Literature Review

State association launches support program for home, hospice, personal care workers The Journal Gazette, Fort Wayne, IN; by Lisa Green; 10/15/24 A statewide association for home and hospice care professionals is launching a support program today with features including training and one-on-one counseling to help with workforce retention. The CARE (Creating Action and Resources for Employees) Connect program is billed as the first of its kind in the U.S., a news release said. A recent report released by MissionCare Collective indicates that caregivers are three times more likely to suffer from anxiety and depression, and 21% of caregivers nationwide self-report poor mental health. And 55% of those workers receive some form of federal or state assistance, the Indiana Association for Home and Hospice Care said in a news release announcing the new support program.

The future of healthcare systems with Richard Church Podcast by Teleios Collaborative Network; by Chris Comeaux; 10/15/24 In this conversation, Chris Comeaux interviews Rich Church, the Chief Growth and Strategy Officer of Parkview Health in Ft. Wayne, Indiana.  Chris and Rich discuss the future of nonprofit healthcare systems.  Rich explains that nonprofit systems need to think like for-profit organizations in the future in terms of managing their finances, but the difference lies in how they use their margins to invest back into their communities. Nonprofits use their margins to provide care to those who may not have access otherwise, while for-profits distribute their margins to stockholders.  Rich also emphasizes the importance of innovation and simplification in healthcare, as well as the need for a cultural shift that encourages risk-taking and learning from mistakes.  The conversation explores the importance of preventing high acuity care and keeping patients healthier to bend the cost curve in the long run.

Big Bend Hospice opens new community-built field office in Jefferson County Business Wire, Tallahassee, FL; by Big Bend Hospice; 10/15/24 Big Bend Hospice has opened a new field office in Jefferson County, located in the heart of Monticello’s historic district, replacing its previous location at 187 Walnut St. The new office, made possible by the Big Bend Hospice Jefferson County Advisory Council and the community’s dedicated fundraising efforts, will serve as the hub for Big Bend Hospice’s clinical staff and volunteers, who provide in-home patient care throughout Jefferson County. Built entirely through local donations over the past nine years, the project is a testament to the strength and commitment of the community. “This field office reflects the deep support Jefferson County has for hospice care,” said Michael Eurich, senior director of strategy, policy, and innovation at Big Bend Hospice.

Hurricane Milton challenges home-based care's adaptability Modern Healthcare; by Diane Eastabrook; 10/9/24 [Note, posted just prior to landfall, Wed. Oct. 9.] Hurricane Milton is set to test the resilience of home-based care providers along the west coast of Florida. While hundreds of healthcare sites reported evacuations ahead of the hurricane, some companies that provide care to patients where they live, including CenterWell and Medically Home, continued to send staff into patients’ homes in the hours before the storm hit. Many home-based care companies are ready to activate contingency plans to keep providing care to patients during and after the hurricane. ... Here is how some home-based care providers prepared for Hurricane Milton. ...

Hospice care home provides peaceful place for low-income or homeless to die Indiana Capital Chronicle; by Elise Shrock; 10/10/24 My neighborhood is full of wonderful places. Lovely places where people go to worship, to meet for meals, to do their errands, and, a lovely place to die. Let me explain. Tucked behind the busy near-north Keystone corridor is the Abbie Hunt Bryce Home, a no-cost home for terminally ill individuals who are low-income or homeless and would have no other home to go to during their last days or months of life. Operated by Morning Light, LLC, Abbie Hunt Bryce Home offers critical and compassionate services to Hoosiers in their final days. As the second largest residential hospice in the nation, our state is positioned to be a leader in providing compassionate end-of-life care. Not only is the Home a leader in size and scope, but all hospice residents stay free of charge, with no payment or insurance required. The Home is supported solely by community support and qualifies for Medicaid Waiver. ... [A case study follows with "Systemic challenges in Indiana." ...]

Community making strides to reopen Owatonna's Hospice House Owatonna People's Press, Faribault, MN; by Annie Harman; 10/8/24 ... Allan and Randee Radel smiled as they remembered the days they relied on the Homestead Hospice House to care for Randee’s mother, Kaye Mahlman, during the final days of her life. “It was wonderful. It was good for her, and it was good for the family,” Randee said, looking at the house as visitors strolled inside. ... It has been more than a year since the Hospice House has cared for a patient, but there is movement being made to open the doors once again as a full-service residential hospice care facility. And thanks to the Radels, that dreaming has taken a significant step toward reality. The couple handed over a check this week to the HHH Board to put toward the $850,000 fundraising goal to reopen the house. While the couple has decided they’d rather just call it a “very generous donation,” in lieu of sharing the actual number, those involved in the fundraising efforts are not shy to say with confidence that, thanks to the Radels and others like them, they are making “significant progress” in reaching that goal. ...

Food with love: A Lafayette kitchen provides meals and 'walks that final walk with families' Nola.com; by Catherine S. Comeaux; 10/6/24 Approaching retirement, Kent Zerangue had the idea of running a small catering business in his backyard kitchen. A bowl of gumbo changed those plans. Now, from that kitchen, he and a team of volunteers operate Food With Love — a ministry that brings food, love and guidance to hospice families. ... In 2016, as his own father was in hospice care, a neighbor brought over a shrimp and okra gumbo. It not only comforted and fed the family, but it also set Zerangue to think, “Why not just cook for people and give it away? By 2017, he and his wife Susie began doing just that — first for a friend whose son had a stroke, then another whose husband was terminally ill. Word-of-mouth spread and by the end of that year, they were feeding 10 families. They also began leaving food for families in the freezers at Hospice of Acadiana. Knowing the hospice nurses’ workload didn’t always allow time for food delivery, a hospice volunteer coordinator asked Zerangue if he would like to deliver the meals to families. His initially declined since he was content with just cooking. That is, until he realized that the frozen meals weren’t moving as frequently as he was cooking them. ....Editor's note: What a meaningful ministry that surely makes a difference. This can be easy to adapt for you own hospice. Assess needs. Brainstorm ideas. Find partners and sponsors. As this article's title voices, "walk that final walk with families."

Top News Stories of the Month, September 2024

[CBS Evening News] Home hospice care in the spotlight as former President Jimmy Carter turns 100 CBS Evening News Segment; by Jon LaPook and Winick, anchored by Norah O'Donnell; 9/30/24This past spring, Joan Prum's advanced age and increasing frailty ushered in a new reality when she became a hospice patient. "I thought that unless you were really infirm and bedridden, you wouldn't be a candidate for hospice, but it turns out not to be true," Prum said. Healthcare teams provide comfort to hospice patients expected to live no longer than six months. As with all palliative care, trained professionals offer medication and treatments to decrease pain and increase quality of life. But with hospice, attempts to cure a person's illness are stopped. Connecticut Hospice, which oversees Prum's care, became the first hospice in the nation 50 years ago. Predicting how long somebody has to live is difficult, but CEO Barbara Pearce says the patient and their families make the decision to enter hospice. ... "Hospice care involves sitting down at the very beginning and say, what are your goals of care? What do you want your life to look like in the next few months? And how can we help?" Pearce said. Hospice care can be given in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and places like Connecticut Hospice, but about 99% choose to receive services at home, just like Prum and former President Jimmy Carter. Carter, who turns 100 years old on Tuesday, Oct. 1, is the oldest former president in U.S. history, and has been in home hospice care for the past 19 months.

Mercy House of the Southern Tier breaks grounds for $2 million expansion to enhance end of life care WNBF News Radio; by Traci Taylor; 10/1/24Mercy House of the Southern Tier recently celebrated the groundbreaking of its highly-anticipated $2 million expansion project, marking a significant milestone in its mission to provide compassionate care for terminally ill patients and their families during life's most challenging moments. ... Linda Cerra, the Executive Director of Mercy House of the Southern Tier, expressed gratitude towards their hospice partner, Guthrie Hospice of Vestal, along with the Guthrie and UHS Palliative Care teams, Broome Oncology, BGH PCU, and Endwell Family Physicians. Their unwavering support ensures that residents receive the utmost compassionate end-of-life care, embodying the core values of Mercy House.

Longview hospice adds handmade quilt donations under new management The Daily News; by Minka Atkinson; 9/27/24 At PeaceHealth Ray Hickey Hospice House in Vancouver, patients receive handmade quilts to drape their beds that are then donated to their family as a memento after their passing. PeaceHealth is now looking to bring this tradition to Richard Nau Hospice House, which it took over in November. “It gives the home, cozy feeling to those patients,” Hospice Volunteer Program supervisor Jennifer Linde said. The quilts are sourced through donations from local community groups, like the Kalama Quilters and Calvary Community Church, Linde said. Individual quilters are also welcome to contribute. ...

Teleios Collaborative Network develops Quintuple Aim Strategy to enhance hospice care Business Insider / Markets Insider, Flat Rock, NC; Press Release; 9/27/24 Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN) has officially announced the launch of its Quintuple Aim Strategy, aimed at setting a new standard for excellence in hospice and serious illness care. This initiative addresses the pressing need for improved quality of life for patients nearing the end of life, as many hospices face challenges in providing comprehensive care. ... The Quintuple Aim Strategy emphasizes five key goals: improving patient experience, enhancing population health, reducing costs, promoting provider well-being, and advancing health equity. This holistic approach enables member organizations to focus on their core mission of delivering high-quality, compassionate care. One of the key components of TCN’s model is the provision of comprehensive back-office support services. By offering shared resources in areas such as credentialing, billing, marketing, and finance, TCN allows its members to minimize administrative burdens and prioritize patient care. In just seven years, TCN has grown to include 15 member organizations across 10 states, and it has been recognized as one of Modern Healthcare’s Best Places to Work for four consecutive years, underscoring its commitment to fostering a supportive and effective work environment. ...