Literature Review

Overcome fear of financial regret to embrace a fulfilling life Advisorpedia, Viewpoints by Ross Levin; 4/8/24 ... A primary job of financial planners is to help their clients see what is possible. It is also to help them balance living today while preparing them for tomorrow. But not knowing how many tomorrows we have can create too much emphasis on an uncertain future. ... One of our long-term clients is now in hospice. As we were talking, she said how grateful she was for what she and her husband did with their family ... Although cancer will rob her of some years, she has lived her life fully. I have worked with countless clients, and here is some wisdom I have discovered that helped them avoid regret: [click on the title's link to read]

Regret for the things we did can be tempered by time; it is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable. - Sydney HarrisEditor's Note: This quote is from today's post, "Overcome financial regret to embrace a fulfilling life," in category "Today's Inspirational Story."

Lost for words? Research shows art therapy brings benefits for mental health The Conversation; 4/8/24 Creating art for healing purposes dates back tens of thousands of years, to the practices of First Nations people around the world. ... When people face significant physical or mental ill-health, it can be challenging to put their experiences into words. Art therapists support people to explore and process overwhelming thoughts, feelings and experiences through a reflective art-making process. This is distinct from art classes, which often focus on technical aspects of the artwork, or the aesthetics of the final product.

Iowa River Hospice resident receives Quilt of Valor Times Republican, by Robert Maharry; 4/8/24 Kenny King may have only spent two years in the military after being drafted into the U.S. Army at the height of the Vietnam War, but he’s always recognized the importance of that period in his life since returning to central Iowa. King who spent the vast majority of his life in the Grinnell area, has been living at Iowa River Hospice since late December, and recently, he received a Quilt of Valor recognizing his service from Denise Straits of the Central Iowa Quilt Sew-ciety, who also happens to be an RN at Iowa River Hospice. 

Mixed reactions as St. Patrick Hospital nurses approve new contract KPAX-8 Missoula & Western Montana, by Claire Peterson; 4/8/24 The nurse's union at St. Patrick Hospital approved a three-year contract by a narrow vote. ... On Friday, April 5, the nurse’s union at Providence St. Patrick Hospital approved a three-year contract by a narrow vote, bringing months of negotiation to an end. ... The new contract was approved by 56% of the nurses who voted, according to Marmorato. St. Patrick Hospital nurses were fighting for higher wages, plans to prevent workplace violence and more effort to retain staff. 

Insurers’ response to the Change breach failed providers Modern Healthcare, by Chip Kahn and Dr. Bruce Siegel; 4/8/24 ... The Feb. 21 attack on Change Healthcare, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group’s Optum unit, severed the electronic ties that connect patients, providers and insurance companies. The attack robbed patients of the certainty they could seek and receive care, and it robbed physicians, pharmacists and hospitals of the resources necessary for patient care. ... Overlooked in this crisis, is that insurance companies failed to act decisively and collectively to protect patients and providers. ... Here’s what should have happened immediately when the threat facing patient care became painfully obvious. 

Care partners have an increased loneliness risk HCP Live, by Chelsie Derman; 4/8/24 The study highlights how the experience of loneliness for care partners of people with dementia changes relationship roles throughout the dementia trajectory. A new study sought to widen the knowledge gap on why people with dementia and their care partners have an increased loneliness risk and identified primary themes: losing external social networks, losses with the dyadic relationship, and the burden of a care partner supporting their loved ones.Editor's Note:

Modern ultrasound tech benefits extend from Alzheimer’s to palliative care McKnights Senior Living, by Aaron Dorman; 4/9/24New research is showing that ultrasound innovations can be ultra-beneficial to seniors across a wide range of applications. ... [A] valuable use of ultrasound tech could be in palliative care. Portable or handheld ultrasound diagnostic tools could allow for more effective treatment options, and reduce the need for costly rehospitalizations. These imaging tools are already available and researchers conducted a narrative study of existing literature that appeared to validate their effectiveness; based on previous findings, new portable ultrasound devices made a difference in 50% of treatment decisions, the researchers found. 

Frontline burnout in healthcare: A growing crisis demands action MedCity News, by Russ Richmond; 4/4/24Implementing diverse and sustained strategies to empower frontline workers should be the cornerstone of any modern healthcare workforce management program. The healthcare industry faces a critical challenge: rampant burnout among its workforce. Recent data paints a concerning picture: 46% of healthcare workers report feeling burned out (CDC), and 41% of nurses in direct patient care roles are considering leaving their roles (McKinsey). These numbers – significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels – point towards systemic issues demanding immediate attention.

[Psychology Today] Facing Mortality Honestly Psychology today, by Patricia Prijatel; 4/6/24 Personal Perspective: Being Mortal, by Atul Gawander, explores end-of-life-care. I read Being Mortal by Atul Gawande when it was first published in 2014 and haven’t stopped talking about it. It shot to the top of my list as one of the most important books I’ve ever read. After 10 years, I read it again to see if it held up. It did. I was as entranced the second time as the first—even more so because, as it happens, I am also now 10 years older.

Dane County Board approves funding for hospice care program for homeless individualsABC TV 27 WKOW, Madison, WI; by Chloe Morrissey; 4/6/24Multiple organizations aiming to combat homelessness received approval for funding after Thursday night's Dane County Board meeting. One organization, Solace Friends, will be receiving $100,000 for the creation of Solace Home. It's a hospice program for housing insecure individuals given less than 6 months to live. The home can serve up to four people at one time who are currently living on the street, in a shelter or an unstable housing situation. 

Champions play as they practice. Create a consistency of excellence in all your habits. – Mike Krzyzewski Editor's Note: Dedicated to March Madness 2025 teams. Dedicated to the hospice and palliative care organizations who will provide care to your family and friends this next year.

Medicaid expansion and palliative care for advanced-stage liver cancer Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery; by Henrique A Lima, Parit Mavani, Muhammad Musaab Munir, Yutaka Endo, Selamawit Woldesenbet, Muhammad Muntazir Mehdi Khan, Karol Rawicz-Pruszyński, Usama Waqar, Erryk Katayama, Vivian Resende, Mujtaba Khalil, Timothy M Pawlik; dated 4/24/28 (for print) Conclusion: The implementation of ME [Medicaid expansion] contributed to increased rates of palliative treatment for patients residing in ME states after expansion. However, racial disparities persist even after ME, resulting in inequitable access to palliative care.