Literature Review

Is Medicare ready for an aging america? Home-based care offers hope RealClear Health; by Jonathan Fleece, JD (President and CEO of Empath Health) and Dr. Steve Landers (CEO of the National Alliance for Care at Home); 3/12/25Too often, families face an impossible situation: a loved one is ready to leave the hospital, but no home health provider is available. Or they’re told hospice is the best option, but administrative red tape delays access to comfort and support. These failures put patients at risk. ... This experience underscores why policymakers must protect and expand access to home-based care—before more patients fall through the cracks. ... According to one analysis, in a recent three year period, hospital stays for patients waiting to be discharged to post-acute care providers increased by 24 percent, deteriorating health outcomes and quality of life. Discharge delays – caused by hospital capacity issues and workforce shortages – not only cause harm to patients; they also add unnecessary strain and costs on our healthcare system.

How hospital merger oversight is shifting deal-making Modern Healthcare; by Alex Kacik; 3/12/25 Health systems are increasingly pursuing mergers and acquisitions in the South, a region where demand for care is growing and there are fewer regulatory barriers. More than a dozen states have passed laws over the past several years designed to increase oversight of healthcare transactions, but Southern states have largely stayed on the sidelines. As a result, deals involving hospitals are expected to pick up in the South, particularly in markets that feature growing populations, a high number of Medicaid patients and less stringent merger reviews, merger and acquisition advisers said. Potential Medicaid cuts could also drive up deal-making in the 16-state region spanning from West Virginia to Texas, as well as Washington, D.C., advisers said. 

Poised for growth, Missouri’s largest aging services nonprofit changes name: Lutheran Senior Services is now EverTrue St. Louis Business Journal; by Jackie Hamilton, VP of Advancement, EverTrue; 3/7/25 One of the oldest nonprofit agencies in the St. Louis region is changing its name to reflect a dynamic change and growth in desired services and offerings for those 60 plus. Beginning this week, the 165-year-old Lutheran Senior Services (LSS) organization, which also is the 11th largest nonprofit senior living provider in the country, will be known as EverTrue. “It’s a transformative moment for the organization,” said Adam Marles, president and CEO of EverTrue. “From right here in St. Louis, we’re leading the country in aging services. In this next chapter, we needed a name and a brand that positioned us for future growth and opportunities, while still being true to our mission.” 

The Medical Minute: Measles cases rising in the US, what you can do PennState, Hershey, PA; 3/6/25 A case of measles in a child was confirmed in Montgomery County on March 2 ─ the first reported case in the state in 2025. Nationwide, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported 164 measles cases in nine states. Texas alone has seen at least 140 cases since late January, including one unvaccinated child who died. Measles is a preventable, highly contagious, airborne virus that can cause serious health complications, including death, especially in children under 5, said Dr. George McSherry, division chief of pediatric infectious diseases at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital. “Measles is a very serious illness. It’s one of the most infectious of the infectious diseases,” McSherry said. “If you put a person with measles in a room with 100 unimmunized people, 90 will get it.” Click on the title's link for more important information. 

Film: Lives well livedSecond Wave Southwest Michigan and Lives Well Lived; film by Sky Bergman; 3/6/25A Life Well Lived, a series of community meetings and learning opportunities that concludes March 15, and the documentary "Lives Well Lived," by guest speaker Sky Bergman, ... On the film's website, filmmaker Sky Berman describes, "In our society, the elderly are often overlooked. Lives Well Lived celebrates the incredible wit, wisdom, and life experiences of older adults living full and meaningful lives in their later years. Their stories are about perseverance, the human spirit, and staying positive during the great personal and historic challenges. I hope these stories inspire people of every age to achieve the longevity of both health and spirit, and to realize that growing older can be a journey to be celebrated." ... Beginning with its premiere at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, Lives Well Lived has screened in more than 200 cities. The film has won eight awards, and the theatrical run garnered enthusiastic reviews and a 100% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Organizations like Aging 2.0, AARP’s Movies for Grownups, Encore.org, and Leading Age have screened Lives Well Lived. Now the film is available on PBS! Editor's note: Click here for Second Wave Southwest Michigan use of this film for community outreach. Click here for the film's website, Lives Well Lived.

Breaking bad news: Guidance on disclosing a dementia diagnosis Medscape; by Megan Brooks; 3/3/25 As biomarker testing for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) evolves, timely and compassionate disclosure of a diagnosis is more complex than ever. Yet, clinicians may struggle with how — or in some cases whether — to disclose that a patient has mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia. A recent perspective offers a practical roadmap to help clinicians navigate these challenging conversations. The authors from the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, noted that disclosure of a dementia diagnosis “is particularly nuanced and requires a conscientious approach. Clinicians must assess patients’ understanding and appreciation of symptoms, goals for the evaluation, and desire for information.” 

Human Services seeks proposals to expand PACE to serve older adults in all 21 counties [New Jersey] Department of Human Services - Official Site of the State of New Jersey, Trenton, NJ; 2/14/25 Human Services today issued two requests for proposals to establish a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) in Hunterdon County and in Morris, Sussex, and Warren Counties, the remaining counties currently without a PACE program. PACE is an innovative program that provides individuals 55 years of age or older with comprehensive medical and social services. The care is coordinated and provided by an interdisciplinary team of professionals in a community-based center and in their homes. ... “PACE connects older residents with specific health needs to vital health and social services that can help delay or avoid admission to long-term care facilities. This is the last step to achieving our goal of expanding PACE as an option to older adults in every county of New Jersey,” said Human Services Commissioner Sarah Adelman.

'Just wonderful': Clients praise benefits of new senior care facility The Winchester Star, Winchester, VA; by Brian Brehm; 2/5/25 Just five months after opening, Blue Ridge Independence at Home is already improving the lives of its clients. Over lunch on Monday, Berryville residents Darlene Hamby and David Rogan talked about their affection for the 15,000-square-foot social and medical support center that began operations in September ... “It’s just wonderful,” said Hamby, who was one of the first four clients to enroll at Blue Ridge Independence at Home (BRIH). ... The new center was created by Blue Ridge Hospice to support a local Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), a national initiative that provides medical and socialization services for people who are 55 or older and can live safely at home. It is one of 14 PACE programs in Virginia.

Fallon Health announces a new location in Framingham to serve older adults in the MetroWest Fallon Health, Worcester, MA; Press Release; 2/3/25 Fallon Health, a national leader in offering PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly), is pleased to announce the opening of a new alternative care setting in Framingham. This location aims to bring care closer to home for older adults in the MetroWest region. ... The new space includes 3 exam rooms, lab services, a therapy room for physical, occupational, and other therapeutic services, a conference room for care planning and family meetings, a shower, laundry facilities, and dedicated office space. To ensure a comprehensive support system, Adult Day Health (ADH) services are provided through partnerships with like-minded local programs, including Dia Feliz Adult Day Health Center.

Palliative care slashes ED visits, hospitalizations in people living at home with dementia: study McKnights Long-Term Care News; by Kristen Fischer; 1/30/25 A program that provides palliative care to people with dementia and their caregivers lowered the number of emergency department visits and hospitalizations by approximately half in about a year, a new study shows. Those who benefitted the most from the Indiana Palliative Excellence in Alzheimer Care Efforts (IN-PEACE) initiative were Black people and those with lower incomes. A report detailing the findings was published in JAMA ... The 50% decrease in emergency department visits and hospitalizations among people who received the intervention shows that the program can keep some people with dementia out of the hospital, where they can develop complications and functional declines.

You’re not imagining it. The ‘quad-demic’ is making everyone sick. New Jersey Advance Media; by Jackie Roman; 1/27/25 A quadruple threat of viruses is driving up emergency room visits and hospital admissions across the United States, including in New Jersey. Public health experts warn a “quad-demic” — a contagious combination of COVID-19, influenza, RSV and norovirus — has increased pressure on New Jersey hospitals this winter. Emergency department visits and hospital admissions remain elevated for COVID-19, influenza, and RSV, according to the state’s latest respiratory illness surveillance report. ... The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that there have been at least 16 million illnesses, 190,000 hospitalizations, and 8,300 deaths from flu so far this season. Thirty-one of those deaths were among children, according to the CDC. [Click on the title's link for more data and a national map, with updates by the CDC on 1/22/25.] 

Wildfire emergency: Health facility evacuation details California Department of Public Health; Press Release; page updated 1/21/25Wildfires can lead to emergency evacuations and it’s important to follow your local officials when evacuations are ordered. If you’re looking for current evacuation information, monitor local news outlets (television, radio, etc.) as well as official social media sites for emergency responders (sheriff, police, fire). Be sure to follow the directions of safety personnel to ensure your safety and the safety of first responders. If you are ordered to evacuate your home or the area, do so immediately. Time is crucial!​ The table below contains the latest health facility evacuation ​information: [Click on the title's link to view the list.]