Literature Review

$250K grant to develop more diverse long-term care leaders McKnights Long-Term Care News; by James M. Berklan; 1/15/25 Declaring that “more people of color at every organizational level” are needed in long-term care, a leading provider association on Tuesday unveiled a quarter-million-dollar grant that will jump-start a program to boost more diverse nonclinical leaders. The new fellowship reflects a partnership between LeadingAge and UNCF (the United Negro College Fund). The $250,000 grant flows from the Next50 Foundation, which battles aging-bias and promotes better treatment of seniors. 

The 'paradigm shift’ of hospice service diversification Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 1/17/25 Some hospices have delved deeper into service diversification to improve timely access and expand their patient reach, while others remain focused on end-of-life care delivery. The decision to launch into new service realms can come with a range of operational and reimbursement questions. Among the keys to diversifying services is establishing a business infrastructure that allows for innovative growth based on communities’ needs, according to Leslie Campbell, COO of Touchstone Communities. The San Antonio, Texas-headquartered company provides hospice, home health, veterans services, assisted living and skilled nursing services. ... Hospice leaders need to ensure that both back-office administrative and interdisciplinary teams are educated on how business growth impacts them, particularly when it comes to quality and compliance across the care continuum, Campbell stated.

Sovereign Hospice empowering young adults to understand hospice Fox-40; Press Release by Sovereing Hospice; 1/20/25 Sovereign Hospice ... in Aubrey, Texas, is shedding light on the essential role young adults play in understanding and supporting hospice and palliative care services. Through their latest blog, “Spreading Insight: What Young Adults Should Know About Hospice & Palliative Care,” the organization aims to debunk myths, explain key differences between hospice and palliative care, and emphasize why early awareness is critical for families navigating complex health journeys. Many young adults assume caregiving responsibilities earlier than expected, often balancing personal and professional commitments. Studies show that nearly 1 in 4 adults aged 18–34 provide care for a loved one, underscoring the need for awareness about hospice and palliative care. 

Woman reveals terminally ill mom asked for just 'one thing' before passing Newsweek; by Jack Beresford; 1/17/25 A terminally ill woman asked for "one thing" from her adult daughter before she died: to let her be her mom one last time. ... "I had a torn meniscus in my knee that I had been putting off, hoping it would improve, but it was only getting worse," Johnson said.  ... [The mom] told her daughter: "I'm going downhill, and I know the end is coming, and if you don't hurry up and take care of this knee, then I'm gonna miss taking care of you in your recovery." ... "She didn't want me going through it without her," Johnson said. "She had already gone on hospice, and all treatments for her cancer had stopped. So, I called my orthopedic surgeon and told him I was ready to get it fixed. I was scheduled just a few days later." [Johnson's mom] cooked and cleaned despite being in a considerable amount of pain herself. She even slept in a chair by her daughter's bedside. That was her way of showing she cared.

ACS Annual Report: Cancer mortality continues to drop despite rising incidence in women; rates of new diagnoses under 65 higher in women than menAmerican Cancer Society press release; 1/16/25The American Cancer Society (ACS) today released Cancer Statistics, 2025, the organization’s annual report on cancer facts and trends. The new findings show the cancer mortality rate declined by 34% from 1991 to 2022 in the United States, averting approximately 4.5 million deaths. However, this steady progress is jeopardized by increasing incidence for many cancer types, especially among women and younger adults, shifting the burden of disease. For example, incidence rates in women 50-64 years of age have surpassed those in men, and rates in women under 50 are now 82% higher than their male counterparts, up from 51% in 2002. This pattern includes lung cancer, which is now higher in women than in men among people younger than 65 years. These important findings are published today in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, alongside its consumer-friendly companion, Cancer Facts & Figures 2025, available on cancer.org.

[Irelan] How digital storytelling can support families of very ill children RTE, Ireland; by Veronica Lambert and Razieh Safarifard; 1/17/25 Imagine a family gathered around a young child's bed at home or in the hospital, facing the heart-wrenching reality that their time together is limited. The moments they share now - the stories told, songs sung, laughter, and tears - are more precious than ever. But how can these memories be preserved, not just for the present but for a lifetime? Memory-making activities provide a way to capture these moments, offering comfort during and after their journey through palliative care. In Ireland, the need for such interventions is growing, as more children live with life-threatening conditions and families often find themselves without adequate support in these difficult times. Our new project addresses this gap with a digital storytelling memory-making programme tailored to the unique cultural and practical needs of Irish families.

Johnson & Johnson swallows another drugmaker in $14.6 billion dealSherwood News; by J. Edward Moreno; 1/13/25J&J has spent at least $56.5 billion on acquisitions in the past five years. Johnson & Johnson announced Monday that it would acquire drugmaker Intra-Cellular Therapies for $14.6 billion, marking its latest bid for growth via swallowing a smaller company. Intra-Cellular Therapies makes Caplyta, a drug that treats schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder. The deal comes right as generics for J&J’s blockbuster psoriasis drug Stelera are set to enter the market.

‘Those who have made death their life’ Part 2: Family The Daily Yonder - Keep It Rural; by Hannah Clark; 1/16/25 Hannah Clark spent six months riding along with the nurses and certified nursing assistants (CNAs) of Hearth Hospice who provide in-home care to those living in Northwest Georgia and Southeast Tennessee. These hospice workers often drive up to a hundred miles a day to visit a handful of patients scattered across the Appalachian landscape in both rural towns and urban centers. What will follow this introductory essay is her photo reportage in three parts, documenting what she has witnessed accompanying these caregivers. The intimate portraits and vignettes show tender moments at different stages towards the end of one’s life. Their beauty lies in the companionship Clark captured in moments of need and vulnerability. Editor's note: Click here for Part 1, which we posted 1/16/25. 

Navigate a smooth transition from hospital to home care Health Medicine Network; 1/17/25 When discharged from hospital, a high proportion of people face emotions such as anxiety and fear, which can make the transition from hospital care to safe and appropriate home care difficult. But it doesn’t have to feel that way if you develop an effective strategy before you leave the hospital. ... 

Why trust-based leadership is key to thriving in the Intelligent Age World Economic Forum; by Belen Garijo; 1/17/25 The recent arrival of artificial intelligence (AI) and our growing ability to harness the power of data and digital technology has propelled our world from the Industrial Age into a new Intelligent Age. This new epoch will be unlike any other in history. By bringing together our physical, biological and digital realities, the Intelligent Age will fundamentally alter how people live and work, and how products are developed and made. It will affect the skillsets employees in many professions require, while redefining how private and public organizations collaborate. ... 

Michigan hospice's training empowers African Americans to dialogue Catholic Health world; by Lisa Eisenhauer; 1/16/25 Rev. Diane Smith knows the hospice education program she leads for predominantly Black churches resonates with those who enroll. ... Rev. Smith directs The African American Church Empowerment Project at Livonia, Michigan-based Angela Hospice and gives certificates those who complete the training. She is also the hospice's director of ministry engagement and chief diversity officer. The Empowerment Project isn't about promoting Angela Hospice's services, Rev. Smith explains, but rather about educating the community on hospice care and listening to concerns about end-of-life issues. Rev. Smith sees another primary reason for the disconnect between Black Americans and hospice providers. She says many people of color have a distrust of the medical community that is rooted in historically being both denied care and exploited ...

Building a smarter long-term care system in New York The National Law Review; by Adam Herbst of Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP - Healthcare Law Blog; 1/10/25 New York State has a long-standing commitment to supporting its most vulnerable populations through Medicaid-funded services for older adults and those requiring long-term care. However, rising costs and an increasingly complex healthcare landscape have created challenges that demand innovative solutions.  ... The Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) offers a clear path forward. This model has consistently demonstrated its ability to reduce healthcare costs while enhancing patient outcomes by integrating medical, social, and behavioral health services under one umbrella. ... Despite these clear benefits, New York has not approved a new PACE program since 2011, leaving this proven model underutilized in the state.