Hospice Care Improves Patient Experience

A new study adds to evidence that hospice care during the last six months of life is associated with better overall experiences for patients and a lower likelihood of dying in a hospital. Read More    

Study Finds Benefits When Seniors Call Shots to Help Them

A federally funded project that researchers say has potential to promote aging in place began by asking low-income seniors with disabilities how their lives at home could be better, according to a study released Wednesday. Read More   

Bachelor's in Nursing is Becoming a Must

Anna Marie Luzar, nurse director of St. Vincent Charity Medical Center's Spine and Orthopedic unit, decided in 2011 that she was ready to return to school to get her bachelor of science in nursing. Read More   

Hospitals Address Diabetes, Anemia, Mental Health Before Surgery to Prevent Complications, Save Money

Are you healthy enough to have surgery? More hospitals are asking that question before patients undergo elective procedures such as hip and knee replacements. Read More   

The Doctor is in. In your House, That is.

Remember when doctors made house calls? While only a relative handful of doctors still offer them, there is growing evidence that comprehensive home medical care could be a viable alternative to the attendant woes and soaring expenses of institutional health services, particularly for those in late retirement. Read More   

Flu Vaccination Rates Down Among Seniors - But Up for LTC Workers

More long-term care workers are getting vaccinated against flu than ever before, but inoculation rates among those they care for have dropped significantly, according to federal health officials. Read More   

Final Emergency Preparedness Rule for Providers on its Way

The White House Office of Budget and Management completed a review Monday of a rule that could update emergency preparedness requirements for Medicare and Medicaid providers. Read More   

Attending to the 'Human Element' is Key to Keeping Patients Healthy

Racial minorities and lower-income people typically fare far worse when it comes to health outcomes. Read More   

Patients with Dementia Create Communication Challenges in Hospice Care

Hospice's purpose, at least one of them, is to ease a dying patient's pain at the end of life and improve the quality of that life. Read More   

Study: Elderly's Family Caregivers Need Help Too

Elderly Americans' well-being is at risk unless the U.S. does much more to help millions of family caregivers who sacrifice their own health, finances and personal lives to look out for loved ones, reported a study released Tuesday. Read More

*Opinions expressed in any of the included stories or their publications do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Kindred Healthcare. This blog post is a compilation of news stories from other sources that have appeared during the past month.