Literature Review

YoloCares: The case for independenceThe Davis Enterprise; by Craig Dresang; 11/17/24I recently received an email from an individual in Temple Terrace, Fla., informing me that two Northern California nonprofit hospices — with close historical ties to YoloCares — have decided, via affiliation, to turn their keys over to a Florida-based health system that has had no previous presence in California.Publisher's note: Craig Dresang, CEO of YoloCares, goes on to discuss questions and concerns with Chapters Health System's (Tampa, FL) acquisition of Hospice of East Bay (Pleasant Hill, CA), Hospice of Santa Cruz County (Scotts Valley, CA), Nathan Adelson Hospice (Las Vegas, NV), and Willamette Vital Health (Salem, OR). The original story - Chapters Health System launches new Chapters Health West Division - was announced 10/30/24.

Local hospice organization announces dementia care program for patients and caregivers Southern Maryland News Net; 11/19/24 Hospice of the Chesapeake has launched a new and innovative dementia care program for dementia patients and their caregivers. The program, in collaboration with The National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI), The Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC) and Aliviado Health, includes free access to the “Dementia Care Patient & Caregiver Resource Guide,” which provides the best-in-class resource for dementia care. The goal is to improve the quality of life for dementia patients, reduce hospitalizations and ease burdens for families and caregivers.Editor's note: The National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI) is a sponsor for our newsletter.

Cooper Farms holds Turkey Trot [and raises more than $20,000 for EverHeart Hospice] Watt Global Media, Press Release, Oakwood, OH; 11/18/24 Cooper Farms recently held its 17th annual Turkey Trot 5K on November 2, welcoming over 400 participants in Oakwood, OH. This annual event has become a meaningful tradition, raising more than $20,000 cumulatively for EverHeart Hospice [in Greenville, OH]. In addition to promoting health and wellness among employees, the Turkey Trot has expanded to include families and the broader community, showcasing Cooper Farms' commitment to community engagement and charitable support.

Stella Maris raises $110K at 40th annual Crab Feast and Hospice Day of Giving Maryland Daily Record; 11/18/24 The 40th annual Stella Maris Crab Feast and Hospice Day of Giving raised approximately $110,000 in support of Stella Maris hospice care Oct. 13 at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium. More than 100 individuals and businesses donated to the auctions, game wheels, raffles and more. Ninety bushels of crabs were steamed on site by Conrad’s Crabs & Seafood Market. There were 50 sponsors (individuals and organizations), including M&T Bank, the presenting sponsor. Stella Maris is one of the first facilities established in Maryland providing compassionate care for terminally ill patients. It services patients in Baltimore, Carroll, Harford and Howard counties as well as the city of Baltimore.

LECOM Health opens Erie County's first specialty hospice unit Erie Times-News, Erie, PA; by David Bruce; 11/15/24 Erie County will soon have its first specifically designed medical unit for end-of-life care when LECOM Nursing and Rehabilitation Center opens its Visiting Nurses Association Specialty Hospice Unit later this month. Until now, local hospice patients who require a higher level of medical care than what can be provided at home usually lived their final days at a nursing home or hospital. The reluctance to open a dedicated hospice unit in Erie County is due to operating costs, Lin said. State laws require each unit to have a medical director and registered nurses, and the reimbursement for hospice care makes it difficult to cover those costs if there are fewer than four or five patients at a time. "Since this unit is part of the Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, we can share the medical director and registered nurses," Lin said.

Agrace recognized for commitment to organ, tissue donation In Business (IB) - Greater Madison, WI; IB Staff; 11/11/24 Local nonprofit health care organization Agrace, which provides hospice care, supportive (palliative) care, and grief support throughout southwest Wisconsin, was recognized by the Lions Eye Bank of Wisconsin (LEBW) as a recipient of the 2024 Crystal Vision Award. This award is presented annually to hospices, hospitals, and other community partners who demonstrate commitment to organ and tissue donation. In 2023, Agrace made a total of 27 donor referrals, helping recipients in Wisconsin, the U.S., and worldwide. LEBW honored 21 recipients from various categories this year, including surgeons, hospitals, medical examiners, funeral homes, and other community partners.

Veterans guest house to open a hospice home: Serving veterans through their final journey ABC 8 KOLO, Reno, Nevada; by Rebecca Kitchen; 11/11/24 For the last 30 years, the Veterans Guest House has made a commitment to serve veterans and their families as they seek medical care in our area. And over those 30 years, the need has grown tremendously. In fact, the Guest House has regularly been at capacity this year. To accommodate the increased need, the Veterans Guest House has also expanded on the services it offers. ... Every day, veterans and their families are confronted with end-of-life decisions. Some, have the resources to live out those days in comfort. But others face those last moments with uncertainty. “So, our solution is providing a home so they can get the hospice care and the 24-hour care that they need when they can’t get that where they live,” said Froslie. The current home and mission remain the same. This is a second home that will offer a cost-free, private residence for veterans in their final days. It is not a medical facility. Veterans will enroll with a hospice provider of their choice, who will oversee their medical needs. 

[National Hospice and Palliative Month] “Light It Up Purple” set for November 14 Sand Mountain The Reporter, Albertville, AL; by Mary Bailey; 11/6/24 Shepherd’s Cove Hospice is encouraging the community to “light it up purple” in November to raise awareness for National Hospice and Palliative Month. On November 14, Shepherd’s Cove is asking the community to switch your regular light bulbs for their special purple bulbs to spread awareness. Shalon Steed, Marketing and Sales Director for Shepherd’s Cove, came up with the idea a few years back.

Longer hospice stays among dementia patients save Medicare dollars Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 11/4/24 Hospice utilization has tripled among patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) during the past two decades. The trend has ignited concerns about these patients’ lengths of stay, as well as praise for hospices’ cost-savings potential. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) researchers analyzed Medicare fee-for-service claims spanning between 1999 and 2019, including data on hospice billing, patient enrollment, hospitalizations, health costs and chronic condition indicators. Roughly 14.7% of ADRD patients utilized hospices services in 2019, nearly triple the 4.4% of patients who received this care in 1999, according to the research, which was published in the National Bureau of Economic Research. The research compared billing claims among nonprofit and for-profit providers to explore spending associated with longer hospice stays among dementia patients. ...

Local hospice care offers services The Tribune, Seymour, IN; by Chey Smith; 11/1/24 St. Croix Hospice has recently expanded its reach locally to those in the community who need the resources they provide, ... The firm provides hospice care throughout the Midwest including three other branches in Indiana — Jeffersonville, Newburgh and Indianapolis. While in Seymour, they are able to serve Jackson County as well as those residents from Bartholomew, Brown, Jennings, Lawrence, Monroe, Scott and Washington counties. Caregivers at each hospice location live in the communities they serve, allowing in-person care for patients whenever they need it. Services are available nights, weekends and holidays. Chris Thomas, regional director of clinical operations at St. Croix’s Indiana locations, talked about the importance of this closeness and flexibility. “We wanted to move to this location because we wanted to service the local community,” Thomas said. “Try to stay closer to the community for faster response time.” This phase of someone’s life can be scary, but Thomas says that it doesn’t have to be that way. “People are scared when they hear the word hospice. We just want to let the community know that it’s okay. It doesn’t mean you’re giving up,” he said. “We really want to focus on the time they have left.”

Blue Ridge Care expands bereavement care with new Center for Hope & Healing Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 11/1/24 Blue Ridge Care has unveiled its new Center for Hope & Healing, a facility dedicated to offering comprehensive grief care. The Virginia-based nonprofit hospice, palliative care and PACE provider financed the center through philanthropic donations. The facility is located in the same building as Blue Ridge’s PACE program, according to CEO Jason Parsons. At the center, Blue Ridge bereavement care staff will offer specialized programs, workshops, support groups and individual counseling. “The center is a central organizing unit of our mission fulfillment in the areas of grief, family support and loss in a place people can come to that’s welcoming, inviting and centered around hope and healing,” Parsons told Hospice News. ... The center was built to create a relaxing atmosphere to help put visitors at ease, according to Parsons, with a sky blue color palette and several murals depicting natural scenes. In one display, a collection of rocks symbolizes the weight of grief. Visitors can write a message on the rocks to “leave that weight behind,” Parsons said. They can also paint their loved ones’ names on a mural of a branching tree in the lobby area. 

Aging studies researchers receive $1.8M to educate dementia care providers on palliative care University of South Florida - College of Behavioral and Community Sciences; by School of Aging Studies; 10/30/24Faculty in the School of Aging Studies have been awarded $1.8 million from the National Institutes of Health (NIH): National Institute on Aging to support their work of implementing and analyzing the impact of a palliative care education intervention for staff in assisted living facilities caring for people living with dementia. Debra Dobbs, PhD, is the principal investigator on the project, and Lindsay Peterson, PhD, Hongdao Meng, MD, PhD, MPH, and William Haley, PhD, will serve as co-investigators. The team will also be collaborating with investigators from UNC-Chapel Hill, Miami University, Penn State, University of Iowa, Workforce & Quality Innovations, and community hospices from Chapters Health Systems and Empath Health.

Mountain Valley celebrates renovated facility The Mount Airy News, Yadkinville, NC; by Mountain Valley; 10/28/24 Mountain Valley, a local hospice and palliative care organization, recently marked the official opening of its newly renovated Yadkinville hospice office. The facility will enable Mountain Valley to expand its services and continue providing care to the residents of Yadkin County. ... Paul Hammes, Mountain Valley board chair and CEO of Hugh Chatham Health, commented on the importance of this project for the community. “This office shows Mountain Valley’s deepening commitment to offering support for Yadkin County residents close to home. It’s important to us to provide quality and compassionate care that doesn’t require our patients and families to leave the comfort of their community.” ... Mountain Valley is a nonprofit organization providing end-of-life care in 18 counties in North Carolina and Virginia.