Literature Review

There aren't enough dementia providers in Arizona. This unique campus offers training KJZZ Phoenix, AZ; by Kathy Ritchie; 11/15/24 Arizona has the fastest growth rate of Alzheimer’s disease in the country. Yet there are not enough paid caregivers or even geriatricians — only 92 in the entire state — for this population. So how do you educate, even inspire, health care students to care about dementia? As the saying goes, if you build it, they will come. Judy Ward is chatting with three nursing students from Creighton University when a group of preschoolers toddle on by. ... The children attend a care center located at Hospice of the Valley’s Dementia Care and Education Campus in Arcadia. That’s also where Judy’s adult day club for people living with dementia is situated, along with a 12-bed assisted living community and a hospice unit. ...

It's not just pumpkin spice time--it's time for the family conversation! Dunlap Bennet & Ludwig; by George Reilly; 11/13/24 “Quality family time” is a phrase often heard in the period from Thanksgiving to New Year’s, sometimes even with air quotes, to describe what many people believe to be a necessary, but not necessarily enjoyable, time of family togetherness. ... Whatever your perspective on this “quality family time,” chances are that for most of you, it was/will be a missed opportunity to discuss very important matters with your loved ones—namely what happens in the event of disability or death; who takes care of what; a parent’s (or grandparents, or your own) wishes on the end of life medical care and funeral/burial/cremation choices; your wishes on guardians for minor children; and other critical, but admittedly sensitive and gloomy topics. ...  Consider these statistics from surveys conducted by the Conversation Project: ... 92% of Americans say it’s important to discuss their wishes for end-of-life care, but only 32% have had such a conversation! [Click on the title's link to continue reading.]

Governor proclaims Home Care, Hospice, Palliative Care Month 2024Governor.nc.gov - an official website of the State of North Carolina; by Governor Roy Cooper; 11/1/24A PROCLAMATIONWHEREAS, the State of North Carolina recognizes the importance and value of home care, home health, hospice, and palliative care in enhancing the well-being and quality of life for individuals and their families; andWHEREAS, home care, home health, hospice, and palliative care providers offer essential services and support to individuals of all ages, ensuring their ability to receive necessary care in the comfort and familiarity of their own homes; andWHEREAS, being able to receive care and support in the comfort of one's own home allows individuals to maintain a sense of dignity, independence, and quality of life; andWHEREAS, the dedicated professionals of the home care, home health, hospice, and palliative care industry work tirelessly to improve the lives of North Carolina residents, providing compassionate care, emotional support, and necessary medical assistance; and ...WHEREAS, North Carolina's home care, home health, hospice, and palliative care providers play a crucial role in promoting patient independence, reducing hospital readmissions, and minimizing the burden on our healthcare system; NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim November, 2024, as “HOME CARE, HOSPICE, PALLIATIVE CARE MONTH” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens. [Click here to read the full proclamation.]

Blue Ridge Care expands bereavement care with new Center for Hope & Healing Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 11/1/24 Blue Ridge Care has unveiled its new Center for Hope & Healing, a facility dedicated to offering comprehensive grief care. The Virginia-based nonprofit hospice, palliative care and PACE provider financed the center through philanthropic donations. The facility is located in the same building as Blue Ridge’s PACE program, according to CEO Jason Parsons. At the center, Blue Ridge bereavement care staff will offer specialized programs, workshops, support groups and individual counseling. “The center is a central organizing unit of our mission fulfillment in the areas of grief, family support and loss in a place people can come to that’s welcoming, inviting and centered around hope and healing,” Parsons told Hospice News. ... The center was built to create a relaxing atmosphere to help put visitors at ease, according to Parsons, with a sky blue color palette and several murals depicting natural scenes. In one display, a collection of rocks symbolizes the weight of grief. Visitors can write a message on the rocks to “leave that weight behind,” Parsons said. They can also paint their loved ones’ names on a mural of a branching tree in the lobby area. 

Advance Directives: How to make sure your end-of-life decisions are followed Bottom Line Inc; by Mathew D. Pauley, JD; 10/24/24 Nearly 40% of older Americans have some form of advance directives, such as a living will to communicate wishes about life-saving treatment…or a medical power of attorney appointing a loved one as proxy if they’re incapacitated.  Problem: Your wishes may not always be followed in real-world situations. Examples: Emergency paramedics typically provide CPR to restart a patient’s heart even if that patient’s living will says otherwise. And complex medical circumstances at the end of life often arise that force your loved ones to make judgment calls about what you really want. Bottom Line Personal spoke to clinical ethicist Mathew Pauley about how to make sure hospitals, medical providers and family members follow your medical wishes.

Death cafes: Demystifying the inevitable over tea and cookies MD edge - Internal Medicine News; by Megan Brooks; 10/15/24 “Death cafes” — where people gather to discuss death and dying over tea and cookies — have gained momentum in recent years offering a unique way for people to come together and discuss a topic that is often shrouded in discomfort and avoidance. It’s estimated that there are now about 18,900 death cafes in 90 countries, with the United States hosting more than 9300 on a regular basis. This trend reflects a growing desire to break the taboo surrounding discussions of death and dying. But these casual get-togethers may not be for everyone, and their potential benefits and harms may depend on who attends and who facilitates the discussion. ... [Click on the title's link to continue reading these significant cautions.]

Palliative and hospice care in the prehospital setting

Hospices leverage school-based partnerships to strengthen bereavement care Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 10/7/24 Some hospices have increasingly recognized the value of collaborating with local educators when it comes to improving community grief support for bereaved children and their families. Establishing collaborative relationships with educational institutions can help hospices ensure that they’re developing age-appropriate grief services, according to Cole Warner, director of support services at North Carolina-based Hospice of Davidson County. The nonprofit provides hospice services across 10 counties in its service area and also offers bereavement and veteran programs. The ability to identify and communicate grief-related emotions ranges across different age groups, and bereavement care teams need to be well-versed on youths’ cognitive capacity, Warner said. This involves having educators weigh in the common challenges that kids experience along their grief journeys. ...

Community partnership helps Veterans navigate their health care U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC; by Dr. Chien Chen; 9/27/24 VA’s National Center for Healthcare Advancement and Partnerships (HAP) helps create and manage partnerships between VA and community organizations. The goal is simple: bring together VA and those in the community who share the same goals and mission when it comes to providing Veterans with outstanding health care and support. They are called Veteran Community Partnerships, or VCPs. “Developing and nurturing strong partnerships with VA and community providers is crucial to supporting Veteran health care,” said Dr. Jamie Davis, HAP health system specialist. “VCPs are instrumental in ensuring these partnerships enhance the health and well-being of Veterans across the country.” The East Bay VCP at Martinez VA is part of Northern California VA. Martinez VAMC and Veteran Community Partnerships focus on getting Veterans access to all available health care services. 

Top 5 regrets people have on their deathbeds: What they can teach us about living healthy, fulfilled lives, from an internal medicine doctor NBC-6 South Florida; by Alex Koller, CNBC; 9/23/24 To live a meaningful, fulfilling life, you have to accept that it'll eventually come to an end, says Shoshana Ungerleider. Over the years of caring for ill hospital patients, Ungerleider — a doctor who specializes in internal medicine — has observed regrets among people near the end of their lives, she tells CNBC Make It. Here are five regrets she says people often express:

Mayo Clinic Minute: Palliative medicine for cancer patients Mayo Clinic; by Sonya Goins; 9/16/24 Patients undergoing cancer treatments often use palliative medicine to cope with nausea, fatigue and other bothersome symptoms. Palliative medicine is a medical specialty whose main focus is supporting patients and families/caregivers who need help managing symptoms related to cancer or side effects related to the treatment of cancer, along with other life-limiting diseases. Dr. Touré Barksdale, a Mayo Clinic cancer rehabilitation and palliative medicine specialist, explains the benefits of palliative care.

The persistent stigma attached to dementia encourages denial InForum; by Carol Bradley Bursack; 9/14/24 Dear Carol: ... At age 70, I was diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Theoretically, that diagnosis means that I have a few more memory glitches than normal for my age. A percentage of people with MCI will develop Alzheimer’s disease, but not all. Yet, some family members treat me like I shouldn’t make decisions beyond what I want for dinner. ...Dear Al: The stigma attached to mental illness, cognitive decline, and even aging, illustrates widespread ignorance of facts. The more people like you speak up the better the future will be for others. ... For now, work on educating your family about MCI.  ... Here's a start: 

Phoenix Home Care and Hospice shares Medicare Mondays on Silver Notes NBC KSNF-16,  Joplin, MO; byWendi Douglas; 9/12/24 News segment for community education about Medicare for seniors, provided by a local hospice nurse.