Literature Review

Home-focused PACE model continues to gain traction across US Home Health Care News, by Joyce Famakinwa; 3/19/24 A Georgia House Bill that would create a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) was passed by the state senate earlier this month. House Bill 1078 passed in a 49 to 1 senate vote.Specifically, the bill creates a new adult day center licensure exclusion in order to authorize the Department of Community Health to establish and implement PACE in Georgia as part of the state’s medical assistance program. The Department of Community Health would manage the program. 

SNFists found to reduce ‘burdensome’ end-of-life care McKnights Long-Term Care News, by Josh Henreckson; 3/18/24 Advanced practice clinicians who specialize in skilled nursing care help reduce the use of unnecessary care at end of life, according to new study results released Friday in JAMA Network Open. These physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants — who provide at least 80% of their evaluation and care visits in nursing homes — were referred to collectively as “SNFists” by the report authors. They reduced the burdensome care transitions that many residents face, benefiting both caregivers and their patients, the study confirms.

For-profit nursing homes are cutting corners on safety and draining resources with financial shenanigans − especially at midsize chains that dodge public scrutinyThe Conversation, by Sean Campbell and Charlene Harrington; 3/14/24 ... Overall, private-equity investors wreak havoc on nursing homes, slashing registered nurse hours per resident day by 12%, outpacing other for-profit facilities. The aftermath is grim, with a daunting 14% surge in the deficiency score index, a standardized metric for determining issues with facilities, according to a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services report.The human toll comes in death and suffering. A study updated in 2023 by the National Bureau of Economic Research calculated that 22,500 additional deaths over a 12-year span were attributable to private-equity ownership, equating to about 172,400 lost life years. The calculations also showed that private-equity ownership was responsible for a 6.2% reduction in mobility, an 8.5% increase in ulcer development and a 10.5% uptick in pain intensity.

Long-term care costs can cripple families with aging loved ones. Turlock has a solution - Opinion The Modesto Bee, by Jeffrey Lews and Francesa Rinaldo; 3/17/24The sudden closures of the Brandel Manor nursing home and Cypress Place Assisted Living have left many in Turlock and the surrounding communities wondering where they will find quality care for their loved [ones]. ... The Turlock City Council approved a $400,000 grant to support the Legacy Health Endowment Person-Centered Care (PCC) program, an innovative initiative offering comprehensive in-home support services for families looking after aging loved ones. The program aims to assist families by providing care while safeguarding against premature placement into a nursing home or the fear of re-hospitalization. 

Institutional effforts to address legacies of slavery—Implications for the health care system JAMA Health Forum; by Sara N. Bleich, PhD; Jose F. Figueroa, MD, MPH; Martha Minow, JD; 3/14/24... Health care systems across the country are increasing their efforts to help address structural racism. For example, the Healthcare Anchor Network (HAN), which launched in 2017, includes 40 health systems in 45 states and Washington, DC, that have committed to address structural racism and the corresponding public health disparities. HAN aims to improve community health by leveraging key assets such as hiring, purchasing, and place-based investment strategies.

How home care companies can optimize operationsMcKnights Home Care, by Lance A. Slatton; 3/12/24To meet the evolving needs of this growing industry without placing additional stress on employed caregivers, it’s crucial that home care companies optimize their operations. This may involve streamlining their processes, adopting innovative technologies, and prioritizing efficiency to ensure high-quality care and sustainable growth.

Home Care costs continue to increase, outpacing other long-term care settings Home Health Care News, by Andrew Donlan; 3/12/24 The pricing increases in home care have again outpaced other long-term care sectors, according to Genworth’s annual cost of care report. 

Few hospitals follow recommended practices for evidence-based suicide care Pew, by Farzana Akkas; 3/12/24 In 2022, suicide claimed the lives of an estimated 49,449 people in the United States. ... Research has shown that almost half of those who die by suicide interact with the health care system within four weeks of their deaths. And those who are hospitalized for suicide risk face an elevated risk of dying by suicide post-discharge, making this a critical time for these patients to have access to resources, support, and care that can keep them safe in the event of a suicidal crisis. But new research shows that only 8% of hospitals in the U.S. have instituted all the key components of evidence-based, best-practice interventions to help at-risk patients who are discharged after receiving care. In fact, more than 1 in 4 are not conducting any of these interventions.

Navigating Aging: Does our society simply not care about our vulnerable older population? KFF Health News, by Judith Graham; 3/10/24 ... The pandemic made things worse. Prejudice against older adults is nothing new, but “it feels more intense, more hostile” now than previously, said Karl Pillemer, 69, a professor of psychology and gerontology at Cornell University. “I think the pandemic helped reinforce images of older people as sick, frail, and isolated — as people who aren’t like the rest of us,” he said. “And human nature being what it is, we tend to like people who are similar to us and be less well disposed to ‘the others.'" 

Operating in the red: Half of rural hospitals are losing money, as many cut servicesSource NM, by Jazmin Orozoco Rodriguez (KFF Health News); 3/7/24As half of rural hospitals lose money, many are cutting services

Carolina Caring House Calls breaks down traditional medical care barriers Salisbury Post, by Julie Brooks; 3/20/24 County residents now have more access to healthcare providers than ever thanks to Carolina Caring House Calls, a home-based medicine program that offers high-quality medical care in the comfort and safety of patients’ homes. House Calls is designed to serve patients who face barriers to accessing routine medical care, including disabilities, chronic illnesses, mobility problems and more. 

Nursing homes bury 63 percent of profits in related-party tunnels, but not all play the game: study McKnights Long-Term Care News, by Josh Henreckson; 3/8/24 As much as 63% of nursing home profits in Illinois were hidden from state regulators using related party transactions in 2019, according to the results of a new study from UCLA and Lehigh University researchers. Those results are likely indicative of a nationwide trend that has continued through the pandemic and into 2024, experts told McKnight’s Long-Term Care News Thursday.

Bringing the hospital homePenn Medicine News, by Mary Beth Budnyk; 3/5/24Since his 2020 diagnosis with multiple sclerosis, Steve Lengle has had good and bad days. The bad days are becoming more frequent as his condition continues to decline, causing debilitating pain, weakness, and fatigue, and affecting everything from his memory to his ability to walk. The Lengles found the help they needed through Penn Medicine Advanced Home Health (PMAHH), a new program that aims to prevent hospitalizations by providing a higher level of in-home care to patients who are experiencing an acute medical concern. Editor's Note: This article describes an example of the fairly new Acute Hospital Care At Home program, launched by CMS in November 2020.