Literature Review

Amorem receives $100,000 grant from The Cannon Foundation Ashe Post & Times, Boone, North Carolina; by Staff Reporter; 7/12/24 Amorem received a $100,000 grant from The Cannon Foundation for its Quality. Compassion. Support: A Patient Care Unit for the High Country campaign. The Cannon Foundation has joined Amorem’s vision to provide more quality, more compassion and more support to residents of the High Country with a $100k grant to assist with the purchase of non-medical equipment needed to operate the patient care unit and meet the needs of patients and their families while in Amorem’s care. “Amorem is honored that The Cannon Foundation has joined our vision,” says Director of Development, Ashley Edwards. “Through this partnership, Amorem is empowered to create a homelike environment for our patients who are facing the end of life and their families at the High Country patient care unit.” 

Program of all inclusive care for the elderly expanding in the Triad Spectrum News 1, Greensboro, NC; by Kaye Paddyfote; 7/12/24 Program of all inclusive care for the elderly, or PACE, is expanding in North Carolina. PACE provides all inclusive care to those who are 55 and older, and a new facility will serve Forsyth, Surry and Stokes counties. ...  PACE’S medical director, Dr. Tiffany Reed, says the new facility will provide those in rural North Carolina the care and socialization that’s necessary. “We have transportation services as part of PACE, we're able to pick them up and bring them to the center so they can come to appointments and receive therapy and their medical care on site,” Reed said. “So that would could make a big difference out there.”

Characterizing disparities in receipt of palliative care for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders with metastatic cancer in the United States Supportive Care in Cancer: Official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer; by Khushi Kohli, Mahi Kohli, Bhav Jain, Nishwant Swami, Sruthi Ranganathan, Fumiko Chino, Puneeth Iyengar, Divya Yerramilli, Edward Christopher Dee; 7/9/24 Palliative care plays essential roles in cancer care. However, differences in receipt among individuals identifying as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Other Pacific Islanders (AA&NHPI) with cancer are not well-characterized, especially when these diverse groups are disaggregated. We characterized disparities in receipt of palliative care among AA&NHPI patients with AJCC Stage IV prostate, breast, or lung cancer. Conclusions and relevance: Our findings demonstrate disparities in receipt of palliative care upon disaggregation of diverse AA&NHPI groups, the need for disaggregated research and targeted interventions that address the unique cultural, socioeconomic, and healthcare system barriers to palliative care receipt.

Prognoses associated with Palliative Performance Scale scores in modern palliative care practiceJAMA Network Open; by Kara E Bischoff, Kanan Patel, W John Boscardin, David L O'Riordan, Steven Z Pantilat, Alexander K Smith; 7/1/24The Palliative Performance Scale (PPS) is one of the most widely used prognostic tools for patients with serious illness. However, current prognostic estimates associated with PPS scores are based on data that are over a decade old. ... Conclusions and relevance: In this prognostic study, prognostic estimates associated with PPS scores were substantially longer than previous estimates commonly used by clinicians. Based on these findings, an online calculator was updated to assist clinicians in reaching prognostic estimates that are more consistent with modern palliative care practice and specific to the patient's setting and diagnosis group.

Judge Realty partners with Hospice Savannah to offer home modification to support aging in placeSavannah Business Journal Staff Report; 7/8/24Judge Realty recently announced a partnership with Hospice Savannah to encourage and support aging in place. Judge Property Management, a division of Judge Realty, is working in conjunction with Hospice Savannah’s CAPABLE+ program to help older adults live independently with strategic support in the privacy of their home environment. ... Hospice Savannah’s CAPABLE program provides a support team, including a Registered Nurse, an Occupational Therapist and a Handyworker who offer home visits and provide limited care for older adults, which can decrease hospitalization and reduce healthcare costs. The standard CAPABLE program is available as a free service for low-income adults age 62 or older in Chatham, Bryan Effingham or Liberty County who are cognitively intact, but experiencing some difficulty bathing, dressing, grooming, eating or walking.

CMS: GUIDE Model Participants and Infographic CMS.gov and various press releases; retrieved from the internet 7/10/24 The Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) Model is a voluntary nationwide model test that aims to support people with dementia and their unpaid caregivers. The model began on July 1, 2024, and will run for eight years. Editor's Note: Multiple press releases are populating across the internet. We share this list of links to information, participants, and sample press releases from well-known participants. 

3 pillars of effective hospice sales Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 7/8/24Hospices seeking to grow should consider building a culture of compliance driven by data, effective system design and accountability, including for its sales force. Compliance and sales should walk hand-in-hand, according to a recent report from the Transcend Strategy Group. This can help prevent sales staff from running afoul of regulations inadvertently as well as support sustainable growth, according to Tony Kudner, chief strategy officer for Transcend. ... “[Without] understanding of what the rules of the road are, you’re going to run into trouble,” he said. “Though no one-size-fits-all approach exists, providers can adapt three overarching strategies to support this kind of culture.”

Navigating Aging: Lack of affordability tops older americans’ list of health care worries KFF Health News - Northern Kentucky Tribune; by Judith Graham, KFF News; 7/5/24 What weighs most heavily on older adults’ minds when it comes to health care? The cost of services and therapies, and their ability to pay. ... A new wave of research highlights the reach of these anxieties. When the University of Michigan’s National Poll on Healthy Aging asked people 50 and older about 26 health-related issues, their top three areas of concern had to do with costs: of medical care in general, of long-term care, and of prescription drugs. More than half of 3,300 people surveyed in February and March reported being “very concerned” about these issues. 

Illinois launches PACE services to provide better care integration for elderly population State of Reform - Illinois News; by Maddie McCarthy; 7/2/24 The Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) officially launched in Illinois in June, and designated PACE centers have begun rolling out services to their members. ... “PACE is an integrated model of care that provides all the care and services covered by Medicare and Medicaid, as authorized by the interdisciplinary team, as well as additional medically-necessary care and services not covered by Medicare and Medicaid,” said the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) in a statement sent to State of Reform. Illinois has five regions offering PACE services: West Chicago, South Chicago, Southern Cook County, Peoria, and East St. Louis. HFS and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) awarded contracts to seven designated centers.

Clinician- and patient-directed communication strategies for patients with cancer at high mortality risk JAMA Network Open - Oncology; by Samuel U. Takvorian, MD, MSHP; Peter Gabriel, MD, MSE; E. Paul Wileyto, PhD; Daniel Blumenthal, BA; Sharon Tejada, MS; Alicia B. W. Clifton, MDP; David A. Asch, MD, MBA; Alison M. Buttenheim, PhD, MBA; Katharine A. Rendle, PhD, MSW, MPH; Rachel C. Shelton, ScD, MPH; Krisda H. Chaiyachati, MD, MPH, MSHP; Oluwadamilola M. Fayanju, MD, MA, MPHS; Susan Ware, BS; Lynn M. Schuchter, MD; Pallavi Kumar, MD, MPH; Tasnim Salam, MBE, MPH; Adina Lieberman, MPH; Daniel Ragusano, MPH; Anna-Marika Bauer, MRA; Callie A. Scott, MSc; Lawrence N. Shulman, MD; Robert Schnoll, PhD; Rinad S. Beidas, PhD; Justin E. Bekelman, MD; Ravi B. Parikh, MD, MPP; 7/1/24 Serious illness conversations (SICs) that elicit patients’ values, goals, and care preferences reduce anxiety and depression and improve quality of life, but occur infrequently for patients with cancer. Behavioral economic implementation strategies (nudges) directed at clinicians and/or patients may increase SIC completion. ... In this cluster randomized trial, nudges combining clinician peer comparisons with patient priming questionnaires were associated with a marginal increase in documented SICs compared with an active control. Combining clinician- and patient-directed nudges may help to promote SICs in routine cancer care.

States with the most rural hospital closures in the past 20 years Becker's CFO Report; by Mariah Taylor; 6/28/24 Since January 2005, 192 rural hospitals have closed or converted, according to data compiled by the University of North Carolina's Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research. Of those hospitals, 105 have completely closed, and 87 have converted, meaning the facilities no longer provide inpatient services, but continue to provide some services, such as primary care, skilled nursing care or long-term care. Since 2020, 36 hospitals have closed or converted. 

Pasadena Hindu Temple offers health planning series for seniors: Interactive session to cover advance care, palliative care, and hospice services Pasadena Now; 7/2/24 The Pasadena Hindu Temple is hosting a health and wellbeing series for seniors, focusing on future healthcare planning. ... Doctors Alka and Pradeep Kapoor, both board-certified in internal medicine, hospice, and palliative medicine, will present on topics including advance care planning, palliative care, and hospice care. The doctors, who have over 45 years of medical experience, are also certified in Post Acute and Long-term care medicine. ... Established in 2002, the Pasadena Hindu Temple has evolved into a hub for Indian heritage and Hindu worship in Southern California. Now operating as the Hindu Temple and Heritage Foundation (HTHF), the nonprofit organization offers various community services. Editor's Note: What cultures and faith communities are in your service areas? Do you reach out to all? Does your staffing reflect your community? Click here for U.S. Census information and search for your geographical areas. 

Empowering ‘deeply undervalued’ caregivers would improve ‘lifeline for older adults’ McKnights Senior Living; by Kimberly Bonvissuto; 6/28/24 Direct care workers and family caregivers remain “deeply undervalued” and often overlooked despite calls for investment in the care economy, according to the authors of a new report. “These caregivers provide a lifeline for older adults, people with disabilities, and people living with chronic conditions,” PHI and the National Alliance for Caregiving said in an issue brief released Wednesday. “Empowering them in their roles will help to ensure high quality, responsive care to meet the needs and preferences of millions of Americans now and in the future.” The organizations called on providers, Congress, the Department of Labor, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the federal Health Resources and Services Administration, states, managed care plans and advocates to invest in the “essential partnership” between direct care workers and family caregivers. The new brief includes insights from a variety of stakeholders ...  The result is a list of recommendations that prioritize improvements to direct care jobs.Editor's Note: Our sponsor, Composing Life Out of Loss, equips hospice and palliative care organizations with caregiver education and support video libraries to strengthen relationships between the direct care professional and the family caregiver, with timely information for the entire family. Contents are written to CMS CoPs, CAHPS, and contemporary grief research; English and Spanish.