Literature Review

Ellen McGirt on supporting caregivers at work Great Place to Work; by Roula Amire with Ellen McGirt; 10/8/24 This episode of Better features journalist, speaker, and podcast host Ellen McGirt. In this deeply personal conversation, we dive into the challenges of caregiving while balancing a career.  ...On how managers can better support caregivers at work: Flexible time off, no questions asked. A flexible schedule can change everything for people. ...On the impact a senior leader can have by talking about caregiving and grief: If a very senior person triggers this conversation in the workplace with a disclosure or concern, you're going to see new training, new conversations, new talking points, and new volunteers, and maybe even new staff positions around this. ...On how colleagues can support coworkers who are caretakers, or members of the sandwich generation: Kindness and compassion go a long way. ...

'Trying not to cry:' Helene's wrath sets new normal in battered western North Carolina townCBS WBTW-13, Florence, SC; by Adrianna Lawrence; 10/8/24 Kyle Katona has lived through his share of hurricanes. But nothing could ready him for the wrath Helene unleashed across the idyllic valleys of western North Carolina. "I've never seen the amount of devastation that Hurricane Helene caused in the mountains," the Four Seasons hospice store driver said. He wasn't alone. "I don't think anybody was prepared for the level of catastrophe that was going to occur," said Rikki Hooper, Four Seasons' clinical operations officer. Traumatized residents awoke to the sound of water coursing into their homes before the sun came up -- taking everything and, in some heartbreaking instances, everyone, with it. "Nobody should have to go through this," said Polk County residents Pixie and Deena Moore said. Discolored tree lines 10 to 20 feet high in some places peppered the landscape amid rows of utility vehi cles and overturned cars caked in debris were stark reminders of Helene's total destruction. At Lake Lure -- a beloved vacation spot minutes from Chimney Rock -- mud stands in for where water once flowed. Instead, officials and first responders were providing medical treatment. Military helicopters flicked across the sky and bulldozers cleared out areas. If it sounds like a warzone, that's because it was as close as it could be to one, Pixie Moore said. Editor's note: Click here to donate directly to Four Seasons' hurricance relief needs; or Amazon Wish List. Click here for our 10/2 interview with TCN leaders with Four Seasons about Helene's devastation and hospice needs. 

West Des Moines teacher battling cancer hopes to inspire his community KCCI Des Moine, IA; by Nicole Tam; 10/4/24 Luke Miller's passion is teaching. Two and a half years ago, he faced the biggest test of his life. "I went into the doctor with a pain on my side," Miller said. An MRI showed tumors in his liver that spread from his colon. "I was told I might have a year to live and I would never have surgery," Miller said. He beat those odds but the battle continues. Through it all, nothing stopped him from doing what he loved. ... This fall, Miller stepped away from the classroom. Even as he goes through a hospice at EveryStep's Kavanagh House, the students are still with Mr. Miller. His room is filled with handwritten notes, pictures and reminders of hope. ... At Westridge Elementary School, starting from the outside as people are driving to school to the inside, there are signs of support for Miller including the digital message board and posters in the hallway. "We want to support the Millers, not only now but in the future as well. We want them to know we'll always be here for them because Luke was always here for us," Troy Ellerbroek, Westridge Elementary School teacher, said. 

Hosparus Health ranked fourth in nation for overall quality The News-Enterprise; 10/5/24 Hosparus Health has been ranked fourth in the nation for Overall Quality among the 50 largest hospices, according to a study published in the American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Medicine. This ranking was determined based on key metrics: Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems caregiver survey scores, employee satisfaction ratings from Glassdoor and sentiment scores from Google reviews. David W. Cook, president and CEO of Hosparus Health, expressed his pride in the organization’s staff. “Your care, your compassion, it’s those on the front line of our care,” Cook said. “It’s thrilling to see the recognition of what you do here celebrated nationally.” Since 1978, Hosparus Health has been at the forefront of hospice and palliative care services, caring for thousands of patients across Kentucky and Indiana, the release said. Today, the nonprofit organization, which has offices in Elizabethtown, continues to provide expert care and holistic support to more than 14,000 patients and families annually, ensuring that each individual receives compassionate, high-quality care during life’s most challenging times.

Hospice patient revisits old hobby[North Mankato, MN] KEYC News Now; 10/2/24[TV story describing St. Croix Hospice's work taking a patient fishing in Waseca, MN.]

[Interview] Andrew Molosky, President & CEO, Chapters Health System Capital Analytics Associates; 10/3/24 In an interview with Invest:, Andrew Molosky, president and CEO of Chapters Health System, discussed Chapters Health’s focus on personalized care and flexibility, how it uses data analytics and artificial intelligence to supplement medical expertise, and the reason for its rapid expansion. 

Community Healthcare CEO: Enact moratorium to combat hospice fraud Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 10/4/24 Community Healthcare of Texas CEO Viki Jingle has kept her finger on the pulse of potential hospice fraud occurring in her home state. She and her colleagues recently brought a range of concerns to a discussion with Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R-Texas) in Community Healthcare’s second meeting with the Congress member. Van Duyne has been among the legislators who have been most vocal about hospice fraud since the problem began to emerge. Among the most important issues under discussion is a rash of newly licensed hospice operators in multiple states that some have associated with suspicious or unethical practices. The issue first gained attention in 2022 in California, but stakeholders have also raised concerns about providers in Nevada, Arizona and Texas. [Click on the title's link to continue reading.]

Family matriarch crosses ocean swim off bucket list Star News Group, Manasquan, NJ; by Alex Dyer; 10/3/24 Dorothy Jean “Dot” Temple ventured into the rough surf, her arms supported by loved ones, her feet tickled by sea foam and soft sand. Wading in the ocean is an ordinary pleasure. But on this day, it was special for Temple and for everyone who came to watch her enjoy the water. At age 93, it’s no longer an easy task for Temple to indulge in her love of ocean swimming, an activity in which she had excelled for a majority of her life. ... Dot was recently admitted to the hospital, where the family was not “sure if she would survive the night.” Afterwards, she was put on hospice, where she was advised to cease her medication. “We were heartbroken at the prospect of possibly losing her, but in typical Nanny fashion…she is holding her own and is still doing great — all things considered,” said Gasetel. “A strong-headed woman, she has been very vocal that before she passes, she absolutely must go swimming in the ocean one more time; so that’s exactly what we did.”

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."

Asian-American communities face ‘digital divide’ in health equity, hospice care Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 10/1/24 Recent research has dug into the barriers limiting greater telehealth utilization among Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities. The data come at a time when hospices are striving to better understand how to improve those groups’ end-of-life trajectories. Technology utilization has gained momentum in health care, including in hospice care delivery. Though increased virtual health care access can help hospice providers reach patients upstream, the trend may be worsening disparities and outcomes among Asian American populations, according to Victoria Tsze, an outpatient hospice social worker at Tucson Medical Center (TMC) Hospice. 

AccentCare sued by EEOC for pay discrimination, retaliationMcKnight's Home Care; by Adam Healy; 10/1/24The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission disclosed last week that it filed a lawsuit against AccentCare, a national provider of home health, personal care and hospice services, alleging wage discrimination and retaliation against workers.

Heartwarming video show calves bringing joy to hospice patients[Augusta, GA] Fox54 News; by Talker News; 9/26/24Carol Harland had family visiting her when she was surprised by the calves visiting. A heartwarming video shows end of life patients meeting and cuddling two adorable calves. Residents at Ashgate Hospice in Chesterfield, Derbys., spent their day being entertained by four-week-old Brown Swiss cows Bonnie and Bella. Carol Harland, 75, was only admitted into the hospice's inpatient unit two days before the "gorgeous" cows came and visited her but said she had a "lovely day." Carol, who has bowel cancer, said: "The cows have been gorgeous.

The HOPE assessment tool: What you need to know [free webinar from CHAP]CHAP press release; 10/2/24The HOPE assessment tool kicks off in 2025 and will catalyze hospice care to a new level. CMS developed the HOPE tool to inform future quality measure development and payment reform, eventually moving hospice from pay-for-submission to pay-for-performance. This session will describe the implementation of the HOPE assessment tool, content highlights, and its impact on hospice program operations in the next several years.Publisher's note: Dr. Jennifer Kennedy and Kim Skehan from CHAP are presenting this free webinar 10/16/24 @ 1:00-2:00 PM ET. Please click the link above for addtional and registration information.