Literature Review

Families demand end to Medicare waiting period for early-onset Alzheimer’s patients Washington Examiner; by Elaine Mallon; 6/15/25 Jason Raubach was diagnosed at 50 years old with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease — a diagnosis that affects nearly 200,000 Americans. He received the diagnosis in 2018, completely upending life for his family. His youngest child was just a freshman in high school. ... Shortly before receiving an official diagnosis, Jason Raubach lost his job, having to move his family onto a consolidated omnibus budget reconciliation act health plan, or COBRA plan, which allows a person to keep their health insurance even after losing their job. “It wasn’t cheap,” Elizabeth Raubach said.However, once diagnosed, Jason Raubach had to wait two and a half years before he could receive coverage under Medicare, health insurance for those 65 years and older or those with qualifying disabilities. But Elizabeth Raubach, along with dozens of other caretakers for people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, called on Congress in a letter to eliminate the 29-month waiting period required for those under the age of 65 to receive coverage under Medicare. ...

The Roaring ‘20s: Hospice of the Valley hosts senior prom Arcadia News, Phoenix, AZ; by Mallory Gleich; 6/1/25 At the Dementia Care and Education Campus in Arcadia, the spirit of the Roaring ’20s came to life as Hospice of the Valleyhosted its second annual senior prom. With pearls, feathers, vintage flair, and a whole lot of heart, this unforgettable evening was more than just a dance, it was a joyful celebration of life, connection, and music. Around 80 guests – a mix of Adult Day Club members, assisted living residents, spouses, family members, staff, and volunteers – attended the soiree. From the start, the event buzzed with anticipation and excitement. For many, this was a chance to relive a moment they had missed, or rewrite one that had fallen short in their youth. 

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.  

UnityPoint Health PACE Senior Care in Hiawatha opening June 1, now enrolling participants  Corridor Business Journal, Iowa City and Cedar Rapis, IA; by CBJ News Staff; 5/21/25 UnityPoint Health has announced that its new Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) Senior Care Center in Hiawatha is now accepting enrollment applications ahead of its official opening June 1. Located at 1450 N. Center Point Road in Hiawatha, the PACE Senior Care Center center aims to help eligible older adults remain in their homes by offering coordinated medical and support services. The program provides a comprehensive range of care, including primary and specialty medical services, therapy, prescription medications, transportation, and in-home support. 

“A different way of looking at how you can age in America” AJMC; by Maggie L. Shaw; 5/21/25

Patient, provider, and health system determinants of hospice Length of Stay Palliative Medicine Reports; by Eliza Thompson, Daniel Sanchez Pellecer, Gregory J Hanson, Shealeigh A Inselman, Jenn M Manggaard, Kevin J Whitford, Jacob J Strand, Rozalina G McCoy; 4/3/25Background: Benefits of hospice care, such as improvement in quality of life and reduced costs, depend on duration of enrollment in hospice services, making timely hospice referral essential. ... Conclusion: Based on a review of hospice referral patterns, the integration of hospice care into subspecialty practices, long-term care facilities, and advanced practice education could be an effective strategy to improve hospice LOS.

7 signs at home care is needed for someone with dementia VeryWell Health; by Christopher Bergland; 4/25/25 ... At-home dementia care can look different for every family. Some people live alone and may get by with periodic check-ins from professionals in the dementia care community throughout the week. Others might require daily visits from Alzheimer's home care dementia services. Sometimes, a paid caregiver comes to the house daily, or unpaid loved ones provide 24/7 in-home care.

HHS proposal slashes Medicare SHIP funds MSN; by Mary Helen Gillespie; 4/22/25 The Trump administration is proposing federal budget cuts to Medicare State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIP) and seven additional elder health care safety net programs that assist older Americans. ... SHIP programs have been under the umbrella of the Health and Human Services agency Administration for Community Living. The pre-decisional budget lists funds for seven other ACL programs that would be eliminated are:

HHS cuts pose threat to older Americans' health and safety Newsweek; by Kristin Lees Haggerty and Scott Bane - The National Collaboratory to Address Elder Mistreatment at Education Development Center (EDC); The John A. Hartford Foundation; 4/17/2 On March 27, 2025, the federal government announced major cuts to the department of Health and Human Services (HHS). ... Sounding the Alarm for Elder Justice: The population of older adults is rapidly growing, and one in 10 experience abuse, neglect, and/or exploitation—a risk that is even higher for those living with dementia. ... Cutting services to older adults will increase these risks and costs. Moreover, ... 11.5 million family and friend caregivers provide over 80 percent of help needed for people living with dementia in the U.S. Without access to services like Meal on Wheels, adult day care, and respite care, we can expect caregiver burden and strain to increase significantly and with it, rates of elder abuse, emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and nursing home placements. We know this because of the abuse spike seen clearly during the COVID-19 pandemic, which doubled to over 20 percent of older adults, as services were limited, and older adults were socially isolated. HHS cuts are also likely to result in loss of specialized expertise in identifying and addressing elder mistreatment, so that when elder abuse does occur, we won't have the services to stop it and make sure it won't happen again.

PACE growth expected to continue amid HHS reorganization, provider uncertainty McKnights Long-Term Care News; by Zee Johnson; 4/15/25 ... Coordination for the PACE program is moving to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Center for Innovation, the National PACE Association said. That shake up, HHS officials have said, should make management of the PACE program more productive. The White House, however, is also seeking $800 million in budget cuts at CMMI. ... A white paper published in January by Health Dimensions Group showed 33 states and the District of Columbia had implemented 180 PACE programs, accounting for more than 79,000 enrollees. The 25 programs that were added in 2024 quadrupled the model’s average growth since 2005. 

Senior living demand hits all-time high: NIC McKnights Senior Living; by Kimberly Bonvissuto; 4/3/25 The demand for senior living is at an all-time high, with the first quarter seeing a record number of occupied units, almost 621,000, the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care said Thursday afternoon [4/3]. Senior living occupancy rates increased 0.3 percentage points to 87.4% in the first quarter, up from 87.1% in the fourth quarter of 2024, according to the latest NIC MAP Senior Housing Market Fundamentals report. Independent living occupancy rose to 89%, up from 88.6% in the fourth quarter, whereas assisted living rates increased to 85.8% compared with 85.5% in the fourth quarter.

Strong social connections improve older adults’ well-being regardless of setting, study finds McKnights Long-Term Care News; by Donna Shryer; 4/7/25 Social connections, trust in others in their community and community cohesion significantly improve elderly well-being whether seniors live at home or in nursing facilities, according to a new comparative study published in BMC Public Health. However, researchers found that nursing home residents generally reported lower subjective well-being compared to their community-dwelling counterparts, even after accounting for health status and demographic factors. ... According to the authors, these findings “indicate the necessity for tailored interventions that address the unique needs of each care environment to promote healthier aging experiences. [Continue reading ...]

Shingles vaccine tied to lower dementia risk, study finds McKnights Long-Term Care News; by Kristen Fischer; 4/2/25 Older adults who were vaccinated against shingles were 20% less likely to develop dementia over the next seven years compared with people who didn’t receive the shot, a study shows. The report was published Wednesday in Nature. [Continue reading ...] Editor's note: Related articles ...