, cleaning and home health services, while they are unknowingly being signed up for hospice services. The scammers then unlawfully bill Medicare for these services in your name. Criminals are using every avenue they can to sign people up including door-to-door visits, false advertising, phone, text and email. Hospice care is for people who are terminally ill and only the patient and doctor can make this serious decision about end-of-life care. This toolkit includes social media posts and a drop-in article to help educate beneficiaries and their loved ones on how to protect themselves against Medicare Hospice fraud.Publisher's note: Also see resources posted on the CMS Senior Medicare Patrol Hospice Fraud website.

Maryland to drop Kaiser as Medicaid administrator Becker's Hospital CFO Report; by Jakob Emerson; 9/23/24 Maryland will drop Kaiser Permanente as a Medicaid managed care organization in 2025. "After some lengthy contract negotiations, the [Maryland] Department of Health has elected not to enter into a contract with Kaiser and we are working to ensure a seamless transition of those enrollees to other health plans," MDH's deputy secretary of healthcare finance, told local radio station WYPR on Sept. 20. ... "If we are not able to participate in Medicaid, it would interrupt the highest-rated care and coverage of our more than 113,000 Medicaid members in Maryland in 2025," a spokesperson for Kaiser told Becker's. "We will continue to work with the Maryland Department of Health so we can continue serving this community for decades to come." According to WYPR, the state will renew its existing managed care contracts, which includes Aetna, CareFirst BCBS, UnitedHealthcare, Elevance Health's Wellpoint, Jai Medical Systems, Maryland Physicians Care, MedStar Family Choice and Priority Partners.

Nurse workplace violence reporting increased 1,080% with new tool Becker's Clinical Leadership; by Mariah Taylor; 9/19/24 Making it easier to report workplace violence with quick-scan codes on walls and badges increased reporting by 1,080% in two months, according to a new study. ... When surveyed, nurses said they did not report workplace violence incidents for the following reasons: "nothing will change" (24%), "event was not severe enough" (21%), "part of the job" (15%), "electronic reporting system is time-consuming/complicated" (9%), "lack of time" (6%), "don’t know how" (3%) and "lack of leadership support" (3%). In addition, more than half of respondents said they disclosed the event to the charge nurse when they did not formally report it.  To overcome these barriers, researchers created a tool that allows nurses to scan a quick-response code with their phones. Codes were located on wall flyers and name badge stickers. Two months after implementation, the tool recorded 94 quick response code scans and 59 workplace violence reports, a 1,080% increase in violence reports compared to the two previous months.

Hospice provider relocates to Bethlehem [PA] Lehigh Valley Business; by Stacy Wescoe; 9/23/24 Advantage, a provider of contract therapy, home health, and hospice services in Pennsylvania has opened a new office in Bethlehem on the Holy Family Manor campus. The existing Advantage campuses of Emmaus and Old Forge will be relocated to the Advantage Home Health and Hospice Bethlehem office.  Clinical, social, and bereavement services will remain uninterrupted, the company said in a press release, and it will continue to serve all the same areas. 

Report: US has worse healthcare of 10 developed countriesMcKnight's Long-Term Care News; by Kristen Fischer; 9/19/24Americans die earlier and are the sickest — and have the worst healthcare on the whole — compared with nine other developed countries, a new report shows. “The United States is failing one of its principal obligations as a nation: to protect the health and welfare of its people,” Joseph Betancourt, MD, president of the Commonwealth Fund, said in a HealthDay article... Despite its deficiencies, the US spends the most on healthcare, the report noted. Australia, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom had the highest rankings, data showed. The other countries included in the report were Germany, New Zealand, Sweden, Canada, France, and Switzerland.