Literature Review

Engaging community health workers in Advance Care Planning  Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 10/24/25 Three organizations have developed an advance care planning training program in Illinois for community health workers that could potentially be adapted for other states. The seeds for the project were planted when the Illinois Public Health Association (IPHA) was awarded a grant by the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA). IPHA proceeded to engage the Illinois Hospice & Palliative Care Organization (IL-HPCO) and the HAP Foundation as subject matter experts to help develop the curriculum, as well as the education company Hospice Media, which filmed and designed the modules and workbooks.

Traumatic brain injury in late life tied to elevated dementia risk Medscape; by Liz Scherer; 10/13/25 Traumatic brain injury (TBI) in late life is associated with a significant increase in the risk for new-onset dementia. The risk is especially elevated (by as much as 69%) within the first 5 years following the injury, according to newly published study findings. Though TBI, which results from direct impact or indirect force to the head, has long been recognized as a midlife risk factor for dementia, the risk that TBI poses in adults aged 65 years or older has been unclear.

The pitfalls that derail home health providers’ new palliative care efforts Home Health Care News; by Joyce Famakinwa; 10/14/25 ... Though home health-operated palliative care is a rarity, companies like Visiting Nurse Health System, Contessa Health and Compassus have managed to successfully incorporate these services into their broader care delivery model. When structuring an effective palliative care services program, there are some common pitfalls home health providers should avoid. “One of the biggest ones is positioning palliative care as early hospice,” Nikki Davis, senior vice president of palliative care programs at Contessa, said at Home Health Care News’ FUTURE conference. “And just make sure that there’s also clear eligibility and referral pathways, so that when you’re partnering with your home health and hospice teams, you have those processes in place, so that it’s very clear who’s eligible for palliative care.”

An age-old fear grows more common: 'I'm going to die alone' The Washington Post; by Judith Graham; 10/11/25 As families fracture, people are living long and are more likely to find themselves without close relatives or friends at the end of their lives. [Full access may be limited by a paywall.]

Rehab patients practice skills by building hospice care packages as Oak Park police and Lincoln Rx donate supplies. Feiga Bowick connects it all.  The Detroit Jewish News; by Rochel Burstyn; 10/9/25 ... Small steps can quickly snowball and make a big difference. Feiga Bowick, LMSW, CDP, the manager of Social Services and Community Engagement at PARC Home Care and Hospice of Southeast Michigan, ... [described] her recent hospice collaboration with Life Skills Village ... a rehabilitation center mainly for patients who have developmental delays and traumatic brain injuries. “I met with their occupational therapist ...: "How could these patients help others in a way that would be helpful to their own recovery?” Bowick said. “Many patients at Life Skills Village are working on fine motor skills and organizational skills, and we decided to try and get items together so they could create care packages for PARC hospice patients — while practicing their skills.” [Continue reading this inspirational story.]

Hospice of Santa Barbara’s No One Dies Alone Program ensures that those who are alone and actively dying, have someone at their bedside Santa Barbara Independent, Santa Barbara, CA; by Hospice of Santa Barbara; 9/29/25Hospice of Santa Barbara’s (HSB) No One Dies Alone (NODA) program has partnered with local senior living facilities in Santa Barbara for over a decade, providing compassionate volunteer support to seniors in their final 24 to 72 hours when family or friends are unavailable. Currently, NODA has 21 trained volunteers serving in the program. Before becoming a NODA volunteer, applicants must graduate from a six-week patient care training and serve as a patient care volunteer for a minimum of 9 months before attending a NODA specific training. Most NODA volunteers have been with the program for years and feel a strong commitment to the work they do.

Living with dementia: To improve lives, we need to change how we think and talk about this experience in aging societies EurekAlert! - AAAS (American Association for the Advancement of Science); peer reviewed publication by The Hastings Center; 9/24/25 To experience or even contemplate dementia raises some of the most profound questions: What does it mean to be a person? How does someone find meaning in life while facing progressive neurological deterioration? ... To improve the lives of our fellow citizens who are living with dementia or providing dementia care, all of us need to pay attention to how we imagine and talk about these interwoven and increasingly common experiences, concludes Living with Dementia: Learning from Cultural Narratives in Aging Societies, a special report published by The Hastings Center for Bioethics. This report responds to calls from health care and social service practitioners for new ways to depict and talk about dementia, a collective term for Alzheimer disease and related dementias. Editor's Note: Click here for free access to multiple articles in this crucial report, such as

Serious falls resulting in hospitalization among Medicare-enrolled nursing home residents, July 2022–June 2023HHS Office of the Inspector General; Report number: OEI-05-24-0018; 9/18/25This OIG data snapshot accompanies the report, Nursing Homes Failed To Report 43 Percent of Falls With Major Injury and Hospitalization Among Their Medicare-Enrolled Residents, OEI-05-24-00180. The snapshot found that between July 1, 2022, and June 30, 2023, more than 42,000 Medicare-enrolled nursing home residents experienced serious falls resulting in major injury and hospitalization, and 1,911 died during their hospital stays. The data indicated that most residents had known fall risk factors prior to their injuries, and falls were more common among female, older, and short-stay residents. Nursing homes with lower nurse staffing levels and lower quality ratings had higher fall rates. These preventable events reduced residents’ quality of life and cost Medicare and enrollees over $800 million, underscoring the need for stronger fall prevention and quality improvement efforts in nursing homes. 

Low-cost respite service offered North Central News, Phoenix, AZ; by NCN Staff; 9/17/25 A new program is bringing together Arizona State University students and Hospice of the Valley to provide support to families caring for a person with dementia at home or in a facility. RISE — Respite In Student Engagement is a unique partnership between ASU and Hospice of the Valley’s Supportive Care for Dementia program. RISE connects students with families to provide affordable respite for caregivers and meaningful engagement for the person living with dementia in their home or in a facility. The rate is $20 per hour and families pay the student directly. RISE students are not employees or contractors for ASU or Hospice of the Valley. All students are background checked, and ASU students who join RISE receive evidence-based dementia training from the Dementia Care and Education Campus in Phoenix.

Senior health, home health & hospice stocks Q2 highlights StockStory; by Kayode Omotosho; 9/10/25 ... Looking ahead, the industry is positioned for tailwinds from an aging population, increasing chronic disease prevalence, and a growing preference for personalized in-home care. Advancements in remote monitoring and telehealth are expected to enhance efficiency and care delivery. However, headwinds such as labor shortages, wage inflation, and regulatory uncertainty around reimbursement could pose challenges. Investments in digitization and technology-driven care will be critical for long-term success. The 7 senior health, home health & hospice stocks we track reported a mixed Q2. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 2%.

Raising the standard of Arizona’s dementia care Lovin' Life; by Lin Sue Flood; 9/7/25 Arizona is setting a bold new standard to better support families impacted by dementia. A groundbreaking state mandate requires all memory care facilities to provide up to 12 hours of specialized dementia training to their staff, plus four hours of continuing education each year. This extensive training combines online video modules with hands-on, in-person skills sessions. Hospice of the Valley’s experienced Dementia Team is leading the way as one of the agencies the Arizona Department of Health Services has approved to deliver this comprehensive training. The nonprofit organization is unique in offering it as a free community service.

Husband and wife have emotional reunion after a year apart while dealing with dementia People; by Sam Gillette; 9/4/25 "We are humbled to help turn final wishes into treasured memories," a hospice official says of Everett Linton and his wife. ... An 88-year-old former truck driver from Cincinnati was able to hitch a ride to see his wife for the first time in almost a year, leading to an emotional reunion. “I'm ridin', I'm going to see my wife,” Everett Linton told a reporter from ABC affiliate WCPO from the passenger seat of a semi-truck. The nostalgic ride and reunion on Aug. 22 were organized by his care facility, Luminary Hospice Cincinnati, and the facility where his wife, Patricia, is staying, Majestic Care of Fairfield Assisted Living in Fairfield, Ohio.

How to choose the right assisted living facility for your aging loved one Mediafeed.org; by Rebecca Schier-Akamelu; 8/19/25 When you tour assisted living facilities, you’ll have the opportunity to speak directly with staff members and, when appropriate, even residents. Asking questions about pricing, amenities, caregivers, the types of care provided, and community culture will help you and your loved one compare when it’s time to choose the best facility. Key questions to find the right fit: ...