Literature Review

Restructuring for risk: How home-based care providers build frameworks that boost profits Home Health Care News; by Joyce Famakinwa; 5/14/25 In the home-based care world, building a business that is equipped to take on risk-based reimbursement arrangements can be easier said than done. While no simple feat, taking on risk is an attractive option that allows home-based care providers to align incentives between their organizations, payer sources and patients. Providers that have found success with risk-based agreements have done so by addressing retention challenges, investing in data and more.

Roughly 40 percent of nurses plan to leave profession within 5 years, survey finds McKnights Home Care; by Adam Healy; 5/13/25 The nursing workforce today is more stable than it was during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, but a significant share of nurses still plan to leave the profession behind in the next five years, according to the 2024 National Nursing Workforce Survey published in the Journal of Nursing Regulation. ... Approximately 40% of RNs, LPNs and LVNs surveyed said that they planned to leave nursing sometime in the next five years. In 2022, roughly 26% of nurses said the same. The most common reasons nurses cited for wanting to leave their jobs included retirement, stress or burnout, workloads and pressures caused by understaffing, the report noted.

Dombi: At-home care providers must overcome ‘self-inflicted challenge’ to flourish Home Health Care News; by Morgan Gonzales; 5/2/25 Despite operating on razor-thin margins and facing persistent reimbursement challenges, some home-based care providers are setting themselves apart by leaning into innovation. By embracing alternative payment models, virtual health and opportunities like hospital-at-home programs, providers can save themselves from home-based care’s “self-inflicted challenge” of not capitalizing on the industry’s evolving opportunities, according to Bill Dombi, senior counsel for Arnall Golden Gregory law firm. He also formerly led the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC), which following a merger is now the National Alliance for Care at Home. While workforce shortages, potential Medicaid cuts and unsustainable payment rates threaten the industry, opportunity awaits those willing to evolve, Dombi said.

How a Butler University and Community Health Network partnership helped save 420 lives and $4.3 million Butler Stories, Indianapolis, IN; by Katie Palmer Wharton; 4/30/25 For healthcare professionals, data is more than just numbers—it is the foundation of better patient care, smarter decisions, and more efficient hospitals. But for many, data can feel overwhelming and difficult to use effectively. That’s why Butler University’s Office of Continuing and Professional Education teamed up with Community Health Network to create a hands-on professional development course that demystifies data and equips healthcare workers with practical analytics skills. Since launching in spring 2022, the program has empowered 185 Community Health Network professionals to break down data barriers, make informed decisions, and drive meaningful change in their organization. ... Armed with new data skills, Community Health Network employees built a dashboard to streamline the process. The results were nothing short of remarkable:

Understanding Conservatory Care Services: A comprehensive overview Articlescad.com; by Jonassen Randall; 4/27/25 As the population ages and healthcare requires evolve, conservatory care services have become a crucial part of the continuum of care for numerous individuals. Unlike standard medical treatment environments, conservatory care services focus on supporting people with persistent conditions or impairments, providing a holistic technique that promotes self-respect and quality of life. This short article will explore what conservatory care services entail, who can benefit from these services, and the various kinds they can take.

As the ‘Silver Tsunami’ hits the Flathead Valley, dementia diagnoses are rising while caregivers reach a breaking point Flathead Beacon, Kalispell, MT; by Maggie Dresser; 3/23/25 ... As baby boomers age and Americans live longer than previous generations, the elderly population will continue to grow and overwhelm many local resources, which includes nursing homes and memory care facilities. ... According to 2020 Census data, the national demographic of people ages 65 and over grew nearly five times faster than the total population over the 100-year period stretching from 1920 to 2020, and the population segment has recently reached 55.8 million. But Montana’s senior citizen population is disproportionately higher than many other states, ranking No. 6 overall, with 19.7% of its population considered geriatric, according to 2020 Census data.  Of this population, 9.8% of individuals in Montana suffer from Alzheimer’s.Editor's note: Click here for the national 2024 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures - Special Report: Mapping a Better Future for Dementia Care Navigation.

HHS proposal slashes Medicare SHIP funds MSN; by Mary Helen Gillespie; 4/22/25 The Trump administration is proposing federal budget cuts to Medicare State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIP) and seven additional elder health care safety net programs that assist older Americans. ... SHIP programs have been under the umbrella of the Health and Human Services agency Administration for Community Living. The pre-decisional budget lists funds for seven other ACL programs that would be eliminated are:

Jury convicts home health agency executive of fixing wages and fraudulently concealing criminal investigation U.S. Department of Justice - Office of Public Affairs; Press Release; 4/14/25 A federal jury convicted a Nevada man today for participating in a three-year conspiracy to fix the wages for home healthcare nurses in Las Vegas and for fraudulently failing to disclose the criminal antitrust investigation during the sale of his home healthcare staffing company.  According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Eduardo “Eddie” Lopez of Las Vegas, Nevada conspired to artificially cap the wages of home healthcare nurses in the Las Vegas area between March 2016 and May 2019. The three-year conspiracy affected the wages of hundreds of Las Vegas registered nurses and licensed practical nurses who provide care to patients in their homes. During the pendency of the government’s investigation, Lopez then sold his home healthcare staffing company for over $10 million while fraudulently concealing the government’s criminal investigation from the buyer.  

Death matters: Is there really no place like home when it comes to dying? Sequim Gazette, Sequim, WA; by Jeanette Stehr-Green Volunteer Hospice of Clallam County; 4/16/25 While not everyone has the chance to decide where they will die, most Americans say that given the choice, they would prefer to die at home. For most people, home is familiar and comfortable. It is more private than a room in a hospital or nursing facility, and more likely to allow intimate gatherings with family and friends. In the home, the dying person and their caregivers are more in control, deciding when to have visitors, eat, drink, or take medications. ... Planning, realistic expectations, and adequate support are key to keeping a dying person at home. Consider the following steps: ... Home might not be best ...

Without support, seniors aging in place may elect facility-based care, study finds McKnights Home Care; by Adam Healy; 4/16/25 Older adults aging in place may rethink whether they want to receive care at home if they do not receive certain aging-in-place supports from their care providers and loved ones, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. The researchers interviewed nearly 300 older adults receiving care at home and in long-term care facilities. ... The first theme was participants’ personal health experiences. ... Similarly, loss of health of loved ones and friends may also influence where patients want to receive care. ... The final factor influencing older adults’ aging preferences was time, the study found. 

CMS halts spending for nonmedical in-home Medicaid services, likely affecting providers McKnights Home Care; by Adam Healy; 4/13/25 The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services told states last week that it would not approve future federal matching funds for designated state health programs (DSHPs) and designated state investment programs (DSIPs). These programs are widely used to help Medicaid beneficiaries remain at home and in their communities.

What role do immigrants play in the direct long-term care workforce? KFF; by Priya Chidambaram and Drishti Pillai; 4/2/25 President Trump has made a slew of immigration policy changes focused on restricting entry at the border and increasing interior enforcement efforts to support mass deportation. While these actions are focused on undocumented immigrants, they likely will have ripple effects across immigrants of all statuses and millions more people living in immigrant families. Mass deportations could negatively impact the U.S. economy and workforce, given the role immigrants play, particularly in certain industries. ...

Senior living demand hits all-time high: NIC McKnights Senior Living; by Kimberly Bonvissuto; 4/3/25 The demand for senior living is at an all-time high, with the first quarter seeing a record number of occupied units, almost 621,000, the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care said Thursday afternoon [4/3]. Senior living occupancy rates increased 0.3 percentage points to 87.4% in the first quarter, up from 87.1% in the fourth quarter of 2024, according to the latest NIC MAP Senior Housing Market Fundamentals report. Independent living occupancy rose to 89%, up from 88.6% in the fourth quarter, whereas assisted living rates increased to 85.8% compared with 85.5% in the fourth quarter.