Literature Review

“A different way of looking at how you can age in America” AJMC; by Maggie L. Shaw; 5/21/25

How 24 rural hospitals look to improve value-based care Modern Healthcare; by Alex Kacik; 5/15/25 Two dozen critical access hospitals in Montana have created a clinically integrated network, following similar rural provider-led coalitions in other states. The Yellowstone High Value Network, announced Thursday, looks to improve independent rural hospitals’ care models while also lowering their costs. The network, which resembles coalitions launched in Ohio, Minnesota and North Dakota through rural hospital advisory firm Cibolo Health, is designed to give hospitals the combined patient volume and technology infrastructure to expand alternative payment models that are tailored to the rural communities where they operate.

Home health use remains high among beneficiaries with dementia, study findsMcKnight's Home Care; by Adam Healy; 5/19/25Medicare beneficiaries who have dementia increasingly are using home healthcare, according to a new study published Friday in JAMA Network Open... Home health utilization increased by roughly 17% among beneficiaries with dementia between 2010 and 2019 and decreased slightly between 2020 and 2022, the study found. Beneficiaries with dementia were also more likely to initiate home healthcare from community-dwelling settings, rather than from post-acute care settings.

A dozen seniors at risk of being evicted from assisted living facilities in Stanislaus County NBC KCRA-3, Newman, CA; by Andres Valle; 5/15/25 The closure of two senior residential care facilities in Stanislaus County has left over a dozen older residents, including hospice patients, scrambling to find new homes with just days' notice. This decision comes after the passing of Kelsy Ramos, the licensee of Golden Age Living facilities in Turlock and Newman. Ramos, a Turlock native reported missing earlier this month, was found dead last Monday in Selma. The California Department of Social Services ordered the closure with no licensed manager in place, citing the absence of regulatory oversight. 

A new era of healing: How home care is changing the healthcare landscape Repertoire Magazine; 5/13/25 Older adults often prefer receiving care in familiar surroundings, which enhances their comfort and quality of life. Home health services enable patients to age in place, reducing the need for institutional care, such as nursing homes. ... For the May issue, Repertoire Magazine spoke to several experts – from distributors to providers – on the current realities of the home care market and what’s in store in the years to come. ...

‘Surprisingly hopeful’ story emerges about LGBTQ+ rights, efforts in senior living McKnights Senior Living; by Kimberly Bonvissuto; 5/14/25 ... The Human Rights Campaign Foundation and LGBTQ+ elder advocacy group SAGE on Tuesday released its 2025 Long-Term Care Equality Index, a national benchmarking tool focused on LGBTQ+ inclusion in senior living and care. The key takeaway, the organizations said, is the “defiant progress” occurring despite political attacks against inclusion efforts.  As cuts to the Medicaid program — which many LGBTQ+ older adults rely on — come more into focus, participation in the latest survey jumped 37% from the 2023 report, with 274 long-term care settings across 33 states expressing commitment to inclusive care for more than 29,000 residents and 18,000 staff members. Participants included independent living, assisted living, memory care, continuing care retirement / life plan and affordable housing communities, as well as skilled nursing facilities and hospice settings.

How DispatchHealth’s CEO plans to change the face of in-home careModern Healthcare; by Diane Eastabrook; 5/7/25DispatchHealth CEO Jennifer Webster said the company is eyeing new markets and care models after its acquisition of hospital-at-home provider Medically Home is complete. Denver-based DispatchHealth announced a definitive agreement in mid-March to acquire Boston-based Medically Home. Webster said the deal is still on track to close in a couple of months, but there is a lot of work to be done first. That includes integrating operations and technology, as well as senior leadership.

Dombi: At-home care providers must overcome ‘self-inflicted challenge’ to flourish Home Health Care News; by Morgan Gonzales; 5/2/25 Despite operating on razor-thin margins and facing persistent reimbursement challenges, some home-based care providers are setting themselves apart by leaning into innovation. By embracing alternative payment models, virtual health and opportunities like hospital-at-home programs, providers can save themselves from home-based care’s “self-inflicted challenge” of not capitalizing on the industry’s evolving opportunities, according to Bill Dombi, senior counsel for Arnall Golden Gregory law firm. He also formerly led the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC), which following a merger is now the National Alliance for Care at Home. While workforce shortages, potential Medicaid cuts and unsustainable payment rates threaten the industry, opportunity awaits those willing to evolve, Dombi said.

Understanding Conservatory Care Services: A comprehensive overview Articlescad.com; by Jonassen Randall; 4/27/25 As the population ages and healthcare requires evolve, conservatory care services have become a crucial part of the continuum of care for numerous individuals. Unlike standard medical treatment environments, conservatory care services focus on supporting people with persistent conditions or impairments, providing a holistic technique that promotes self-respect and quality of life. This short article will explore what conservatory care services entail, who can benefit from these services, and the various kinds they can take.

Iowa nurse sentenced to prison after patient deathBecker's Hospital Review; by Mariah Taylor; 4/25/25A former Iowa licensed nurse practitioner has been sentenced to prison after failing to help a nursing home patient who died of asphyxiation, the Des Moines Register reported April 24. Becky Manning, 70, was in charge of the overnight shift at Care Initiatives, a nursing facility in West Des Moines, during one night in February 2023. That night, an 87-year-old patient indicated that his tracheostomy tube in his neck needed to have fluids suctioned out. Ms. Manning, who was the sole nurse on duty, refused to do so after repeated requests. Earlier that night, she reportedly told the director of nursing that she was unwilling or unable to suction the tracheostomy tube and the nursing director told her to “watch a video and figure it out,” according to a lawsuit filed by the man’s family. The man died of asphyxiation.

26 rural hospitals band together as national trend emerges Becker's Hospital Review; by Alan Condon; 4/18/25 Twenty-six rural hospitals across Ohio and West Virginia have partnered to form the Ohio High Value Network — a clinically integrated network aimed at strengthening care delivery, improving outcomes and reducing costs for patients. The collaborative includes 25 Ohio hospitals and care sites in more than 115 cities and towns across 37 counties, along with one hospital in West Virginia. Together, they serve a population of more than 2.5 million patients. The network is structured as a CIN and is designed to support both clinical and operational collaboration across its members. Its formation reflects a growing national trend of rural hospitals banding together to preserve independence, drive value-based care and weather increasing financial and regulatory pressures. “We believe that strong collaboration is the best way to sustain high-quality care in our communities,” Myron Lewis, OHVN board chair and CEO of Blanchard Valley Health System in Findlay, Ohio ...

Join Rebecca Ramsey and Chris Comeaux in exploring the future of home care Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN); podcast by Chris Comeaux with Rebecca Ramsey; 4/16/25 In this episode of TCNtalks, host Chris Comeaux interviews Rebecca Ramsay, CEO of Housecall Providers.  Rebecca shares her unique journey in healthcare and emphasizes the importance of nonprofit organizations in delivering quality care. Rebecca discusses the evolution of Housecall Providers, the significance of home-based primary care, and the interdisciplinary approach required to meet the needs of patients with complex conditions. She also advocates for Hospice organizations to expand into home-based primary care, highlighting the growing demand and the gaps in current services.  Chris and Rebecca explore the challenges of maintaining a stable workforce, the complexities of payment structures, and the importance of a steady referral stream for viable home-based primary care.  

Why cameras are popping up in eldercare facilities The New York Times; by Paula Span; 4/7/25 Roughly 20 states now have laws permitting families to place cameras in the rooms of loved ones. Facility operators are often opposed. ... The assisted-living facility in Edina, Minn., where Jean H. Peters and her siblings moved their mother in 2011, looked lovely. “But then you start uncovering things,” Ms. Peters said. Her mother, Jackie Hourigan, widowed and developing memory problems at 82, too often was still in bed when her children came to see her in mid-morning. So Ms. Peters bought an inexpensive camera at Best Buy. She and her sisters installed it atop the refrigerator in her mother’s apartment, ... Monitoring from an app on their phones, the family saw Ms. Hourigan going hours without being changed. They saw and heard an aide loudly berating her and handling her roughly as she helped her dress. ... Though they remain a contentious subject, cameras in care facilities are gaining ground. By 2020, eight states had joined Minnesota in enacting laws allowing them, according to the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care: Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Washington. [Continue reading ...]