Literature Review

Arizona legislators call for more transparency, improved safety in assisted livingMcKnight's Senior Living, by Kimberly Bonvissuto; 1/30/24Arizona has joined a growing list of states where governments are calling for more transparency from assisted living communities through legislation following local media reports questioning resident safety in the setting.

The first 8 hospitals to attain Joint Commission's equity certificationBecker's Clinical Leadership, by Ashleigh Hollowell; 2/2/24Eight hospitals have achieved The Joint Commission's new health equity certification, which the accrediting organization rolled out in July. Key components of the certification require hospitals to make "health care equity a strategic priority and are collaborating with patients, families, caregivers and external organizations to identify and address needs that help translate equitable health care into better health outcomes," Jonathan Perlin, MD, PhD, president and CEO of The Joint Commission Enterprise, said in a June 27 news release just days before the program launched.

Explore the enormous benefits of multigenerational living in this essential guide for the modern American familyNewsDirect; 2/5/24In today's rapidly evolving world, the modern American family encounters unprecedented challenges without a roadmap for guidance. Addressing this pressing need, Under One Roof (River Grove Books, Feb. 5, 2024) emerges as a comprehensive guidebook authored by Emily K. Graham, Angel L. Vargas, and John L. Graham. With a wealth of experience and insights, the authors present innovative approaches to multigenerational living, shedding light on its opportunities and complexities.

How does care coordination promote senior health & longevity?MediaFeed.org, by Kara Lewis; 2/2/24... Care coordination offers several fundamental benefits to seniors, according to an American Nurses Association report:

Hospitals serving Black & Hispanic populations lack cancer resourcesOncology Times, by Sarah DiGiulio; 2/1/24Hospitals across the U.S. that treat the highest number of Black and Hispanic patients have significantly lower odds of offering key cancer services, such as PET/CT scanning, robotic surgery, and palliative care, than other hospitals. That was the top finding from recent research published in JAMA Oncology.

Video raises concerns about a father’s final days in senior care homeThe Atlanta-Journal Constitution Online, by Allie Gross; 1/30/24A 78-year-old veteran's final days at a Georgia senior care home, Savannah Court of Lake Oconee, raise troubling questions about care at the facility and the state's oversight. The new concerns come as the facility faces possible closure with a second license revocation hearing scheduled for Jan. 30, 2024.

Northwestern’s medical residents and fellows vote to unionizeChicago Sun Times, by Violet Miller; 1/29/24Interns, residents, chief residents and fellows at the McGaw Medical Center voted 794 to 148 in favor of union representation, an NLRB spokesperson said.

OIG to audit CMS oversight of state-contracted nursing home surveyorsMcKnights Long-Term Care, by Josh Henreckson; 1/23/24A top federal watchdog will audit the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ nursing home survey practices in 2024, according to a new report. Though sparse on details, the Jan. 16 announcement highlights concerns that third-party contractors may not have sufficient oversight to ensure proper performance of nursing home surveys.

Policymakers, providers must take steps to prevent staff mass turnover, researchers sayMcKnights Senior Living, by Kathleen Steele Gaivin, 1/29/24Employment levels in the skilled nursing industry are lagging compared with other parts of the healthcare continuum, noted the authors of a study published Friday in the Journal of the American Medical Association. ... Employment levels have been offset to some degree by hiring of agency staff, which the authors claim may affect resident/patient care by disrupting the continuity of care and “by diminishing the years of experience of the workforce.”

Alzheimer’s Association calls for federal involvement to increase dementia care workforce, training in assisted livingMcKnights Senior Living, by Lois A. Bowers; 1/29/24“Congress should consider the steps it can take at the federal level, including expanding the necessary workforce and improving dementia training standards and access,” as part of efforts to “help ensure a quality direct care workforce that can meet the unique needs of our nation’s growing number of Americans living with Alzheimer’s and other dementia” in assisted living communities and elsewhere, the Alzheimer’s Association and its advocacy affiliate, the Alzheimer’s Impact Movement, said in comments submitted to the US Senate Special Committee on Aging for the record of the hearing it held Thursday, titled “Assisted Living Facilities: Understanding Long-Term Care Options for Older Adults.”

Steward Texas medical center closing campusBecker's Hospital CFO Report, by Madeline Ashley; 1/25/24Port Arthur-based the Medical Center of Southeast Texas, part of Dallas-based Steward Health Care, is closing its Beaumont campus, including its emergency department and all hospital-related services, effective Feb. 2.

New program to provide emergency funding to rural hospitalsCapitol Beat, by Dave Williams; 1/17/24A nonprofit health-care organization announced plans ... to help financially struggling rural hospitals in Georgia in danger of closing. Ohio-based CareSource will contribute $5 million in emergency funding to hospitals and hospital-owned nursing homes in rural communities suffering critical cash deficits. Working in partnership with Cumming-based HomeTown Health, which represents rural hospitals across Georgia, the CareSource Rural Access Advancement Program will provide bridge loans to be repaid and reinvested into the program once the recipient has stabilized. Since 2010, nine rural hospitals have closed in Georgia, third-most in the nation.

US Senate launches investigation of assisted living after lay media reports about safety, staffing, pricingMcKnight's Senior Living, by Kimberly Bonvissuto; 1/17/24The US Senate Special Committee on Aging is launching a review of the assisted living industry following recent articles in the Washington Post, which reported on the deaths of residents who wandered from communities, as well as the New York Times and KFF, which scrutinized an industry pricing structure that adds fees on top of basic charges to cover additional services, as well as rate increases and the for-profit status of most providers.