Literature Review

SXSW 2024: ‘Flipping the Script on End of Life’The Michigan Daily; by Olivai Tarling; 5/7/24 If you asked me to describe a Hollywood death scene, I’m pretty sure I could do it perfectly. ... This panel discussed the taboo topic of death and the dangers of its inaccurate portrayals on screen. Panel members included Zoanne Clack (“Grey’s Anatomy”), doctor-turned executive-producer, screenwriter Scott Z. Burns (“Contagion”) and Julie McFadden, hospice nurse and social media personality, as they discussed the taboo topic of death and the dangers of its inaccurate portrayals on screen.

Major corporate, foundation, and institutional partners join in support of caregiving, the PBS documentary and engagement project from executive producer Bradley CooperWETA; Press Release by Project Partners on National Engagement Initiative include Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers, Milken Institue for the Future of Aging, Grantmakers In Aging, Global Coalition on Aging, and National Alliance for Caregiving; 5/8/24 WETA President and Chief Executive Officer Sharon Percy Rockefeller today announced the shared commitment from a slate of major funders and partners to support the documentary and engagement campaign for the new project Caregiving, currently in production. Bradley Cooper is an executive producer of the two-hour documentary slated to premiere on PBS in Spring 2025. Funders for this ambitious project include Otsuka America Pharmaceutical Inc.; Evelyn Y. Davis Foundation; Ralph C. Wilson; Jr. Foundation, Care.com; and the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Support for the engagement and outreach for Caregiving is made possible by The John A. Hartford Foundation. 

The Check-Up: How seniors can better take care of their mental health The Keene Sentinel; by Olivia Belanger Sentinel Staff; 5/8/24 My generation talks about mental health a lot. In our late 20s, my friends and I routinely check in to see how we’re feeling, reschedule plans because we’re in a mental funk or talk about how we can help support each other when we’re not feeling mentally healthy. ... But I know that for older generations, this can be hard to come by. ... [Older] adults are more likely to experience life changes — like coping with a serious illness or losing a loved one — which can lead to feelings of grief, social isolation or loneliness, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Loneliness in particular is one of the biggest threats to seniors, especially those who live in rural areas like the Monadnock Region where reliable transportation is limited. Research shows loneliness is as bad for people’s health as smoking 15 cigarettes per day, according to the U.S. Surgeon General. Signs that you may need to help your mental health, NIMH says, include: ... 

Maddy Baloy had only 1 year to live after cancer diagnosis — and chose joy: 'Didn’t let anything defy her’ People; by Lizzie Hyman; 5/8/24 Even surrounded by loved ones in hospice care at her Florida home, Maddy Baloy craved adventure. “She kept saying, ‘I want to go outside and go swimming,’ ” her fiancé Louis Risher tells PEOPLE in this week’s issue. It was how Baloy had approached each day from the time she was diagnosed with terminal cancer in February 2023, to the end of her life on May 2, 2024. In just over one year, the 26 year old gained the admiration and support of millions who followed her journey on TikTok as she worked her way through a 19-item bucket list of skills to learn, people to meet and places to go. “Maddy did not let anything defy her,” Risher, 27, says. “She was always just about love.”

VA extends health coverage to family caregivers of patients who served McKnights Home Care; by Adam Healy; 5/6/24As recognition grows nationally of the needs of unpaid caregivers, family members and caregivers of veterans soon will have more options to receive care through the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA).  Starting at the end of May, these caregivers will be granted new coverage for audio telehealth services, mental health care and [more]. ... Telehealth coverage is particularly important for caregiver beneficiaries living in rural areas, the VA noted.

6 lessons I learned from inheriting a parent’s house Bankrate; by Linda Bell; 5/3/24 Inheriting a house is a bittersweet, overwhelming experience. I remember receiving the deed that transferred ownership of my mother’s home to me and my siblings. I felt a whirlwind of emotions: sadness that my mother was gone, relief that the complicated process was over and trepidation for the enormous responsibilities that lay ahead. Along with those feelings was the compelling need to honor her legacy. Here are six lessons I learned from inheriting my mother’s house. ...

10 ways to honor your mom's memory on Mother's Day 95.5 FISH; by Lynette Kittle; 5/6/24 For those of us who have lost our moms, Mother’s Day can be a sad day; especially if we focus on what we’ve lost rather than remembering all we’ve gained because of their influence. Since my mom passed away, I have a growing appreciation of her role in my life and how her memory continues to impact me every day. ... Following are 10 ways to honor your mother’s memory on Mother’s Day.

The cost of dying is going up, leaving some Florida families scrambling Tampa Bay Times; by Lauren Peace; 5/1/24 Christina Nall sat in the hospital parking lot gasping for air. Four hours earlier, her father, Bill Burke, had been alive. He’d eaten Golden Grahams for breakfast and wrapped his grandkids in tight hugs before school. He was putting on his shoes to leave the house when Nall, 33, found him slouched over on the couch. Doctors said it was a blood clot. He was 56 years old. Now, outside the Zephyrhills hospital, a fog of grief hung over Nall as the funeral director’s words cut into her. To get her dad back to his home in Missouri would cost upward of $2,000. The service and burial he wanted would cost another $6,000.

America’s graying. We need to change the way we think about age. The Harvard Gazette; by Alvin Powell; 4/25/24 Experts say instead of disability, focus needs to shift to ability, health, with greater participation, economically and socially. People in their 70s, 80s, and even 90s run marathons, write books, and go to work daily. But the predominant national conversation on aging focuses on disability rather than ability, something experts say is a problem as participation of America’s older adults grows more important, economically and socially, as the nation ages.

WHIAANHPI and SmithsonianAPA unveil joint theme for 2024 Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month: ‘Bridging Histories, Shaping Our Future’ U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; by HHS Press Office; 4/24/24Today, the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI) and the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center are proud to present our joint 2024 theme for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AA and NHPI) Heritage Month: “Bridging Histories, Shaping Our Future.” The 2024 theme is an homage to our ancestors and invites all Americans to delve into the legacies, triumphs, and challenges that have shaped AA and NHPI communities. It embodies the spirit of our collective journey – one rooted in resilience and hope – and encourages us to forge intergenerational connections to honor our past and pave a durable path forward.

CC Biz Buzz: Death, taxes and planning Columbia Daily Tribune; by Mary Dorn; 4/24/24 This column is one that I never really wanted to write, but, in hindsight, it is likely one of the most important that I will write. Monday, April 15, 2024, the dreadful “tax day” was upon me, and I was at a local funeral parlor making the final arrangements for my spouse and partner of 23 years. I kept thinking of the famous quote by Benjamin Franklin, “In this world, nothing can be said to be certain except death and taxes.” ...

Beyond compensation: Culture as a benefit HR Daily Advisor; by G Hatfield; 4/24/24 Compensation is not the only factor that nurses consider when choosing a health system. Benefits packages, workplace culture, safety, and flexibility all play a role in the decision-making process. CNOs should take a look at their health system’s offerings to make sure they are attractive to new nurses and that they are staying competitive in the industry. During the HealthLeaders’ Nurse Labor and Compensation NOW Summit, Robin Steaban, Chief Nursing Officer at Vanderbilt University Hospital, spoke about  innovative perks to attract and keep nurses, and how workplace culture and safety play a role as benefits alongside compensation.