Literature Review

Long-term use of muscle relaxant medications for chronic pain-A systematic reviewJAMA Network Open; Benjamin J. Oldfield, MD, MHS; Brynna Gleeson, BA; Kenneth L. Morford, MD; Zoe Adams, MD; Melissa C. Funaro, MLS; William C. Becker, MD; Jessica S. Merlin, MD, PhD, MBA; 9/24Chronic pain, commonly defined as pain that lasts beyond 3 months and/or extends past normal tissue healing time, affects millions of US residents, with a 2021 prevalence of 21%. In this systematic review ... muscle relaxant medications were assessed. Muscle relaxants may be more beneficial than placebo for treating trigeminal neuralgia, painful cramps, and neck pain, but for fibromyalgia, low back pain, and other syndromes, they did not appear to be beneficial. Clinicians should be vigilant for adverse effects and consider deprescribing if pain-related goals are not met. 

Awards and Recognitions: September 2024 We congratulate these honorees and celebrate their contributions to our collective hospice and palliative care mission, vision, and compassionate care throughout our world. Do you know any of these leaders? We encourage you to forward this to them or to find another way to celebrate their success. 

Well-being outcomes of health care workers after a 5-hour continuing education intervention-The WELL-B randomized clinical trialJAMA Network Open; J. Bryan Sexton, PhD; Kathryn C. Adair, PhD; 9/24To test the effectiveness of Well-Being Essentials for Learning Life-Balance (WELL-B), a web-based continuing education program [was developed] to deliver ... interventions to improve 4 dimensions of HCW [health care workers] well-being (ie, emotional exhaustion, emotional thriving, emotional recovery, and work-life integration). [The] ... sessions improved short-term HCW emotional exhaustion, emotional thriving, emotional recovery, and work-life integration. Health care worker impressions of WELL-B were positive. These findings suggest that WELL-B is a beneficial intervention.

Blumenauer proposes overhaul to Hospice Benefit: If enacted, the legislation would be the single most significant update to the hospice benefit and payment structure since its inception in 1982. U.S. Congressman Earl Blumenauer, Washington, DC; Press Release; 9/26/24Today, Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), a senior member of the Ways and Means Committee, introduced the Hospice Care Accountability, Reform and Enforcement Act (Hospice CARE Act) to modernize Medicare’s hospice benefit, which has remained largely unchanged since its inception in 1982. The proposal comes as egregious reports of fraud and abuse within the benefit persist, despite action from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The legislation is the product of years of collaboration between stakeholders, lawmakers, and industry leaders. It builds on Blumenauer’s decades-long commitment to ensure the federal government supports families at a time of great stress and vulnerability: the end of life.

Amazon Wish List from 3 hospices affected by Hurricane HeleneWe have gathered a list of items needed by each of our member organizations that were significantly impacted by Hurricane Helene.  If you are interested in donating items, please click on the links below to make a purchase.  The items will be shipped directly to the member organization(s).  Wish lists from member organizations:

Helene and Hospice Updates

Hurricane Helene Disaster Relief Fund for home care & hospice employees in the CarolinasAssociation for Home & Hospice Care of North Carolina (AHHC of NC); by Judy Penn, Executive Director; 10/3/24 Click here to DONATE. Click here to APPLY for Assistance. urricane Helene has severely impacted our community, with many lives already lost in the Carolinas, and countless missing with no means of communication.  The Carolinas Foundation for Hospice & Home Care is accepting donations to distribute directly to hospice and home care employees devastated by this storm. Agencies are facing tremendous challenges, including displacement and/or evacuation of staff and patients, collapsed roads, failing infrastructure, lack of water, and the inability to communicate with downed lines. There is a major need for gas to continue to power generators for oxygen dependent patients both in home settings and hospice inpatient facilities. The Association staff has been in contact with government agencies to us keep up-to-date on the situation as it unfolds. Our industry is comprised of caring, compassionate individuals who help those in need. Please consider donating to the Hurricane Helene Relief Fund to help home care and hospice employees hit the hardest. ... 100% of ALL ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS are being borne by the Association and the Foundation. 100% of your donation (tax-deductible) comes in, and 100% of your donation goes out.

Hurricane Helene havoc: Major damage, evacuations, uncertainty at nursing homesMcKnight's Long-Term Care News; by John Roszkowski; 10/1/24Many nursing homes and senior living communities in Florida and North Carolina are reeling in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which resulted in forced evacuations of residents, major property damage, power outages and other issues. The hurricane was being blamed for at least 132 deaths in six Southeastern states and federal officials said at least 600 people were still unaccounted for as of Monday evening. Many people lacked power and cellular service, making the job of accurately assessing personal and property damage all the more difficult.

[CBS Evening News] Home hospice care in the spotlight as former President Jimmy Carter turns 100 CBS Evening News Segment; by Jon LaPook and Winick, anchored by Norah O'Donnell; 9/30/24This past spring, Joan Prum's advanced age and increasing frailty ushered in a new reality when she became a hospice patient. "I thought that unless you were really infirm and bedridden, you wouldn't be a candidate for hospice, but it turns out not to be true," Prum said. Healthcare teams provide comfort to hospice patients expected to live no longer than six months. As with all palliative care, trained professionals offer medication and treatments to decrease pain and increase quality of life. But with hospice, attempts to cure a person's illness are stopped. Connecticut Hospice, which oversees Prum's care, became the first hospice in the nation 50 years ago. Predicting how long somebody has to live is difficult, but CEO Barbara Pearce says the patient and their families make the decision to enter hospice. ... "Hospice care involves sitting down at the very beginning and say, what are your goals of care? What do you want your life to look like in the next few months? And how can we help?" Pearce said. Hospice care can be given in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and places like Connecticut Hospice, but about 99% choose to receive services at home, just like Prum and former President Jimmy Carter. Carter, who turns 100 years old on Tuesday, Oct. 1, is the oldest former president in U.S. history, and has been in home hospice care for the past 19 months.

Community Crisis and Grief: Public service video for communities, healthcare orgs, and persons whose "normal" hospice bereavement can be amplified and/or disenfranchised Composing Life Out of Loss; by Joy Berger; originally 5/30/22 in response to Uvalde's shootings, updated 9/29/24 in response to Hurricane/Storm Helene September 29, 2024 – We send support to the many communities, families, and individuals affected by Hurricane/Tropical Storm Helene’s devastation and loss. This public service education video defines different kinds of community crises; different groups of persons impacted with basic roles and tasks before and during a community crisis; community grief; and potential effects of community crisis/grief for persons who are already experiencing the “normal” bereavement of a loved one. Editor's note: Disclosure, I am the author/producer of this video; Composing Life Out of Loss is a sponsor for this newsletter. To immediately share with this free, public service video, click here for the link. To embed this video on your website (and thus eliminate any Composing Life branding), click here and complete this contact form. Be sure to leave a phone number for faster turnaround. 

[Hurricane/Storm Helene] Workforce emergency support National Hospice Foundation; website; retrieved 9/30/24 Mission of the Hospice Workforce Emergency Support fund is to support hospice workforce needs in the wake of an emergency event. Examples of support could include post-event funding for a hospice staff member’s childcare, shelter, groceries, etc., or assistance with purchasing of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). WHO CAN APPLY?

Carter defies odds with 19-month hospice stay: Former president's experience shines light on program The Atlanta Journal-Constitution; by Shelia Poole; 9/27/24 The Rev. Tony Lowden recently visited former President Jimmy Carter at his Plains home, where he is under hospice care. Carter, who turns 100 on Tuesday, was doing “good, fantastic,” said Lowden, who has been Carter’s personal pastor for seven years. Few would have expected such news about Carter, who has been under home hospice care for roughly 19 months.Only 10% of people on Medicare who died while under hospice care were in the program for 275 days or longer in 2022, according to MedPAC, an independent agency that advises Congress on issues affecting the Medicare program. Carter’s longevity while under hospice care continues to defy the odds, but that doesn’t surprise those who know his grit. ... Facts and Figures About Hospice Care: