South Carolina Home Care & Hospice Association

12/24/2025

🎄✨ Merry Christmas Eve, everyone! 🎁❤️ As we gather around the tree adorned with twinkling lights, let’s embrace the warmth of family, the joy of giving, and the magic of this season. May your hearts be filled with love and laughter tonight! Wishing you all a holiday wrapped in peace and happiness! 🌟🎶

12/19/2025

📊 Family Caregiving Looks Different Across Demographics

A recent Hospice News survey shows that perceptions of caregiving responsibilities differ significantly across age, gender, and geographic lines — with societal expectations still leaning on daughters and closest siblings to shoulder the bulk of care duties. Clear communication, early planning, and better support systems can help families navigate these roles more fairly and reduce stress for caregivers.

Understanding these patterns helps us better target resources and support for family caregivers who are an essential part of long-term care.

Read more: https://hospicenews.com/2025/12/12/perceptions-of-family-caregiving-change-across-demographic-lines/

Family caregiver burden may be falling heavier on the shoulders of certain demographic groups compared to others, a new survey has found. Perceptions of

12/17/2025

📌 Protecting Wage and Hour Rights for Home Care Workers

A recent News From The States article highlights a critical policy debate impacting home care workers nationwide. Federal actions could roll back long-standing minimum wage and overtime protections for millions of caregivers, reintroducing exemptions that would allow lower pay and no overtime. This change threatens economic stability for workers and could worsen workforce shortages in a sector that supports nearly 10 million older adults and people with disabilities.

Professionals across healthcare policy, labor rights, and workforce development are watching this issue closely as caregivers and advocates push back and call for robust protections that reflect the value of their work.
Read more: https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/home-care-workers-are-losing-minimum-wage-protections-and-fighting-back

12/15/2025

🏥 Four Home Care Models Driving Healthcare Transformation

Home-based care is no longer a supplement to traditional care—it’s a strategic pillar of modern healthcare delivery. Modern Healthcare outlines four emerging home care models that are helping providers expand capacity, improve outcomes, and better align with value-based care goals.

These models demonstrate how innovation, technology, and interdisciplinary collaboration are enabling high-quality care to be delivered safely and effectively in the home—where patients prefer to be.

Read the full article: https://www.modernhealthcare.com/providers/mh-four-home-care-models/

Digital tools and evolving patient expectations are accelerating the shift from facility-based care to the home.

12/11/2025

A fascinating new study reveals that the human brain doesn’t develop in a straight line — it moves through five distinct structural phases over a lifetime, with major turning points around ages 9, 32, 66, and 83. Researchers analyzed thousands of brain scans and found that childhood, adolescence into the early 30s, adulthood, and later aging each have unique brain organization and vulnerabilities. This work highlights how our brains continue to change throughout life and underscores the importance of lifestyle, mental health awareness, and brain care at all stages.

Read more 👉

New research finds that brain development is not linear. There are distinct phases with unique characteristics.

12/10/2025

Looking for a budget-friendly way to elevate your agency’s visibility in 2026?
As a SCHCHA member, you can enhance your presence by upgrading your directory listing. It’s a simple, cost-effective opportunity to expand your reach and ensure your services stand out in the communities you serve.
Unlock greater exposure and make the most of your membership today. To learn more visit https://www.schchadirectory.org or email us at info@ahhcnc.org.

12/09/2025

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) is now recommending a 7% cut to the base payment rate for home health services beginning in 2027.

For patients — especially those relying on in-home care via Medicare — this could mean fewer resources for skilled nursing, therapy or aide services at home. Over time, there’s a real risk some agencies may scale back services or limit the number of patients they accept.

For home-health providers, this cut could squeeze margins, especially for agencies already operating on thin budgets — potentially impacting staffing, service levels, and the financial sustainability of home-based care.

With demand for in-home care rising — as more older adults and chronically ill people prefer to recover or age in place — now may be the time for patients, caregivers and providers to speak up about what this means for access, quality, and continuity of home-health care.

👉 Read more on this topic: https://homehealthcarenews.com/2025/12/medpac-to-recommend-7-cut-to-2027-home-health-payment-rate/

Just over a week after home health providers were hit with the announcement that their 2026 Medicare payment rates would be reduced by a 1.3% aggregate

12/05/2025

🌟 Diamond Sponsor Spotlight: Axxess
Behind every great care provider is a team — and technology — that makes compassionate care possible. That’s why we’re excited to feature Axxess, whose easy-to-use, secure platform helps home-based care teams spend less time on paperwork and more time with the people they serve.

From scheduling and documentation to compliance and billing, Axxess gives caregivers and agencies the tools they need to deliver safer, smarter, more connected care at home. Their innovation is driven by one purpose: empowering those who care for others. ❤️🏡
Learn more about Axxess at https://www.axxess.com/contact

12/03/2025

The U.S. now has more adults 65+ than children — a demographic milestone with massive consequences.
According to MarketWatch, 1 in 5 adults is providing care to an aging loved one, often with no training, support, or relief. Meanwhile, the professional care workforce continues to shrink, creating a national caregiving shortage.
This is more than a family issue — it’s a system-wide crisis.
Policymakers, employers, and communities must act now to support caregivers and strengthen care-at-home services.
🔗 Read the full article for a sobering look at what’s ahead

Home News MarketWatch America is aging into a caregiving desert. Nobody is ready. America is aging into a caregiving desert. Nobody is ready. Provided by Dow Jones Nov 27, 2025, 10:26:00 PM By Neal K. Shah The U.S. desperately needs to evolve its caregiving system, as adults who end up caring for th...

12/01/2025

📢 CMS Finalizes 2026 Home Health Medicare Payment Rule

CMS has released its final 2026 payment rule, which includes a 1.3% aggregate cut—amounting to an estimated $220 million reduction for home health agencies next year. While there’s a base-rate increase, it’s outweighed by required adjustments tied to past payment reform.

This decision raises serious concerns for home health providers already managing workforce shortages and rising costs. It may also have real implications for seniors and families who depend on timely, high-quality care at home.

Read more 👉https://ow.ly/elvv50XAebO

The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released its delayed and much-anticipated CY 2026 home health final payment rule on Friday,

11/20/2025

We would like to thank the following sponsors and exhibitors for making our conference a success!
Diamond Sponsor Axxess
Platinum Sponsor CareConnect
Gold Sponsor Medline Industries, LP
Lanyard Sponsor Chamberlin & Reinheimer Insurers, Inc.
Hero Sponsor Homecare Homebase
Exhibitors:
A First Name Basis
Aveanna Healthcare
BetterRX
Billing Department, LLC
Care Advantage
CareScout
Enclara Pharmacia
Enterprise
Experience Anatomy Foundation
Gideons International
IV Solutions
Jennings
KanTime Software
LuLu Kellogg Atelier
National HME
Supply360
Wise Hospice Options

Send a message to learn more