Literature Review

Educating the future of hospice and palliative carePortage.life; by Center for Hospice Care; 5/21/24This spring students at the University of Notre Dame gained insight into the delivery of care to patients and families dealing with serious advanced illnesses. The university, in partnership with Center for Hospice Care (CHC), once again offered the course “Introduction to Hospice and Palliative Care” that was designed by Dr. Dominic Vachon, Director of Ruth M. Hillebrand Center for Compassionate Care in Medicine and Mike Wargo, COO and vice president of the Hospice Foundation. The five-week class covered a variety of topics focused on hospice and palliative care and was taught by CHC staff including physicians, social workers, chaplains, bereavement counselors and other hospice and palliative care support staff.

When families fight over a relative with dementia, it’s time to call in the mediator The New York Times; by Paula Span; 5/13/24 Trained negotiators can help families struggling with vexing elder-care issues.  The four adult children were in agreement. Their father, William Curry, a retired electrical engineer and business executive, was sinking deeper into dementia. ... [But their mother] remained determined to continue caring for her 81-year-old husband at home, despite the increasing toll on her own health. ... As the weeks passed, “we were really at an impasse,” [a daughter] said. “Do you override your mother?” ...  [Increasingly,] families seek elder mediation privately, before disputes land in court and imperil or destroy family relationships. [Continue reading for descriptions of how mediation differs from arbitration, from family therapy, and for cautions about this being "a fairly new field with no nationwide certification or licensing requirements."]Editor's Notes: Executive leaders, what community education and resources are you providing for Advance Directives? What family systems education and and problem-solving are you providing for your interdisciplinary team members and grief counselors? Family conflicts are inherent--in some form or fashion--with almost anyone needing dementia care, especially when paired with palliative or hospice care. (If in doubt, ask your seasoned, front-line professionals.)

The Check-Up: How seniors can better take care of their mental health The Keene Sentinel; by Olivia Belanger Sentinel Staff; 5/8/24 My generation talks about mental health a lot. In our late 20s, my friends and I routinely check in to see how we’re feeling, reschedule plans because we’re in a mental funk or talk about how we can help support each other when we’re not feeling mentally healthy. ... But I know that for older generations, this can be hard to come by. ... [Older] adults are more likely to experience life changes — like coping with a serious illness or losing a loved one — which can lead to feelings of grief, social isolation or loneliness, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Loneliness in particular is one of the biggest threats to seniors, especially those who live in rural areas like the Monadnock Region where reliable transportation is limited. Research shows loneliness is as bad for people’s health as smoking 15 cigarettes per day, according to the U.S. Surgeon General. Signs that you may need to help your mental health, NIMH says, include: ... 

What every family should know about navigating hospice care: The keys to experiencing a peaceful, gentle, and dignified death Psychology Today; by Bob Uslander, MD; 5/7/24... As a physician with 35 years of experience, including 25 years as an emergency physician and 10 years as a palliative and end-of-life care specialist, I've witnessed firsthand the stark realities of palliative and hospice care.  ... Let me be clear: Hospice care is an enormous benefit to many people, and I am often awed by the level of compassion and commitment I witness among some hospice staff I encounter. Despite this, there are many gaps, the care can be inconsistent, and hospice care is frequently not the appropriate option for people who are encouraged down that path.

6 lessons I learned from inheriting a parent’s house Bankrate; by Linda Bell; 5/3/24 Inheriting a house is a bittersweet, overwhelming experience. I remember receiving the deed that transferred ownership of my mother’s home to me and my siblings. I felt a whirlwind of emotions: sadness that my mother was gone, relief that the complicated process was over and trepidation for the enormous responsibilities that lay ahead. Along with those feelings was the compelling need to honor her legacy. Here are six lessons I learned from inheriting my mother’s house. ...

Highlighting Nurses Week: Tidewell Foundation raising the next generation of hospice nurses Observer; by Tidewell Foundation; 5/2/24 ... Serving Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee, and Sarasota counties [Florida], the Tidewell Foundation provides the philanthropic support needed to ensure all who need the world-class care of Tidewell Hospice ... funds the only accredited non-profit Nurse Residency program in the United States. Tidewell began its Nurse Residency Program in 2018 to combat the nursing shortage in our region. Now, 6 years later, it is the first hospice to be accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), joining a network of 264 nurse residency programs across the nation.

How leaders are building the healthcare workforce pipeline Becker's Hospital Review; by Kelly Gooch; 4/24/24 The workforce is top of mind for hospitals and health systems, and executives are investing in retention and upskilling to address shortages and reduce reliance on contract labor. ... "We've got to start thinking about it differently and probably getting to people a lot earlier than we do now," Laura Hurst, administrator for Cooper Green Mercy Health Services Authority, an affiliate of Birmingham, Ala.-based UAB Health System, told Becker's. ... These strategies include working more closely with high schools, community colleges and other schools to help provide instruction and support and highlight the benefits of working in healthcare.

Health care workers aid community members with end-of-life care directives The Journal - Martinsburg, WV; by Tom Markland; 4/16/24Health care workers from Berkeley Medical Center and Hospice of the Panhandle came together on Tuesday to help members of the community learn and assemble various advanced directives concerning end-of-life care. According to a study by the University of Chicago, only 22% of U.S. adults have completed any advanced directive for their end-of-life care. Tuesday’s event aimed to help boost that that number in the Eastern Panhandle. As of 2 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon, more than 35 people had been through the program, completing paperwork for their medical power of attorney, living will or both for free.Editor's Note: We thank and celebrate all hospice and palliative organizations that participated in the National Healthcare Decisions Day, Tuesday April 16, 2024! Collectively, what supportive connections you have made. Individually for each person and with their families, these conversations and advance directives will continue to unfold through years ahead, when needed most.

NHPCO's CaringInfo program launches new consumer blog, insights NHPCO Press Release; 4/15/24 CaringInfo, a program of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), has launched a new consumer blog, Insights, offering timely and practical content on serious-illness care and services from a variety of perspectives in both English and Spanish. ... CaringInfo also offers more information about advance directives and free advance directives and instructions for all 50 states plus Puerto Rico and Washington DC in both English and Spanish, downloadable as PDF files.

3 ways advance care planning empowers people TCPalm, Visiting Nurse Association, by Lauren Gruber; 4/10/24 ... National Healthcare Decisions Day on April 16th, which seeks to inspire, educate and empower the public and providers on the importance of health planning, is a prime opportunity to consider enrolling in an advance care plan. Identifying the right caregiving plans may seem daunting at first, but it’s important that patients solidify an advance care plan for the security and peace of mind of themselves and their loved ones. ... Here are three ways why choosing an advance care plan through the VNA can empower patients to ensure the best care possible during their health care journey:

Reminder: April 16 is National Healthcare Decisions Day The Conversation Project, Institute for Healthcare Improvement; ongoing until 4/16/24[Read for] specific ideas and suggestions for ways to implement National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD) activities in your community and at your facility. First and foremost, lead by example…be sure you have thoughtfully considered and made your own healthcare decisions known. Editor's Note: from The Conversation Project's "About Us": "The Conversation Project began 2010, when Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Ellen Goodman and a group of colleagues and concerned media, clergy, and medical professionals gathered to share stories of 'good deaths' and 'hard deaths' within their own circle of loved ones."