Literature Review

Florida health-care workers exhausted as Hurricane Milton approaches The Washington Post; by David Ovalle and Sabrina Malhi; 10/8/24The storm shutters are up at Stephen Johnson’s house near the water in North Fort Myers, Fla. ... But  Jones won’t be home when Hurricane Milton is expected to thunder ashore this week along the Gulf Coast. Instead, the paramedic — like thousands of health-care workers across Florida — intends to ride out the storm at work, then jump into action when the winds die down, the waters recede and people seek medical assistance. ... “It gets stressful. You don’t know if you’re going to come back to a home,” Johnson, 28, of Brewster Ambulance Service, said during a brief break Tuesday after two straight days of organizing evacuations of patients from hospitals and assisted-living facilities across Lee County in southwest Florida while surviving on granola bars and energy drinks. ... By Tuesday afternoon, Florida health officials had deployed nearly 600 ambulances, buses and other transport vehicles to ferry patients out of harm’s way. More than 200 health-care facilities — including 115 assisted-living facilities, 10 hospitals and five hospice providers — have reported evacuations, according to the state’s health department.

Temporary regulatory relief for South Carolina health care providers responding to Hurricane Helene Baker Donelson; Alissa D. Fleming; 10/4/24 South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster declared a State of Emergency on September 25, 2024, to prepare for Hurricane Helene. On September 29, 2024, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued a Federal Major Disaster Declaration (FEMA-4829-DR) for South Carolina. On September 30, 2024, the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) declared a public health emergency in South Carolina, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued several blanket waivers to provide greater compliance flexibility and continuity of care while responding to Helene in the geographic area covered by the President's declaration. These waivers [detailed in the article] provide health care facilities with flexibility in service delivery, staffing, and patient care, aimed at alleviating the strain caused by Helene. Further, HHS, the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS), and other regulatory bodies have announced relief efforts, all aimed at reducing administrative burdens so providers can continue to care for and treat those in need. ...7. Hospices Assessment Timeframe Extension: CMS is extending the timeframe for updating comprehensive hospice patient assessments from 15 to 21 days, though initial and ad-hoc assessments must still be completed based on patient needs. ...Editor's note: Click on the title's link to continue reading. Other CMS waivers are defined for 1. General ... for Health Care Facilities; 2. Critical Access Hospictals; 3. Hospital and Long Term Care Facilities; 4. Skilled Nursing Facilities; 5. Home Health Agencies; 6. DME, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies; 7. Hospice (above); 8. Practioner Licensure and Enrollment ... HIPAA; Disaster Relief

VIA Health Partners - NC & SC: Donate to Hurricane Helene Relief Fund VIA Health Partners, formerly Hospice & Palliative Care of Charlotte, NC; contact Tara Connelly, VP & Chief Growth Officer; 10/7/24 At VIA Health Partners our people are our strength.  Recently, so many of our people – hospice & palliative care patients, their families, staff members, and volunteers – have experienced unimaginable hardship at the hands of Hurricane Helene. Our clinical staff continue to serve their patients despite ongoing challenges to themselves and their respective families. In response to this growing need, VIA Health Partners has launched a Hurricane Helene Relief Fund. Donations will be used to support patients, families, and staff members directly impacted by the storm. To help us in our response, please consider donating today. Editor's Note: See this page for a map of the 9 counties in North Carolina and 21 counties in South Carolina counties in VIA's service area that are impacted by Hurricane Helene. On a personal note, Hospice & Palliative Care of Charlotte provided palliative and hospice care to my Dad through his death, with significant bereavement care for my Mom. Thank you VIA Health Partners for your hospice services past, present and future.

One Senior Place: What legal steps should be taken after dementia diagnosis? Florida Today; by Brenda Lyle; 10/1/24 After a dementia diagnosis, preparing key legal documents early helps families focus on the quality of life for their loved one. ... Dementia is a term for many progressive neurodegenerative disorders that affect memory, thinking, and behavior. Alzheimer accounts for about 60% of all dementias. As the disease advances, individuals may lose the ability to make informed decisions about their health care, finances and other important aspects of life. Legal planning is absolutely crucial for ensuring that the wishes of the person with dementia are honored and that their affairs are managed appropriately. This planning also helps reduce stress for family members and caregivers. [Click on the title's link to continue reading for basics about Durable power of attorney, Heath care surrogate, Living will, Last will and testament, and Guardianship.]

Comfort home in Scottsville reopens after four-year hiatus NBC News 10, Rochester, NY; by Eriketa Cost; 9/27/24 A local hospice home in Scottsville re-opened, after four years of rebuilding from the inside out. You may recall how much of an effect COVID-19 had on these services. The home, Patrick Place, was unable to hold fundraisers. Dozens of volunteers stepped down out of fear for the virus, and it took time to bring them back. The emails and phone calls didn’t stop during the downtime, though, said Cissy Leblanc, secretary on the board for Patrick Place. Organizers were eager to open again, but it took hard work. Along the way, the team built a new deck and furnished the basement, adding a conference room and special area for training volunteers. These, are all projects that couldn’t have happened with someone living there, said chairman Patrick Hanley. The home opened in early September with 55 volunteers. The goal is to reach 75. ...

Employee engagement can define senior living’s value proposition: panel McKnights Senior Living, Washington, DC; by Kimberly Bonvissuto; 9/26/24 The senior living industry knew it had workforce challenges at least 15 years before COVID-19 hit, but it didn’t do enough about them. Today, the sector has the opportunity to be proactive and build a workforce to meet the rapidly increasing demand for senior living and care services by investing in workers and improving employee engagement. ... [Senior living leaders described the] pivotal role that cultivating a satisfied, engaged workforce plays in organizational success as well as the ability to significantly enhance operational efficiency, resident satisfaction and the bottom line through culture. Two-thirds of Fortune 500 companies invest resources in employee engagement, according to Todd Kiziminski, vice president of talent acquisition at Trilogy Health Services, who said they recognize the link between engagement strategies and the bottom line.

Fairhope Hospice and Palliative Care announces Grand Opening of Advanced Illness Management (AIM) Clinic Fairhope Hospice & Palliative Care; by Julie Theado; 9/24/24Fairhope Hospice & Palliative Care celebrated the grand opening of their Advanced Illness Management (AIM) Clinic through a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept. 23, hosted by the Lancaster-Fairfield County Chamber of Commerce alongside community leaders. The AIM clinic ... is designed to meet the growing needs of the community by providing a convenient setting where patients can receive care from nurse practitioners for routine visits and urgent, non-emergency care. Physician support will also be available to help patients better manage symptoms and stress associated with their conditions, ultimately aiming to reduce frequent hospitalizations. ... Kristin Glasure, President and CEO of Fairhope Hospice and Palliative Care, shared her thoughts on this expansion: “... By offering more specialized services in a dedicated setting, we’re ensuring that patients with advanced illnesses receive the best possible care while staying close to home."

Could this ‘beautiful story’ be the story of the year?McKnight's Senior Living; by Lois A. Bowers; 9/16/24When we look back on 2024, we might just call the story of Casey’s Pond the feel-good story of the year in senior living. Or if not the story, certainly one of them. Casey’s Pond, a continuing care retirement community in Steamboat Springs, CO, entered receivership in July, after not being able to pay off millions of dollars in bonds that had been used to construct the community in 2013 and not being able to find a buyer... But along the way, the city of Steamboat Springs made an emergency authorization of $2.5 million to try to save the CCRC, and a local community foundation started a “quiet fundraising campaign” that resulted in millions of dollars in commitments from dozens of donors so that bondholder requirements could be met... Now, the ink is dry on that purchase agreement, which as of Sept. 3 was expected to close within 30 days.

Parent company of three area senior living facilities files bankruptcy Springfield Business Journal, Springfield, IL; by Michelle Ownbey; 9/11/24  Three Springfield-area facilities that serve seniors have been listed for sale as part of a recent bankruptcy filing, but representatives from the parent company say no closures or immediate changes are planned. Midwest Christian Villages, Inc., doing business as Christian Horizons, recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and announced plans to restructure. The St. Louis-based nonprofit operates 12 communities with independent living, assisted living and memory care services and also has short-term rehabilitation and long-term health care centers. ... A statement posted on Christian Horizons’ website notes: “A series of events has put significant pressure on the company’s finances” and lists resident and patient volumes sharply declining at the outset of the pandemic, staffing shortages and increased costs to procure goods and services as factors. 

National Health Statistics Reports: Overview of Post-acute and Long-term Care Providers  and Services Users in the United States, 2020 CDC U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; by Jessica P. Lendon, Ph.D., Christine Caffrey, Ph.D., Amanuel Melekin, Ph.D., Priyanka Singh, M.P.H., Zhaohui Lu, M.S., and Manisha Sengupta, Ph.D; dated 8/27/24, released 9/7/24 Objective: This report presents national results from the National Post-acute and Long-term Care Study to describe providers and services users in seven major settings of paid, regulated post-acute and long-term care services in the United States. Methods - Data Sources: Data include about 11,400 home health agencies, 5,200 hospices, 1,200 inpatient rehabilitation facilities, 350 long-term care hospitals, and 15,300 nursing homes. Results:

Ensign Group expands with new Colorado and Kansas acquisitions Investing.com, San Juan Capistrano, CA; by AI and reviewed by an editor; 9/3/24 The Ensign Group , Inc. ... has expanded its portfolio with the acquisition of seven skilled nursing facilities in Colorado and one in Kansas, effective September 1, 2024. These facilities, which are now subject to long-term, triple net leases, bring Ensign's total operations to 323 healthcare facilities across fourteen states. The Colorado acquisitions include Desert Willow Health and Rehabilitation Center in Pueblo, Junction Creek Health and Rehabilitation Center in Durango, Pelican Pointe Health and Rehabilitation Center in Windsor, Riverbend Health and Rehabilitation Center in Loveland, Broadview Health and Rehabilitation Center and Westlake Lodge Health and Rehabilitation Center both located in Greeley, and Linden Place Health and Rehabilitation Center in Longmont. In addition, Ensign has acquired Prairie Ridge Health and Rehabilitation in Overland Park, Kansas. These latest acquisitions reflect the company's ongoing strategy to grow its presence in the healthcare sector by acquiring both well-performing and underperforming facilities.

Health systems brace for the 'silver tsunami'Becker's Hospital Review; by Laura Dyrda; 8/23/24Around 10,000 Americans turn 65 years old every day, gaining access to Medicare benefits. The number of Medicare beneficiaries is expected to continue growing in the next five years, and health systems are making changes to keep up. In 2020, around 73 million Baby Boomers were eligible for Medicare benefits, and by 2030 all Baby Boomers will be Medicare-eligible, according to the Census Bureau. Advances in medicine and healthy lifestyle mean people are living longer and demanding more from their care. "In the next five years, the most significant disruptor to healthcare will be the capacity challenges associated with the 'silver tsunami' of baby boomers hitting the age of healthcare consumption," said Jonathan D. Washko, MBA, FACPE, NRP, AEMD, Assistant Vice President, CEMS Operations, Northwell Health; Assistant Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Pre-hospital and Disaster Medicine, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra, Northwell Health. "In this environment, coupled with lowering revenues, staffing shortages and higher expenses, healthcare is being forced from an abundance mindset to one of scarcity."

Between the hospital and the street: Addressing a crucial gap in care healthleaders.com; by Eric Wisklund; 8/23/24 A unique program in Salt Lake City is managing care for underserved patients who live on the street or in an unsafe location, and helping hospitals reduce ED crowding, improve care coordination and reduce costs in the process. The INN Between is a nine-year-old program that began as a 16-bed Catholic convent and is now an 80-bed “assisted living facility” of sorts, offering everything from hospice care to rehabilitation and care management services. The organization addresses a significant care gap for health systems and hospitals who see these patients in their Emergency Departments and ICUs—and who often discharge them to an uncertain care landscape. ... The INN Between, which operates year-to-year on a budget of $1.6 million (recently cut down from $2 million), exists on a mishmash of charitable donations, grants, and the occasional federal or state subsidy. Editor's Note: Pair this compassionate solution with the scathing article about hospice fraud and abuse of homeless persons, Fraudulent hospices reportedly target homeless people, methadone patients to pad census, by Jim Parker at Hospice News.