Literature Review

Half a century and 4 million meals haven’t slowed down this long-term care culinary king McKnights Long-Term Care News, by Josh Henreckson; 4/10/24For almost as long as there has been a Buena Vista Care Center in Santa Barbara, CA, Miguel Pulido has been there — making sure the residents of the nursing home are fed and happy. Pulido is fast approaching his 50th anniversary on the job, and the residents and staff at Buena Vista couldn’t help but celebrate. ... Buena Vista is a 150-bed facility with twice-daily mealtimes for residents. Its leaders estimate that Pulido has served around 4 million meals during his career.

Healthcare on the brink: navigating the challenges of an aging society in the United States  npj Aging, by Charles H. Jones and Mikael Dolsten; 4/6/24 The US healthcare system is at a crossroads. With an aging population requiring more care and a strained system facing workforce shortages, capacity issues, and fragmentation, innovative solutions and policy reforms are needed. ... Through a comprehensive analysis of the impact of an aging society, this work highlights the urgency of addressing this issue and the importance of restructuring the healthcare system to be more efficient, equitable, and responsive. 

Living to 100: Making Maryland a ‘Blue Zone’ The Baltimore Sun, commentary by Raya Elfadel Kheirbek; 4/5/24 In a bold stride toward redefining the approach to aging, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore signed an executive order in January aimed at expanding access to critical care and services for older Marylanders. ... At the heart of this initiative, dubbed Longevity Ready Maryland, is a comprehensive plan that transcends traditional state efforts focused solely on eldercare. Instead, it adopts a holistic, multisector approach that promises a transformative impact and enrichment in every dimension — health, financial security, social connectivity and purposeful living, irrespective of a Marylander’s socioeconomic status.

PACS Group could raise $400 million in IPOMcKnights Long-Term Care News, by Kimberly Marselas;   4/3/24PACS Group, one of the nation’s largest nursing home operators, could raise about $400 million in an initial public offering, according to a fresh round of documents filed this week. Utah-based PACS plans to offer 19.05 million shares of common stock when it goes public, with an estimated price of $20 to $22 per share. At the top of that range, the move to the New York Stock Exchange could net the company $429 million in value.

[Maine] Senate backs safe staffing bill with aim to increase patient safety, decrease nurse burnout Main Morning Star, by Lauren McCauley; 3/27/24 If passed, Maine would be the second state in the country to institute nurse-to-patient ratios. ... Sen. Stacy Brenner (D-Cumberland), who sponsored the bill, shared with the chamber her experience as a nurse and how the stress of being understaffed can contribute to burnout and what she described as “moral distress.” ... Brenner said the bill accomplishes two goals: increasing patient safety and increasing nurse retention. 

LTC planning’s power lies in relationships, not revenue Insurance NewsNet, by John McWilliams; 4/1/24 Long-term care planning is having a moment right now. There was a time when conversations with clients about their long-term care needs were like pulling teeth. No one wants to confront the point in their lives at which they will no longer be able to do the things they associate with independent life as an adult. Long-term care was a talk to have with people in their 60s. Now, I have those talks with folks in their 40s and 50s. What happened? 

Fall prevention for the elderly: 13 strategies to keep them safe U.S. News & World Report, by Claire Wolters, ed. by Christine Comizion, MPH; 3/26/24Falls are the leading cause of injury in adults 65 and older – with reports showing about 14 million adults fall each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ... According to the CDC, falls are also the leading cause of injury-related death in the 65-and-older population – and the fall death rate is growing.Here's what to know about what increases risk for falls in older adults, and get familiar with fall prevention tips and safety measures that can help reduce the risk.Editor's Note: This U.S. News article primes the pump. Preventing falls matters especially for vulnerable hospice patients as their disease progresses, and as they and/or family want the person to be as mobile as possible. What do your Incident Reports tell you about falls? What falls-specific education do you provide for your interdisciplinary teams? On-call staff? Family caregivers? Volunteers? What QAPI programs have addressed falls? 

A nurse practitioner-driven palliative and supportive care service in nursing homes: Evaluation of a quality improvement projectJournal of Hospice & Palliative Nursing; by Joan G Carpenter, Julianne Murthi, Molly Langford, Ruth Palan Lopez; 3/26/24, online ahead of print This article describes a quality improvement project implemented by a national postacute long-term care organization aimed at enhancing the provision of palliative care to nursing home residents. ... Most common symptoms that were managed included pain, delirium, and dyspnea; most common diagnoses cared for were dementia and chronic organ failure (eg, cardiac, lung, renal, and neurological diseases).

Last Dance: Holland Home throws prom for retirees, end-of-life patients Fox 17 West Michigan, by Sam Landstra; 3/23/24 The timeless nature of the suit and tie was again proven on Saturday by senior promgoers at Holland Home as they danced with their longtime dates at the Grand Rapids retirement home and hospice care facility. ... Donning formal wear donated by Belding Beauties & Bro's, residents walked and wheeled down a fourth floor hallway in Holland Home, gathering in a room decorated with streamers and disco balls.

Researchers advocate for more home-based options for end-of-life care McKnights Home Care, by Adam Healy; 3/25/24 As older adults increasingly prefer to receive end-of-life care in their homes, new, community-based options will be critical to help patients achieve a home death, according to a new research review published in Palliative Care and Social Practice. ... The researchers analyzed 28 studies conducted between 2002 and 2023 related to factors that affect patients’ abilities to achieve a home death. One persistent issue, they found, was a lack of available home palliative care services. 

A Western Slope program is helping older Coloradans maintain independence The Colorado Trust, by Nancy Lofhholm; 3/20/24 [Case example of a 74-year-old widow, wheelchair, who can live alone in her home because of PACE.] ... The center houses the HopeWest PACE program, which delivers wide-ranging services for older adults. HopeWest PACE is a local fulfillment of a national Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services program known as PACE, which stands for Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly. HopeWest PACE is one of 150 programs nationwide that carry out the PACE mandate to keep qualifying older adults like Powell living in their homes by providing them with a holistic bundle of health care and social and emotional support. It includes primary and specialty medical care, prescription medications, physical and occupational therapy, recreation, dietary counseling, and mental health counseling.

Nurses practicing primarily in care homes ‘improve end-of-life care’ Nursing Times, by Steve Ford; 3/19/24 Nurses and other clinicians who specialise in working in care homes represent an important resource when it comes to improving the quality of end-of-life care for residents, a large US study suggests. Researchers found nurse practitioners working mostly in care homes may decrease the likelihood of residents experiencing stressful hospital admissions and improve the quality of life in their last days.