Literature Review

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? 

Group homes: Pros and cons for senior care US News & World Report - Health, by Lisa Esposito; 3/25/24 You won’t walk lengthy corridors with identical rooms, or see a calendar chock-full of structured activities – but you may smell a home-cooked meal. For some older adults who need long-term care, group homes are providing a more family-style alternative to nursing homes or assisted living facilities. As with other long-term care options, group homes are licensed in their state and must meet certain standards.

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. 

Palliative care in the older adult with cancer and the role of the geriatrician: a narrative review Annals of Palliative Medicine, by Bibban Bant Deol, Lisa Binns-Emerick, MOhammad Kang, Pragnesh Patel; 3/15/24 online ahead of print Conclusions: Embedding primary care geriatrics in the palliative care arena helps to provide more access to this care. This integration helps providers address basic symptom management, advance care planning and work with individuals on goals of care to assure the care being provided is congruent individual's priorities. Older adults respond to symptoms different than their younger counterparts. Management of these symptoms has to be addressed in a manner commiserate with their age.

New report blasts nursing home citations, rate of abuse tagsMcKnights Long-Term Care News, by Josh Henreckson; 3/20/24An organization dedicated to helping seniors find care issued a report Tuesday raising alarm about the number of nursing home abuse citations in 2023, but senior care leaders say a more punitive approach to surveys is actually hurting residents and their facilities. The SeniorLiving.org report used last year’s Medicare data to highlight that nursing homes received nearly 95,000 health citations during that time frame. Of that number, nearly 7,700 — or approximately 8% — were citations for abuse, neglect or exploitation. 

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. 

Palliative Care Movement achieves significant progress in California California Health Care Foundation, by Claudia Boyd-Barrett; 3/19/24 ... Palliative care has taken root in California over the past 15 years, driven by hundreds of leaders within health plans, hospitals, clinics, home care agencies, advocacy and education organizations, and state government. ... Some of California’s greatest palliative care progress has been accomplished in programs serving people at the lowest income levels through the state’s Medi-Cal program and through public health care systems.