Literature Review

Could this ‘beautiful story’ be the story of the year?McKnight's Senior Living; by Lois A. Bowers; 9/16/24When we look back on 2024, we might just call the story of Casey’s Pond the feel-good story of the year in senior living. Or if not the story, certainly one of them. Casey’s Pond, a continuing care retirement community in Steamboat Springs, CO, entered receivership in July, after not being able to pay off millions of dollars in bonds that had been used to construct the community in 2013 and not being able to find a buyer... But along the way, the city of Steamboat Springs made an emergency authorization of $2.5 million to try to save the CCRC, and a local community foundation started a “quiet fundraising campaign” that resulted in millions of dollars in commitments from dozens of donors so that bondholder requirements could be met... Now, the ink is dry on that purchase agreement, which as of Sept. 3 was expected to close within 30 days.

Historic numbers of Americans live by themselves as they age California Healthline, originally published by KFF and ran in The Washington Post; by Judith Graham; 9/17/24Gerri Norington, 78, never wanted to be on her own as she grew old. ...  Norington is part of a large but often overlooked group: the more than 16 million Americans living alone while growing old. Surprisingly little is known about their experiences. This slice of the older population has significant health issues: Nearly 4 in 10 seniors living alone have vision or hearing loss, difficulty caring for themselves and living independently, problems with cognition, or other disabilities, according to a KFF analysis of 2022 census data. ... Multiple studies find that seniors on their own are at higher risk of becoming isolated, depressed, and inactive, having accidents, and neglecting to care for themselves. As a result, they tend to be hospitalized more often and suffer earlier-than-expected deaths. ... The most reliable, up-to-date data about older adults who live alone comes from the U.S. Census Bureau. According to its 2023 Current Population Survey, about 28% of people 65 and older live by themselves, including slightly fewer than 6 million men and slightly more than 10 million women. (The figure doesn’t include seniors living in institutions, primarily assisted living and nursing homes.) By contrast, 1 in 10 older Americans lived on their own in 1950. ... [Click on the title's link for the full article. Includes information to republish for free.]

Mayo Clinic Minute: Palliative medicine for cancer patients Mayo Clinic; by Sonya Goins; 9/16/24 Patients undergoing cancer treatments often use palliative medicine to cope with nausea, fatigue and other bothersome symptoms. Palliative medicine is a medical specialty whose main focus is supporting patients and families/caregivers who need help managing symptoms related to cancer or side effects related to the treatment of cancer, along with other life-limiting diseases. Dr. Touré Barksdale, a Mayo Clinic cancer rehabilitation and palliative medicine specialist, explains the benefits of palliative care.

Remembering Martin Paley, Berkeley philanthropic leader who headed San Francisco Foundation Berkeleyside Obituaries; by family and friends of Martin Paley; 9/16/24 Martin A. Paley, a civic leader and mentor who personified the common good to benefit the whole Bay Area, died on Sept. 12 in Oakland. [Martin's extensive philanthropy leadership is described.] ... Martin died as he lived, endeavoring to have his actions match his values in a Hospice program, which he introduced to the Bay Area in 1978 with a visit from a leading practitioner from England. Martin A. Paley, through his mentoring and a life lived with common good values, the Bay Area gained from his inspirational leadership. 

[OR] Samaritan Health Services lowers executive pay, reduces workforceModern Healthcare; by Alex Kacik; 9/16/24Corvallis, Oregon-based Samaritan laid off 80 employees in response to inflation, cyber incidents, inclement weather, volume reduction and declining reimbursement rates, a spokesperson said Monday. Most of the layoffs were not patient-facing positions, the spokesperson said.

How can you spot bad leadership quickly? Look for 6 warning signs Inc.; by Marcel Schwantes; 9/16/24 Back in my HR days many moons ago, I hired a candidate for a senior management position. During his first week on the job, I stopped by his office to greet him. I overheard him on the phone with a vendor, and his behavior was in stark contrast to the person we had hired. I felt embarrassed by his conduct. Over time, there was a high turnover in his department. I have witnessed numerous counterproductive behaviors in middle and upper management. Here are six toxic traits that I have identified, which are detrimental to leading effectively.  ... 

From profit to purpose: Adapting leadership in the nonprofit sector Forbes; by Peter Sanchez; 9/16/24 Some leadership traits are universal: empathy, integrity, positivity and clear communication. Others are specific to certain kinds of businesses. In my journey from large for-profit companies and tech startups to the nonprofit sector, I have had to adapt my leadership approach in some fundamental ways. Here are a few tips for anyone making this transition. 

Bayada, HomeWell leaders share strategies for recognizing and retaining office staff Home Health Care News; by Audrie Martin; 9/13/24 Office staff have the highest client satisfaction scores among home health care provider employees. They also have the lowest administrative salaries. These salaries can impact job satisfaction and cause employees to seek employment elsewhere, according to the 2024 Activated Insights Benchmarking Report. Some organizations are turning to recognition to combat this trend. “Employee recognition is no longer a ‘nice to do,’” Michelle Cone, senior vice president of training and brand programs at HomeWell Care Services, told Home Health Care News. “Recognizing employees should be considered table stakes in this post-pandemic landscape. With a focus on employee retention, engagement, and overall satisfaction and its direct correlation to top-quality care, recognition to support retention and drive satisfaction is vital.” ... [Jeff Knapp, Chief People Officer of Bayada told HHCN,] “For office staff, excellence awards are one favorite. Employees are nominated and selected yearly and celebrated at our annual gathering. Categories include clinical leadership, client services leadership and enterprise support. We also give years of service awards to recognize employee loyalty and commitment.”

Crossroads Hospice & Palliative Care is primed for continued success 9/13/24; Business Wire - Crossroads Hospice & Palliative Care; by Lisa Simon; 9/13/24 Crossroads Hospice & Palliative Care, the leading end-of-life care company, is affirming its commitment to growing its four Ohio locations in Cleveland, Northeast Ohio, Cincinnati and Dayton along with two others, one outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and one in Memphis, Tennessee. “We are committed to building our remaining locations and we have the depth of talent and proven standards for the highest quality care and the most time spent bedside, including attended deaths, compared with any other hospice. This is an opportunity for Crossroads to reach its highest potential.” That’s after selling five locations in Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and Georgia to Spartanburg, SC-headquartered Agape Care Group, a portfolio company of Ridgemont Equity Partners, earlier this week. Crossroads had been considering a strategic sale of some locations for a number of reasons. Now company leaders are viewing the future of the 29-year-old leader in hospice and palliative care with enthusiasm as they become a more streamlined company with a smaller geographic footprint. “The potential for innovation has never been higher,” said Crossroads CEO and Co-Founder Perry Farmer. “We are committed to building our remaining locations and we have the depth of talent and proven standards for the highest quality care and the most time spent bedside, including attended deaths, compared with any other hospice." ... COO and Co-Founder Clayton Farmer agreed while acknowledging how entrenched Crossroads is in the markets where it operates. “We want our valued referral partners in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Tennessee to know we are here to continue serving their patients and families and we will strive to continue to beat all national averages on key hospice industry metrics.” 

Kaiser Permanente to exit skilled nursing business Modern Healthcare; by Diane Eastabrrok; 9/11/24 Kaiser Permanente is getting out of the nursing home business, closing its lone skilled nursing facility, a spokesperson confirmed in an email Wednesday. The nonprofit health system is shutting down the 176-bed nursing home in San Leandro, California in November, which will displace approximately 250 workers, the spokesperson said. He added that staff are working to transition patients either to their homes or to other skilled nursing facilities in the area.

The 9 college majors that lead to the most fulfilling careers ... NBC 7 San Diego, CA; by Kamaron McNair; 9/14/24 If you want your degree to help you land a fulfilling job, consider studying music therapy. The medical and therapeutic fields are among the college majors helping graduates get jobs that make the world a better place, according to graduates surveyed in a recent Payscale report.24/7 San Diego news stream: Watch NBC 7 free wherever you are Alumni with bachelor's degrees in music therapy are most likely to do this kind of fulfilling work, with 95% of degree-holders saying their work makes the world a better place, Payscale finds. Music therapy programs cover coursework in music, music therapy, science and psychology, according to the American Music Therapy Association. ... Music therapists may work in traditional settings, offering services to clients working through physical disabilities or mental health issues. People in hospice care, substance abuse programs and cancer treatment centers have also benefited from music therapist visits, according to the AMTA.Editor's note: Click here for facts and descriptions about "Music Therapy in Hospice Care," by the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA). To recruit a certified music therapist for hospice (or other setting), visit AMTA's Job Hotline.  

The persistent stigma attached to dementia encourages denial InForum; by Carol Bradley Bursack; 9/14/24 Dear Carol: ... At age 70, I was diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Theoretically, that diagnosis means that I have a few more memory glitches than normal for my age. A percentage of people with MCI will develop Alzheimer’s disease, but not all. Yet, some family members treat me like I shouldn’t make decisions beyond what I want for dinner. ...Dear Al: The stigma attached to mental illness, cognitive decline, and even aging, illustrates widespread ignorance of facts. The more people like you speak up the better the future will be for others. ... For now, work on educating your family about MCI.  ... Here's a start: 

You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step. ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.