Literature Review

Humana agrees to purchase bankrupt Florida provider The Villages Health for $50m Healthcare Dive; by Rebecca Pifer; 7/8/25 The insurer’s bid is preliminary and kicks off an auction for the debt-laden provider, which decided to undergo bankruptcy after discovering it owed Medicare hundreds of millions of dollars.

When a fall becomes a death sentence for nursing home residents Justice News Flash; by Harve J.; 7/8/25 For nursing home residents, a trip to the hospital can be far more than a temporary setback it often marks the beginning of the end. According to data reviewed in a national nursing home longevity study by Gruber Law Offices, nearly 30% of older adults die within a month of hospital discharge. These figures suggest that transitions in care, rather than stabilizing vulnerable patients, may be accelerating their decline. ... Each year, nursing homes report between 100 and 200 falls, with the average resident experiencing 2.6 falls. These aren’t isolated accidents they’re indicators of systemic risk. Many residents already face mobility challenges, and understaffing makes close monitoring difficult. The result is a cycle: a fall leads to hospitalization, hospitalization increases frailty, and frailty increases the chance of further injury or death.

St. Joseph’s Center of Trumbull to permanently close Aug. 9 Westfair Business Journal, Trumbaull, CT; by Gary Larkin; 6/30/25The Town of Trumbull and the state Department of Labor (DOL) have reported they are trying to help the 179 employees laid off by St. Joseph’s Center after its parent company [Genesis Healthcare] announced it was closing the nursing home on Aug. 9. ... St. Joseph’s Center has been serving Trumbull for more than 50 years with an array of services such as: independent living, short-term rehabilitation, long-term care, and hospice services. 

Measuring what matters: The untapped power of resident experienceMcKnight's Long-Term Care News; by Charles de Vilmorin; 6/25/25In today’s senior living and long-term care environment, doing well financially depends on doing good — truly good. Communities that thrive are the ones that deliver on the promise of person-directed living, where residents are not passive care recipients but active participants in a life of dignity, purpose and connection. This isn’t just a moral imperative — it’s a strategic one. The industry has long recognized the importance of resident quality of life, but often fails to define or measure it with the same rigor applied to occupancy or staffing ratios. This is a missed opportunity. Resident experience remains one of the most powerful, untapped levers for operational improvement, competitive differentiation and financial growth. It’s time we treat it like the performance driver it is.Publisher's note: The balance of "mission and money" is equally true in hospice.

Short notice, long love: A hospice wedding full of heart Citrus County Chronicle, Inverness, FL; by Mike Arnold; 6/16/25 Brendan Malone and Vanessa Rodriguez made a snap decision that would change their lives – and touch the hearts of everyone around them. The couple were driving up from Estero in the early afternoon of June 5 to visit Malone’s father, Michael “Big Mike” Malone, who had recently moved into Citrus Health and Rehab in Inverness and was also receiving care from Vitas Hospice. [Already engaged,] ... they made the decision to get married the next morning, at Citrus Health and Rehab. There were no tuxedo fittings, no cake tastings, no invitations sent. There was no time. There were flowers, guests, toasts, bubbles – and love. And “Big Mike” had a front row seat. Brendan Malone didn’t want to get married without the man who had been his biggest supporter by his side. ... What followed was a whirlwind of compassion, planning, and action from the staff at the nursing facility and the local hospice team. Within hours, they coordinated decorations, arranged courtyard seating, and made sure Michael could be present in his wheelchair for the ceremony.

A woman died in hospice at a Gilbert memory care facility. Her husband was arrested after staff say they found 'suspicious bruising and markings.' NBC News 12, Gilbert, AZ; Kyra O'Connor; 6/14/25 A man was arrested after staff at a memory care facility in Gilbert reported his wife had "suspicious bruising and markings" on her body, the city's police department said. The woman, who was not identified, passed away in hospice care. Gilbert police officers responded to a memory care facility around 9 a.m. on June 11. Staff at the memory care facility contacted police after noticing "suspicious bruising and markings" on a 58-year-old woman in hospice care who had passed away earlier in the day, at approximately 3 a.m. The woman's husband, 46-year-old Justin Davidson, was in the room at the time of her death, staff told police. ... Davidson was arrested and faces a first-degree murder charge, police said. The investigation is ongoing. Police did not give any further details. Police did not name the memory care facility where the deceased lived. 

Inspiration for nursing home leaders: Finding empathy, expertise on the ground and in the airMcKnights Long-Term Care News; by Kimberly Marselas; 6/11/25 In the search for creative strategies, nursing home leaders can’t look just to their own peers. Inspiration is everywhere, as several executives recently told McKnight’s Long-Term Care News. Rhonda Dempsey RN, senior vice president and chief nursing officer at Trilogy Health Services, serves in a clinically oriented role, but she says when she wants to better understand the hospitality side of the business, she looks to emulate Marriott, owner of the world’s most hotel beds. “I’m inspired by leaders who prioritize empathy and create cultures that value employees as much as customers,” she told McKnight’s. “Those who focus on purpose-driven leadership and foster environments of inclusion and continuous learning stand out."Editor's Note: The words "hospice" and "hotel" share the same root words "hospes" and "hospitium," meaning "hospitality, host, guest, restful lodging for travelers.

Senior living and care leads healthcare bankruptcies again in first quarterMcKnight’s Senior Living; by Kathleen Steele Gaivin; 6/3/25Senior living and care bankruptcies hit a two-year high in the first quarter, increasing to seven from three in the fourth quarter of 2024. That’s the highest quarterly increase in two years, according to a new report from healthcare restructuring advisory firm Gibbins Advisors. Senior living and care bankruptcies accounted for more than 40% of total healthcare filings, according to the report. [Related] 

Implementing palliative care in nursing homes: A podcast with Connie Cole, Kathleen Unroe, and Cari Levy GeriPal; podcast by Connie Cole, Kathleen Unroe and Cari Levy; 6/5/25 Consider this: the majority of the 1.4 million adults residing in U.S. nursing homes grapple with serious illnesses, and roughly half experience dementia. Many also suffer from distressing symptoms like pain. In addition, about 25% of all deaths in the United States occur within these facilities. Despite these substantial needs, specialized palliative care beyond hospice is rare in nursing homes. Furthermore, only about half of nursing home residents nearing the end of life receive hospice care. So, how can we improve palliative care for individuals in nursing homes? [This] podcast explores this crucial question with three leading experts: Connie Cole, Kathleen Unroe, and Cari Levy. 

CMS budget proposal would shift nursing facility oversight Becker's Hospital Review; by Elizabeth Gregerson; 6/4/25 Key changes put forth in President Donald Trump’s proposed fiscal year 2026 budget may have downstream effects on the survey and certification of skilled nursing facilities. ... Here are three things to know about the proposed changes:

10 Signs death is near for dementia patients The Healthy; by Dr. Patricia Varacollo, DO; 6/2/25 For families and caregivers, recognizing the final stages of dementia can be difficult, but understanding the signs can help ensure comfort and dignity in a loved one's last days. Dr. Koncilja highlights these key indicators that may suggest the end of life is near:

A ‘cloak of comfort’: an integrated approach to palliative care for cancer patients Sinai Health; 5/26/25 At Mount Sinai Hospital, palliative care is fully integrated into cancer care, providing comprehensive, person-centered support for those with advanced illness. Palliative care, derived from the Latin pallium meaning “cloak,” offers comfort and support to individuals with serious illnesses. Often misunderstood as solely end-of-life care, it actually provides relief at any stage of a life-threatening illness and can be provided in tandem with cancer treatment. This holistic approach addresses physical, emotional, and spiritual needs, aiming to improve quality of life for both patients and their families. In fact, early integration of palliative care can enhance symptom management, extend life and offer greater support to caregivers. Patients can receive care at Mount Sinai Hospital’s Cancer Care Clinic, at home through the Temmy Latner Centre’s home palliative care program, and in the palliative care unit at Hennick Bridgepoint Hospital.  

Medicaid hospice payments for room-and-board to resume in California Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 5/15/25 After years of nonpayment, the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has instructed Medicaid managed care plans to pay hospices for nursing home room and board. The issue pertains to patients who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. When caring for patients in nursing homes, hospices typically pay for their room and board with the expectation that they will be reimbursed by Medicaid for those expenses. However, due to confusion among managed care plans that oversee Medicaid in most states, those hospices have not been receiving those payments.