Literature Review

Rethinking home care: New models to sustain aging in place Governing; by Paula Span; 1/9/26 Worker-owned cooperatives and direct-connect registries are reducing turnover and reshaping how older adults get care at home. ... One innovation, still small but expanding: home care cooperatives owned by the workers themselves. The first and largest, Cooperative Home Care Associates in the Bronx borough of New York City, began in 1985 and now employs about 1,600 home care aides. The ICA Group now counts 26 such worker-owned home care businesses nationwide.

Central Coast VNA & Hospice expands senior care services to meet growing in-home demand EIN Presswire, Montery, CA; by Core6 Marketing; 1/8/26 Central Coast VNA & Hospice is responding to rising community demand for in-home senior care by strengthening its continuum of services across Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz, and South Santa Clara Counties.  With a 75-year history serving California’s Central Coast, the organization now offers a range of in-home medical and supportive services, including:

Scaling home-based care coordination depends on technology, addressing social determinants of health Home Health Care News; by Morgan Gonzales; 12/30/25 The home-based care industry is uniquely equipped to improve care coordination and enhance care for patients. To expand the role that care coordination plays in the U.S., both post-acute providers and the health care system overall must expand their use of technology and address social determinants of health, according to Ruth Raskas, president and chief operating officer at LiveWell Partners.

Community-dwelling older adults with dementia more likely to be bedbound in final year of life McKnights Long-Term Care News; by Foster Stubbs; 1/2/26 Community-dwelling older adults with dementia were nearly five times more likely to be bedbound in the last year of their lives compared with those without dementia, according to a December study published in JAMA Network Open. ... “Our findings reflect the need for in-home support to older adults who are bedbound,” authors said. 

Hospice of the Valley GUIDE program supports caregivers The Arizona Republic - AZBigMedia.com; by Lin Sue Flood; 12/10/25 James, a lifelong athlete with 82 marathons under his belt, is facing his toughest challenge now: a type of dementia called primary progressive aphasia. But he’s not alone. He has his wife of 34 years, Reesa, by his side, and the support of a Hospice of the Valley dementia educator, who helps the couple navigate challenges like communication as the disease progresses. ...

Is Alzheimer’s disease more common than previously thought? Medscape; by Megan Brooks; 12/24/25 Alzheimer’s disease (AD) may be more common than previously thought in some demographic groups, according to the first population-based study to use a blood test to gauge AD-related neuropathological changes (ADNCs). ... A “major advance” of this study is the use of blood-based biomarkers as a way to generate more accurate, population-level estimates of AD pathology, Nicholas Ashton, PhD, senior director of the Banner Fluid Biomarker Program, Banner Sun Health Research Institute in Sun City, Arizona, told Medscape Medical News.

Medicare Final Rule changes that home health providers need to know Home Health Care News; by Morgan Gonzales; 12/17/25 The Medicare home health final payment rule for calendar year 2026 has been most discussed for its methodology and its 1.3% aggregate rate cut, but other aspects of the final rule require home health providers to carefully strategize for the upcoming year. ... In 2026, it will be key for providers to determine their case-mix weights and how to work with different PDGM groups, according to Cindy Campbell, senior director of advisory services at WellSky.

How palliative services can smooth over transitions of care Hospice News; by Kevin Ryan; 12/17/25 Transitions of care are crucial moments for patients, often fraught with risks, but palliative care providers can help ensure that the changes go more smoothly. One way of doing this is through transitional care. Transitional care is a dynamic and highly personalized type of care that provides care services to assist patients as they move between different levels of health care. This may include a patient transitioning from a hospital setting to another care facility, or to their home. Transitional care helps bridge service gaps and enhances communication as patients move between health care settings, according to Dr. Diane Meier, founder of the Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC). 

'Get out of my house': 84-year-old man shoots son in the face for not visiting mother in hospice care, police say Law & Crime, Palm Bay, FL; by Conrad Hoyt; 12/12/25 An elderly man is accused of shooting his son in the face because he and his spouse did not visit the older man's wife over the weekend while she was in at-home hospice care. William Nowak, 84, has been charged with attempted murder, according to an arrest affidavit reviewed by Law&Crime. Nowak was at his home ... in Palm Bay, Florida, where he lived with his wife and their disabled daughter. His wife had recently been put on in-home hospice care, "and William has been taking care of both of them," ... The defendant's son and his wife came over to the house to visit, something she said they did "on a weekly basis." After they arrived around 6 p.m., "William began to express how he was upset they did not visit over the weekend." According to authorities, an argument between the father and son ensued.

Enhabit's strategic positioning and 2026 pricing outlook: Navigating regulatory headwinds with valuation resilienceAInvest; by Charles Hayes; 12/10/25 ... Conclusion: Enhabit's strategic initiatives-rooted in efficiency, innovation, and diversification-demonstrate a proactive approach to mitigating 2026's regulatory challenges. By reducing visit intensity, renegotiating payer contracts, and expanding hospice services, the company is positioning itself to maintain profitability even under a 6.4% Medicare cut. Its strong balance sheet and disciplined cost structure further reinforce valuation resilience.Editor's Note: Am I reading this correctly? Leading interventions are "reducing visit intensity" paired with "expanding hospice services"? I understand the importance of maintaining profitabilty. However, what is the core purpose? Examining Enhabit Hospice quality scores on the National Hospice Locator (data from CMS), the first 5 Enhabit hospices that populated had quality scores of 68/100, 60/100, 60/100, 58/100, and 41/100. The national average is 67/100. What kind of care would you want for your family member? For yourself?

A Place for Mom’s refreshed marketing strategy focused on family stories, thought leadership Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 12/8/25 Upon the 25th anniversary of its founding, the senior services company A Place for Mom is undergoing a rebrand and redesigning its marketing strategy. The company’s name is not changing as part of the rebrand. Rather, A Place for Mom has a new logo and visual identity and has developed a data-driven, tech-enabled approach to marketing that leverages AI, social media and video content. This is coupled with efforts to further establish the company as a thought leader in the senior care space.

CHAP celebrates 60 years in home-based care Community Health Accreditation Partner (CHAP); email and website; 12/5/25 This year, CHAP marked a milestone that speaks volumes about our legacy and our future: our Diamond Jubilee. Sixty years of progress, partnership, and innovation came to life as our incredible team gathered to celebrate not just an anniversary, but the people who make our mission possible every day. It was a moment to honor the tradition that began in 1965 and continues to shape home-based care across the nation; a tradition built on excellence, compassion, and a shared commitment to the providers we serve. As we reflected on six decades of impact, the celebration reminded us of something even more powerful: the strength of our present and the promise of what’s next.Editor's Note: Hospice & Palliative Care Today celebrates CHAP immeasureable contributions to improving patient / caregiver / family care, staff education and standards, organizational systems, and more!