Literature Review

Meet Oscar: The cat who could predict death and comfort patients in a Rhode Island hospice doggodigest - Cats, DD Animal News; by Andrew Alpin, MSc; 11/17/25 ... Oscar, a seemingly ordinary therapy cat, possessed what appeared to be an uncanny gift, the ability to predict when patients were nearing their final moments. It is still a matter of scientific research and debate as to whether animals especially cats and dogs can predict death. ...

Inside Compassus’ 2-pronged plan to expand Providence joint venture Home Health Care News; by Morgan Gonzales; 11/11/25 The joint venture between Compassus and not-for-profit health system Providence is set to expand through two key growth tactics. ... For the first pillar, the joint venture aims to expand through multiple sources within Providence, including case management, discharge planning, hospital-based clinicians and Providence’s ambulatory environment. ... Its second growth strategy looks outside of the Providence ecosystem for referrals, whether from long-term care facilities, skilled nursing facilities or physicians working directly with patients. 

Number of ‘solo-agers’ skyrockets, AARP survey finds McKnights Home Care; by Adam Healy; 11/10/25The number of older adults living alone is rising quickly in the United States, but relatively few of these so-called “solo-agers” are confident in their ability to age safely on their own, according to a new survey by AARP.

Home health services drive elevated medical costs for UnitedHealth Group Home Health Care News; by Morgan Gonzales; 10/28/25 Home health services are touted as cost-saving for payers, and industry stakeholders often advise providers to share data demonstrating these savings with payers and policymakers. The cost-saving nature of home health may not always be evident, however. UnitedHealth Group reported that home health services have contributed to elevated medical cost trends when discussing Medicaid margins on the company’s third-quarter earnings call.

Living with dementia report emphasizes that even those with advanced disease have stories to share JAMA Medical News; by Rita Rubin, MA; 10/31/25 As the average age of the US population has risen, so has the number of people living with Alzheimer disease and related dementias. And yet, dementia is still a highly stigmatized condition, a new collection of essays published by the Hastings Center for Bioethics points out. Clinicians, caregivers, and loved ones could improve the lives of the more than 7 million people in the US who are living with dementia if they only recognized that such individuals still have their own stories to tell, even when they can’t express themselves the same way they did before their symptoms appeared. 

Bearing witness in home hospice: Ethical reflections on caring for Asian American patients American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine; by Tuzhen Xu, PhD, APRN, FNP-C and Dan Song, PhD, RN This narrative aims to examine the ethical and cultural challenges faced by home hospice nurses when caring for Asian American patients in culturally diverse home-based environments. Drawing on personal experiences as a hospice nurse case manager and director, it explores how cultural practices such as avoiding direct discussions about death, prioritizing family-centered decision-making, and hesitating to use professional interpreters can conflict with hospice principles of patient autonomy and informed consent. 

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.

Home-based care companies improve outcomes by training family caregivers Home Health Care News; by Joyce Famakinwa; 10/25/25 Home-based care companies are increasingly recognizing the importance of training family caregivers to improve patient outcomes. By engaging family caregivers through education and mobilization, these companies can keep patients out of hospitals longer and maintain them in their homes, contributing to their overall happiness and health. 

Rural Health Transformation Program must consider care at home, Alliance tells CMS McKnights Home Care; by Adam Healy; 10/17/25 As stakeholders compete for funding from the Rural Health Transformation Program, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ $50 billion rural healthcare grant initiative, home care providers are asking for their cut. “The RHTP represents a chance to reshape rural health systems around a continuum of care that extends beyond hospital walls,” Steve Landers, MD, chief executive officer of the National Alliance for Care at Home, said Wednesday in a letter to CMS. “The National Alliance for Care at Home strongly urges CMS to view home-based care not as an adjunct, but as an essential partner in the transformation of rural health delivery.”

[England] Ambulance team uses advanced ultrasound to help frail patients avoid hospital trips Emergency Services Times; by James Devonshire; 10/16/25 The East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST) is using cutting-edge medical technology to help elderly and end-of-life care patients receive treatment in their own homes, reducing the need for hospital admissions. The service’s advanced practice (urgent care) team has introduced point of care ultrasound (POCUS)—a portable diagnostic tool previously reserved for critically ill patients—to assess bladder and urinary conditions safely and effectively in community settings. Using the handheld Butterfly ultrasound device, paramedics can perform scans and interpret results via software on iPads, allowing for faster and more accurate diagnoses.

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.”

America’s best home health agencies 2026 Newsweek; by Alexis Kayser; 10/10/25 With over 10,000 agencies operating across the United States, narrowing the field to find trusted, high-quality care can be daunting. To help guide that process, Newsweek and global data intelligence firm Statista are proud to introduce the inaugural ranking of America’s Best Home Health Agencies 2026, highlighting top providers in the 25 states with the highest number of home health agencies, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. ... This year’s list recognizes 300 top providers across the country, evaluated on four data sources: quality metrics, peer recommendations, patient experience and accreditations. ... [Click here for the list.]

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.]