Literature Review

Simon Boas’ ‘inspirational’ book A Beginner’s Guide to Dying is published posthumously Jersey Evening Post; by Rod McLoughlin; 9/13/24 Friends and family of the late Simon Boas gathered ... to celebrate the posthumous publication of his book, A Beginner’s Guide to Dying. The former Jersey Overseas Aid chief executive – who died from throat cancer on 15 July at the age of 47 – spent his last months developing into a book ideas first explored in articles for the Jersey Evening Post. Described by the Daily Mail as “an inspirational paean to the joy of life”, Mr Boas’ words reached a huge audience after they were reprinted in the national press and broadcast on the BBC’s Today programme. A proportion of the proceeds are being donated to the African Palliative Care Association and the International Children’s Palliative Care Network. Mr Boas’ inspiring writings in the face of his terminal diagnosis saw him awarded the Bailiff’s Silver Medal in May. Shortly before his death, he also received a personal letter from the King and Queen ahead of their visit to Jersey.

Marshall medical students volunteer for Day of Service CBS WOWK-13 News, Huntington, WV; by Jessica Patterson; 9/11/24 On a day of reflecting and honoring lives lost to a horrific tragedy, people across the country are commemorating the services and sacrifices people made on Sept. 11, 2001, by volunteering in their communities. According to AmeriCorps, America’s National Day of Service and Remembrance is designed to honor and commemorate the heroes of 9/11 including armed forces, first responders, volunteers and countless others, for their acts of service during the terror attacks and in the aftermath. In Huntington, some college students are stepping up to do their part in the local community. Residents from the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine General Surgery Program spent the day volunteering at a local hospice house. The Emogene Dolin Jones Hospice Facility welcomed all the students’ hard work helping to prepare the grounds and gardens for the end of summer. “They are here today to help beautify and plant flowers here at our inpatient unit, the Emogene Dolin Jones Hospice House, which is part of Hospice of Huntington,” said Melanie Hall, Hospice of Huntington president and CEO.

Why so many patients are confused about CPR and do-not-resuscitate orders STAT; by Lindsey Ulin; 9/11/24 Inherently difficult conversations are made more so by a lack of physician training. When a patient is admitted to the hospital in the U.S., there’s a standard question physicians like me are supposed to ask: “If your heart stops beating, do you want us to do CPR?” On the surface, this may seem like a mechanic asking a customer, “If your car stalls, do you want us to jumpstart the engine?” Who would say no to this, especially in a hospital? The problem is that this exchange, which we call asking about “code status” in medicine, centers around a closed-ended question. Talking to a patient about their preferences for cardiac resuscitation, intubation, and/or other life-sustaining treatments needs to be a complete, often lengthy discussion, not just a box to check. ...

Death Cafe' creates safe space to talk about death, dying and beyond in Missoula KPAX-8 Missoula & Western Montana; by Jill Valley; 9/5/24 Sometimes, the most important conversations we can have involve topics we don’t really want to talk about — such as money, politics, or death. We recently went to have coffee with a group of people who are talking about some of life’s scariest issues. It was the last Thursday in August and about a dozen people were enjoying coffee and talking about death. This is Death Café. Maurika Moore — the CEO and owner of Hestia Advantage, a locally-owned hospice and palliative care provider — told MTN, “I think it’s something we all want to talk about but don’t often get to." The Death Café was founded decades ago. Now, there are meetings worldwide to create a safe space to talk about all aspects of death and dying. Its objective is "to increase awareness of death to help people make the most of their (finite) lives."

World Alzheimer's Month: September 2024 Alzheimer's Disease International, London, UK and Lincolnshire, IL, USA; retrieved from the internet 8/26/24Each September, people unite from all corners of the world to raise awareness and to challenge the stigma that persists around Alzheimer's disease and all types of dementia.  ... The 2024 World Alzheimer's Month will centre around the taglines 'Time to act on dementia, Time to act on Alzheimer's.' ...  Editor's Note: Click here for Alzheimer's Disease Internationals' 2024 campaign theme materials. Click here for the Alzheimer's Association in your USA location.

“What I wish I knew about dementia”: A caregiving only child’s experience The Healthy; by Dr. Patricia Varacallo, DO; 8/20/24 It's no secret dementia affects the brain of the patient, and tests the hearts of their loved ones. Through one woman's personal journey, experts advise on the emotional, medical, and financial aspects of caregiving for dementia. ... Drawing from Ann’s caregiving journey and insights from Dr. Wint and Lucille Carriere, PhD, Cleveland Clinic Angie Ruvo Endowed Caregiving Chair, we share their collective wisdom on what they wish more people knew about dementia.

Stay ahead of Medicare fraudsters ... Watch out for Medicare fraudsters The Times of Noblesville, Indiana; Information provided by the U.S. Department of HEalth & Human Services 8/16/24 (Family Features) ... Watch Out for Medicare Hospice Fraud: Beware of scammers offering older Americans in-home perks, like free cooking, cleaning and home health services, while they are unknowingly being signed up for hospice services. The scammers then unlawfully bill Medicare for these services in your name. Remember this advice to avoid hospice scams: [practical tips for the public] ... Report Medicare Fraud ...Editor's Note: This information for the public--provided by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services--provides an important resource for your community outreach, marketing, and admissions employees.

Signs that cognitive changes are worrisome —and what you can do about it CU Anschutz (Colorado University) Department of Medicine; by Tayler Shaw; 7/26/24 ... As a geriatrician and palliative medicine physician, Hillary Lum, MD, PhD, has spent her career working to better the lives of older adults and their families, often raising awareness about what cognitive decline can look like and when it is concerning. She is currently involved in the Colorado Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias State Plan, a state initiative to improve awareness and actions to address dementia in Colorado, specifically looking at how to build a competent workforce related to Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.  We recently sat down with Lum ... to talk about what cognitive decline is, symptoms to look out for, and how people can best protect their brain health.  

Palliative care training initiative launches to improve quality among incarcerated populations Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 7/12/24 The California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation’s Medical Facility (CMF) has launched a new palliative spiritual care training program aimed at improving services for incarcerated individuals. The new two-week spiritual training program was recently provided to palliative care service workers and volunteers to assist CMF’s clinical and nursing staff caring for patients at the facility’s hospice, correctional treatment center and memory care units. A dozen trainees recently completed the program, with CMF planning to provide an annual refresher course to all of its palliative care service workers, according to California Correctional Health Care Services CEO Joseph Garland. 

Hospice Palliative Care Society launches Rec Room Programs Prince George Citizen, British Columbia, Canada; by Citizen staff; 7/2/24 The Prince George Hospice Palliative Care Society (PGHPCS) is offering  new  Rec Room Programs, furthering the organization’s commitment to expanding hospice services for the community. This new addition aligns with the strategic goal of creating a space for individuals with life-limiting illnesses, their caregivers, and those grieving. The Rec Room is dedicated to promoting healing and wellness through meaningful connections and tangible support. Programs offered include:

A guide to making end-of-life decisions easier for your loved ones The Detroit Jewish News; by Shari Cohen; 7/1/24 It’s not a pleasant prospect, but each of us will eventually die. For family members, the death of a loved one brings sadness and a sense of loss but also a need to deal with practical matters. ... A new guidebook, Two Envelopes: What You Want Your Loved Ones To Know When You Die, by Rusty Rosman offers practical advice to help families with the death of a relative. ... While Rosman’s book is written from a Jewish perspective, as part of her research, she spoke with funeral directors and clergy from many religious and ethnic groups. ... Rabbi Joseph Krakoff, CEO of Jewish Hospice and Chaplaincy Network (JHCN), who wrote a preface for the book, describes it as “a great motivation to help people to think about these things. I encourage everyone to talk about it when they’re healthy,” he adds.

Families, volunteers share stories of finding peace through hospice Salina Post; by Cristina Janney, Hays Post; 6/29/24 This is a two-part series on hospice care in northwest Kansas. Dalene Juenemann and her father, Dean, had to make the difficult decision to enter hospice care after he was diagnosed with bladder cancer. “He was just such a social guy and someone was in a couple times a week,” she said. “They were checking in on him and it was that security blanket he had.” ... He didn’t want to go through aggressive chemo and he didn’t qualify for a bladder removal because of his age. “He chose quality of life,” she said. "It was that final decision that we are done with everyone wanting a piece of me. I'm just going to enjoy life," she said. Dalene's father, Dean Shearer, was a patient of NWKareS, Hospice of Northwest Kansas, which serves 16 counties from Interstate 70 to the Nebraska border and Trego County to the Colorado border. ... She said the extra care hospice offered allowed her to just be a daughter to her father as he was dying. [Click on the title's link to continue reading stories from families and volunteers at NWKAreS.]

Penn Health CEO on piecing together the healthcare hiring puzzle Becker's Hospital Review - Leadership & Management; by Madeline Ashley; 6/17/24 ... Penn Medicine has introduced programs to students and young people that will not only inspire them to join the healthcare industry, but prepare and train them for the opportunities that lie ahead. "I think the world needs mission oriented people," Kevin Mahoney [CEO of Philadelphia-based University of Pennsylvania Health System] told Becker's. "You've got to believe in where you're working, otherwise you're just punching the clock." In late May, the health system partnered with Heights Philadelphia, an organization that connects middle schoolers and up with career and college opportunities, and Philadelphia City Council majority leader Katherine Richardson to hold a career event. ... "By introducing students to the field, we’re creating a pathway to careers that enrich lives and make a difference in others. Encouraging careers in health care also helps to strengthen the field overall, ensuring a pipeline poised to answer the needs of the future." [Click on the title's link to read more of this innovative solution, and other student-oriented programs.]