Literature Review

Lessons in CaregivingBy Lisa B. SamalonisNext AvenueDecember 4, 2023... When my parents, in their late 70s, became ill with several chronic and terminal health ailments, my sisters and I worked to support them and honor their wishes to age in their home. ... Like many adult children and family friends new to this process, we were unaware of everything we did not know about the complexity of safely aging in place and the available resources. ... Often, coordination of care is very challenging. ... Being a vocal advocate can help your loved one immensely. ... Yet, taking care of oneself allows one to care for others.[Editor’s Note: The author is a writer and editor based in New Jersey. She writes about health, parenting, books and personal finance.]

Models can predict when older adults with dementia may need nursing home careMcKnight’s Long Term Care NewsDecember 5, 2023It often can be difficult to determine when a person with dementia may need to go to a nursing home or receive that level of care. A new study created models to help people determine when older adults living with dementia will require nursing home-level care. The results can give people and their loved ones evidence-backed data if it comes time to make that decision. The study was published on Dec. 4 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

News about the Upcoming Hospice News Today Transition  Two long-time hospice advocates and entrepreneurs will be assuming publication of Hospice News Today on January 1, 2024, which will be renamed Hospice and Palliative Care Today, LLC.  Leading the effort will be Cordt Kassner, PhD, who, as many of you know, is the brains and number-cruncher behind Hospice Analytics. Cordt will be bringing on an editor, who is well known in the hospice community. We’ll be announcing that name in a week or two.  Cordt and his editor are committed to maintaining—and building upon—the Hospice News Today goal of ensuring that hospice leaders have the information and background necessary to navigate the ever-changing, ever-challenging healthcare landscape to ensure the long-term sustainability and success of the hospice model of care.  They will be making some exciting changes in the newsletter format as they roll out Hospice and Palliative Care Today. You’ll still receive a daily email. Monday through Friday the email will digest the day’s news. Weekend and Holiday editions will present some deeper looks at areas like clinical news.  You’ll soon be able to customize your daily newsletter to the topics and issues of interest to you—although given my personal interest in issues management, I encourage you to cast as broad a net as you’re comfortable.  The newsletter will be dynamically linked to an incredibly interactive website where you can manage your profile, search archives, and more.  And, perhaps most significantly, Hospice and Palliative Care Today will convert to a free-subscription model, relying into the future on the support of advertisers and sponsors to bring this valuable tool to the hospice community.  As hospice leaders, you understand that change is always a challenge. I encourage you to approach the new newsletter with an open mind. Cordt and his editor will be experimenting with various features and options from day one, so be patient. The newsletter you receive on January 1 will not be the same as the newsletter you receive on April 1 or July 1. It will be an invigorating journey of discovery for all of us!  In the next week or two, you’ll start seeing a link in Hospice News Today to take you to the Hospice and Palliative Care Today website to register for your free subscription commencing January 1. Please be sure to respond—and please share the link freely with anyone and everyone who might be interested.  It’s been a rewarding journey for me since 2012 to build this tool for my friends and colleagues in the hospice community. Cordt was one of my first subscribers, so it’s especially gratifying to be able to hand the newsletter to him.  As a reminder, this transition for Hospice News Today has no bearing on the respected online trade publication, Hospice News.  Look for more transition information in the days ahead.  In the meantime time, you can learn more about Cordt here.  Thanks for your continued readership and interest.Mark CohenEditor & Publisher, Hospice News Today