Literature Review
All posts tagged with “General News | Caregiver News.”
Community convening aims to guide solutions to inequities in caregiving
03/28/24 at 03:00 AMCommunity convening aims to guide solutions to inequities in caregiving UMass Chan Medical School, by Susan E.W. Spencer; 3/26/24Jennifer Tjia, MD, MSCE, knows from her experience as a researcher and geriatrician how demanding the role of caregiver can be and how structural barriers impact patient outcomes. She wants to see research that drives solutions to health inequities. The second community convening of the Equity in Caregiving Project, a $3.8 million, five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health, which Dr. Tjia, professor of population & quantitative health sciences, co-leads, aims to advance the conversation about what challenges family and clinical caregivers of people with serious illness are experiencing.
The burden of getting medical care can exhaust older patients
03/28/24 at 03:00 AMThe burden of getting medical care can exhaust older patients Navigating Aging, by Judith Graham; 3/27/24 [Ishani Ganguli] is the author of a new study showing that Medicare patients spend about three weeks a year having medical tests, visiting doctors, undergoing treatments or medical procedures, seeking care in emergency rooms, or spending time in the hospital or rehabilitation facilities. ... [Additionally,] more than 1 in 10 seniors, including those recovering from or managing serious illnesses, spent a much larger portion of their lives getting care — at least 50 days a year. ... When [treatment burden becomes overwhelming], people stop following medical advice and report having a poorer quality of life, the researchers found.
Meaningful conversations to have with your loved one
03/28/24 at 03:00 AMMeaningful conversations to have with your loved oneMediaFeed.org, by Merritt Whitley; 3/27/24“One of the most important concepts in the field of grief and loss is that people drift in and out of the awareness of dying,” says Kenneth Doka, a senior consultant to the Hospice Foundation of America, and professor emeritus of gerontology at the graduate school of The College of New Rochelle. “Sometimes they do talk about it, sometimes not. The dying one should control the agenda. Don’t force conversations on them.” When your loved one feels ready to talk, the following suggestions can be comforting ways to begin a conversation: ...
ND HHS launches program for relatives providing care
03/27/24 at 03:30 AM[Pediatrics] North Dakota Health and Human Services announces new pilot program CBS KX News, by Nathaniel House; 3/26/24 North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced that family members who provide extraordinary care to either a child or adult enrolled in an eligible North Dakota (ND) Medicaid 1915(c) waiver may receive payments from the state through the new Family Paid Caregiver pilot program. State funding for the pilot program was approved from the passage of Senate Bill 2276 during the 2023 legislative session. Eligible ND Medicaid 1915(c) waivers include the Autism Spectrum Disorder Birth Through 17 Waiver, Children with Medically Fragile Needs Home and Community-Based Services Waiver, Children’s Hospice Home and Community-Based Services Waiver and the Traditional Individual with Intellectual Disabilities and Developmental Disabilities Home and Community-Based Services Waiver.
‘You can become a husband again’
03/27/24 at 02:15 AM‘You can become a husband again’ National Association of Federal Retirees (Canada); by Jennifer Campbell; 3/25/24When his wife got a much-needed bed in palliative care, a perceptive nurse told Brian Hills he could concentrate on being a husband again, instead of a caregiver.
The process of dealing with death is experiencing rebirth in a less-religious Pittsburgh
03/26/24 at 03:00 AMThe process of dealing with death is experiencing rebirth in a less-religious Pittsburgh Digital Daily; by Med St-Esprit, PublicSource; 3/24/24 Tanisha Bowman, of the North Side, a palliative care social worker for Butler Health System and a “death walker,” walks amongst the old graves in St. Mary’s Cemetery. ... From green burial to glass orbs containing ashes, the norms of funerals and burials are broadening as religious affiliation declines. ... According to a 2021 survey by Pew Research, 3 in 10 American adults are religiously unaffiliated. Data compiled by Pew Research about the Pittsburgh metro region found that 50% of adults in the region describe religion as “very important” and nearly 20% consider themselves not religious. Shifts in faith and worship mean families as well as businesses related to death and dying have had to alter their approaches.
4 things nobody tells you about watching a loved one die of cancer
03/26/24 at 03:00 AM4 things nobody tells you about watching a loved one die of cancer The New York Post; by Jessica Ariel Wendroff; 3/23/24 ... “The surgery was successful. However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present,” the Princess of Wales, 42, revealed in a bombshell videotaped statement Friday. ... While the royal insisted she is “well and getting stronger every day,” other patients’ real pain begins when the cancer has spread too far and chemotherapy and radiation no longer work, so doctors stop treatment. As the daughter of a Stage 4 bladder cancer patient, I’ve empirically learned four realities that people usually don’t talk about ...
My Mother is in Hospice Care
03/26/24 at 02:30 AMMy Mother is in Hospice Care Reformed Journal, by Doug Browser; 3/25/24 My 96-year-old mother entered hospice care a few months ago. For a while, it seemed as though she would go on forever, even though we knew that was unlikely. ... [Here’s] the thing, maybe the most striking thing I’ve learned while sitting with my mom over these last few months. Loss of memory can sometimes be a gift. ... I realize that there can be a kind of grace in not remembering a few things. ... We don’t have to go back and revisit any of it. We have this time together. ... And together we are a mom and a son, present in the moment, a moment with a surprising amount of grace. I never expected to get there.
‘I’m kinder and more compassionate’: actor Greg Wise on men and grief
03/26/24 at 02:00 AM‘I’m kinder and more compassionate’: actor Greg Wise on men and grief The Guardian, by Tim Jonze; 3/24/24 How the tragic death of his beloved sister, Clare, gave Greg Wise a new outlook on navigating the end of life. ... Wise is best known as an actor. He met [his wife, Emma] Thompson on the set of 1995’s Sense and Sensibility and has notched up more than 30 years in film and TV. But these days he has carved out a niche for himself as someone who wants to change the way we think, and talk, about the end of our lives. “Not having a proper relationship with one’s grief is one of the great ills of the world,” is how he puts it. "[Without] witnessing and accepting our own pain, we can’t have empathy – proper empathy. I don’t think we can see someone else’s suffering until we can see our own.”
Report: Alzheimer's and dementia caregivers total 840K in Florida, bear heavy burden
03/25/24 at 03:00 AMReport: Alzheimer's and dementia caregivers total 840K in Florida, bear heavy burden NPR WMFE, by Joe Byrnes; 3/22/24The number of Floridians serving as caregivers for people with Alzheimer's and other dementias is an estimated 840,000, an increase of 13,000 in just one year, according to an annual report from the Alzheimer's Association. Caregiving takes a toll on families hit by the degenerative brain disease, but a new program from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services could lessen that burden. ... [This] promising resource in the works is the Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience Model, an approach that includes the patient and caregiver. The GUIDE Model -- through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services -- starts in July.
Lubbock author publishes "I'm on Hospice: A Children's Book"
03/20/24 at 02:00 AMLubbock author publishes "I'm on Hospice: A Children's Book for Processing & Coping With a Terminal Illness" CBS WDTV 5; book is by Sydney Crane (author) and Nina Broen (illustrator); tv interview 3/14/24While a child is in the care of a hospice team, they will likely hear words and phrases that they do not know or have questions they are unsure how to ask. Presenting information through Riley's story, I'm On Hospice encourages conversations and facilitates a space for questions, discussion, and understanding within any relationship dynamic surrounding a terminally ill child. Riley is a nine-year-old boy whose life purpose is all about baseball, and he shares how each of his hospice caretakers helps him be comfortable and safe.Editor's Note: This book is available on Amazon and Kindle. The description above is from Amazon, as the tv interview is video.
Poem: I knew you had been sick for quite a while. I had no idea you were walking your last mile.
03/15/24 at 03:00 AMPoem: I knew you had been sick for quite a while. I had no idea you were walking your last mile.The Andalusia Star News, by Vickie C. Wacaster, "a patient and hospice advocate for Aveanna Hospice"; 3/14/24. This poem is at the end of an article, "COLUMN: Hospice helps make most of all moments."I knew you had been sick for quite a while. I had no idea you were walking your last mile. Had I known your time was so near, Despite my fear, I would have talked more, touched more, and loved more. I asked about your care, your prognosis, your life, Why couldn’t they tell me? I was your wife. Or was I in denial? Did someone try to tell me? Did I refuse to hear? Could I not see? Did I refuse to accept? Your diagnosis and prognosis, did I reject? Was it because of unbelief? That death snatched you as a thief.We could have made the most of the time you had left, If only we had not been afraid of what we felt.
Tour a room at Quiet Oaks Hospice House video
03/08/24 at 03:45 AMTour a room at Quiet Oaks Hospice House video WJON News, St. Cloud, MN; 3/6/24 Even though Quiet Oaks Hospice House has been in our community for over 15 years now, many of us have never actually visited the home. They have eight rooms with all suites similar in size and layout. Executive Director Linda Allen says they have a large-sized hospital bed so loved ones can sleep together. Other room amenities include a TV, radio, and wifi. ... The rooms are equipped with a call button for help and have a camera monitoring system.Editor's Note: This simple, warm, practical video can help allay fears of hospice patients, caregivers, and family members. This type of visual information can be especially supportive to long distance family members who might be grappling with the news of moving their loved one to a hospice facility.
Why home care leaders are now banking on ‘Caregiver-First’ cultures
03/07/24 at 02:15 AMWhy home care leaders are now banking on ‘Caregiver-First’ cultures Home Health Care News, by Patrick Filbin; 3/4/24 Over the last several years, a notable trend is emerging in home care: Top-tier companies are shifting their focus from prioritizing customers to prioritizing caregivers. This strategic move reflects a growing recognition of the critical role caregivers play, and aims to address persistent caregiver shortages.
Hospice launches Mothers Day tribute page
03/06/24 at 03:00 AMHospice launches Mothers Day tribute page Newrie.ie; 3/3/24Southern Area Hospice has launched an online tribute page ahead of Mother’s Day, providing a platform for individuals to remember their mothers, grandmothers, and mother figures who have passed away. Visitors to the Mother’s Day online tribute page can leave messages, share stories, and upload photographs of their loved ones. The page also allows individuals to read other dedications, fostering a sense of community and remembrance.
How to help elderly parents from a distance: Tech can ease logistical, emotional burden
03/01/24 at 03:00 AMHow to help elderly parents from a distance: Tech can ease logistical, emotional burden USA Today, by Marc Ramirez; 2/28/24 As a neuropsychologist trained in developing technology for cognitively impaired older adults, Alyssa Weakley’s research at the University of California, Davis, made her acutely aware of the challenges of long-distance caregiving. ... Soon, she and her family found themselves in a position shared by nearly 6 million other Americans, acting as caregivers from a complicated and often distressing distance. According to a 2020 AARP report, long-distance caregivers represent more than 1 in 10 of the country’s estimated 53 million family caregivers, meaning they live an hour or more from their care recipient; on average, they live about 450 miles away. Editor's Note: What systems do you have in place to communicate with and support family members who live long-distance, who never have the opportunity to meet with any hospice team members in person?
Study gives credence to range of dementia caregiver decision tools
02/28/24 at 03:00 AMStudy gives credence to range of dementia caregiver decision toolsMcKnights Home Care, by Kristen Fischer; 2/27/24A new study analyzes some evidence-backed tools to help substitute decision-makers make choices to honor an individual’s medical, personal and end-of-life wishes. ... Substitute decision-makers are family members or friends of older adults who cannot speak for themselves (such as those with dementia). Data from the study, which was published on Saturday in Journal of the American Society of Geriatrics, was derived from 25 articles published between 2003 and 2022.
Proposed legislation would create tax credits for family caregivers
02/28/24 at 03:00 AMProposed legislation would create tax credits for family caregiversHospice News, by Jim Parker; 2/23/24A bill to strengthen support for family caregivers is working its way through Congress. If enacted, it would create tax credits to help offset the financial burdens of caring for the seriously ill. ... The nation’s health care system is lacking in support for caregivers of the terminally ill, who are often left with a heavy financial and logistical burden. Without assistance or relief, these difficulties can impede access to hospice and other types of home-based care.
The family caregiver still faces resource hurdles
02/27/24 at 03:30 AMThe family caregiver still faces resource hurdles McKnights Home Care, by Liza Berger; 2/23/24It seems we have entered the era of the family caregiver. From legislation to government initiatives to private investment, there is unprecedented interest in the plight of family caregivers. We can thank the caregivers themselves for helping to move the needle.
Woman tried to kill 88-year-old father in hospice by choking him
02/23/24 at 03:00 AMWoman tried to kill 88-year-old father in hospice by choking himDeerfield Beach, FL Local News 10; 2/21/23 A Deerfield Beach woman is facing three felony charges, including attempted murder, after deputies said she tried to choke her 88-year-old father to death while he was under hospice care.
Identity shifts throughout HCT: A holistic approach to patient, caregiver support
02/23/24 at 01:00 AMIdentity shifts throughout HCT: A holistic approach to patient, caregiver supportHematology Advisor; by Katie Schoeppner, MSW, LICSW; Leah Christianson, OPN-CG; Hailey Hassel, MSW, LICSW; Cortney Alleyne, MPH; 2/20/24Patients undergoing hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT), their caregivers, and family members often experience dramatic shifts in their identity during and after the transplant process. These shifts can cause significant disruption in their lives, even among the most stable family and friend units. With holistic guidance and informed, empathetic care from professionals on healthcare teams, these patients and their support persons can better cope with the identity-related challenges they face.Editor's Note: See the patients you serve as persons. While this article focuses on person undergoing hematopoietic cell transplant, its rich insights about the patient/person's "tangible and intangible identity shifts" apply to the persons you serve, whatever the diagnosis. Read this article to develop your empathy and its practical applications throughout the services your organizations provide.
Hospice vs. palliative care in Tucson: Which one is right for you and your loved ones?
02/22/24 at 03:55 AMHospice vs. Palliative Care in Tucson: Which One Is Right for You and Your Loved Ones?AzFoothills.com, 2/20/24 ... Choosing between hospice and palliative care can seem overwhelming, especially when you're trying to make the best decision for someone you love. There are some distinctions between these two types of care. Here, we discuss some of those differences to guide you in choosing the proper care for a loved one.
Embodied decisions unfolding over time: a meta-ethnography systematic review of people with cancer's reasons for delaying or declining end-of-life care
02/21/24 at 03:05 AMEmbodied decisions unfolding over time: a meta-ethnography systematic review of people with cancer's reasons for delaying or declining end-of-life careBMC Palliat Care, by Jessica Young, Antonia Lyons, Richard Egan, and Kevin Dew; 2/19/24Conclusions: Decisions about when (and for some, whether at all) to accept end-of-life care are made in a complex system with preferences shifting over time, in relation to the embodied experience of life-limiting cancer. Time is central to patients' end-of-life care decision-making. ... The integration of palliative care across the cancer care trajectory and earlier introduction of end-of-life care highlight the importance of these findings for improving access whilst recognising that accessing end-of-life care will not be desired by all patients.
Most Pa. workers can’t take paid leave to care for sick loved ones. State law could change that
02/20/24 at 03:00 AMMost Pa. workers can’t take paid leave to care for sick loved ones. State law could change thatWESA Pittsburgh's NPR News Station, by Kristen Mosbrucker-Garza; 2/18/24About 66% of workers statewide don’t have paid family and medical leave benefits, according to a U.S. Census compensation survey from March 2022. And the brunt of that unpaid work often falls on any women in the household, said Meghan Pierce, CEO of the Executive Forum of Women in Philadelphia. ... The Executive Forum of Women, created in the late 1970s, is one organization in the coalition of nonprofits and businesses pushing to get paid family medical leave as a state law in Pennsylvania.
The state of caregiving for 2024
02/16/24 at 03:00 AMThe state of caregiving for 2024McKnights Home Care, by Lance A. Slatton; 2/13/24A significant discrepancy has formed over the past decade between the number of people needing care and the number of professional caregivers available. This was significantly exacerbated in 2023, with caregivers becoming more exhausted than ever. Whether due to financial constraints or the struggling economy, almost 1 in 5 Americans who were providing care in 2023 were going unpaid.