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Welcome to Hospice & Palliative Care Today, a daily email summarizing numerous topics essential for understanding the current landscape of serious illness and end-of-life care. Recent TCN Talks podcasts / videos reviewing Hospice & Palliative Care Today monthly content available for 2024: January; February; March; April; and May.
Dwayne Johnson sings Moana song for a 4-year-old girl in home hospice care: 'It's my honor'
People; by Tommy McArdle; 4/2/24
Dwayne Johnson said the Make-a-Wish Foundation connected him with the family of a young girl who "watches 'Moana' every day, all day." Dwayne made a special video for a major Moana fan. On July 1, the actor, 52, shared a video on Instagram in which he said the Make-a-Wish Foundation had reached out to him with an urgent request to send a message to a 4-year-old girl named Lily Guerrero, who Johnson said is currently on home hospice care. "A 'rush' wish means what the implication sounds like, which is time is just not on our side when it comes to this particular wish," Johnson said in the video. "This rush wish is that Lily is on home hospice now and she watches Moana every day, all day, her dad said. Her wish is to have Dwayne Johnson sing 'You're Welcome' to her and have it recorded so she can listen to it over and over and over and over." [Click on the title's link to view the article and its video of Dwayne Johnson telling the public about Lily and singing to her.]
Four July 4th tips for families caring for loved ones with dementia
Alzheimer's Association; 6/27/24
Fireworks and gatherings are staples of the 4th of July holiday, but these can create unique challenges for someone living with dementia. ... “Celebrating Independence Day can still be a fun, enjoyable experience for families impacted by dementia-related illnesses by making the proper adaptations such as being cautious about watching fireworks due to loud noises. It requires thoughtful planning to ensure their safety, comfort, and enjoyment.” said Jennifer Reeder, LCSW, SIFI, AFA’s Director of Educational and Social Services. “Being proactive, prepared, and adaptable, and creating a safe space, are the best ways caregivers can create a dementia-friendly 4th of July for their loved ones.” AFA encourages family caregivers to follow these four tips for the 4th of July:
Families with questions or concerns can speak with a licensed social worker through AFA’s Helpline by calling 866-232-8484, sending a text message to 646-586-5283, or web chatting at www.alzfdn.org. The helpline is open seven days a week.
Editor's Note: Preferably, we would have posted this earlier in order for you to distribute these 4 tips to your clinicians. However, we just found the information and hope it can be used in timely, meaningful ways.
Chapters Health System recognized for seven consecutive years as a Great Place to Work®
Cision PRWeb; by Chapters Health System, Temple Terrace, FL; 6/18/24
Chapters Health System is proud to announce its certification for the seventh consecutive year as a Great Place to Work® in the Aging Services category by the independent analysts at the Great Place to Work® Institute. ... "We are incredibly grateful to our team members for their invaluable feedback, which enabled us to achieve this milestone for seven consecutive years," said Andrew Molosky, MBA, FACHE, president and chief executive officer for Chapters Health. "Their commitment and dedication are the cornerstones of our success, and it is their insights that help us continuously improve our work environment and culture." Team member feedback helps benchmark our progress as we continue to focus on engagement and move input into action." ... In 2024, 76 percent of team members said Chapters Health is a great place to work compared to 57 percent of employees at a typical U.S.-based company.
Hospice of the Western Reserve celebrates a record-breaking Walk to Remember [over $380k]
Cleveland.com; by Kelsy Adam, guest columnist, communications manager for Hospice of the Western Reserve; 6/30/24
Hospice of the Western Reserve’s 13th annual Walk to Remember on June 9 was one for the record books. Held on a beautiful Sunday morning at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Hospice of the Western Reserve’s signature annual fundraiser surpassed the event’s previous attendance records, with over 2,600 participants united to support the organization’s mission and to honor loved ones who have passed away. This year’s Walk to Remember also set a new fundraising record, with donations and sponsorships exceeding $380,000. ... The atmosphere at the event was one of camaraderie, remembrance and hope. As participants arrived, the sense of community was palpable. Families and friends gathered at the morning event, many wearing personalized shirts and carrying photos or mementos of their loved ones.
Green Bay Packers Foundation awards $1.75 million in grants [$125k to Agrace Hospice Care Foundation]
Philanthropy News Digest; 6/29/24
The Green Bay Packers Foundation has announced 10 grants totaling $1.75 million to support organizations serving Wisconsin’s Brown, Dane, and Milwaukee counties. Recipients include ... ; Agrace Hospice Care Foundation, which will receive $125,000 to expand dementia and Alzheimer’s services throughout Wisconsin; ... “The Packers Foundation is pleased to award a record amount in impact grants to 10 organizations doing critically important work in their communities,” said Packers president and CEO Mark Murphy. “From education, mentoring, and community building programs to providing care and support for our most vulnerable neighbors, the grant recipients will create direct and lasting impacts throughout the state of Wisconsin.”
The hidden advantages of having an older workforce in home health care
Home Health Care News; by Joyce Famakinwa; 7/2/24
In home health and hospice, the amount of nurses who are at retirement age are set to surpass new RNs, according to data from the American Medical Group Association. [Key takeaways:]
Editor's Note: Access to the full article may be limited by a paywall.
A guide to making end-of-life decisions easier for your loved ones
The Detroit Jewish News; by Shari Cohen; 7/1/24
It’s not a pleasant prospect, but each of us will eventually die. For family members, the death of a loved one brings sadness and a sense of loss but also a need to deal with practical matters. ... A new guidebook, Two Envelopes: What You Want Your Loved Ones To Know When You Die, by Rusty Rosman offers practical advice to help families with the death of a relative. ... While Rosman’s book is written from a Jewish perspective, as part of her research, she spoke with funeral directors and clergy from many religious and ethnic groups. ... Rabbi Joseph Krakoff, CEO of Jewish Hospice and Chaplaincy Network (JHCN), who wrote a preface for the book, describes it as “a great motivation to help people to think about these things. I encourage everyone to talk about it when they’re healthy,” he adds.
Pasadena Hindu Temple offers health planning series for seniors: Interactive session to cover advance care, palliative care, and hospice services
Pasadena Now; 7/2/24
The Pasadena Hindu Temple is hosting a health and wellbeing series for seniors, focusing on future healthcare planning. ... Doctors Alka and Pradeep Kapoor, both board-certified in internal medicine, hospice, and palliative medicine, will present on topics including advance care planning, palliative care, and hospice care. The doctors, who have over 45 years of medical experience, are also certified in Post Acute and Long-term care medicine. ... Established in 2002, the Pasadena Hindu Temple has evolved into a hub for Indian heritage and Hindu worship in Southern California. Now operating as the Hindu Temple and Heritage Foundation (HTHF), the nonprofit organization offers various community services.
Editor's Note: What cultures and faith communities are in your service areas? Do you reach out to all? Does your staffing reflect your community? Click here for U.S. Census information and search for your geographical areas.
2024 Home Health and Hospice Medicare Administrative Contractor Collaborative Summit: Oct. 2-4, 2024
Press release; 7/2/24
The Summit is a collaboration of three Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs): National Government Services, Inc. (NGS); Palmetto GBA; and CGS Administrators; and it's a unique learning and networking opportunity for HH+H providers from every state and Medicare jurisdiction. [Occurring in Las Vegas, NV.]
The Fine Print:
Paywalls: Some links may take readers to articles that either require registration or are behind a paywall. Disclaimer: Hospice & Palliative Care Today provides brief summaries of news stories of interest to hospice, palliative, and end-of-life care professionals (typically taken directly from the source article). Hospice & Palliative Care Today is not responsible or liable for the validity or reliability of information in these articles and directs the reader to authors of the source articles for questions or comments. Additionally, Dr. Cordt Kassner, Publisher, and Dr. Joy Berger, Editor in Chief, welcome your feedback regarding content of Hospice & Palliative Care Today. Unsubscribe: Hospice & Palliative Care Today is a free subscription email. If you believe you have received this email in error, or if you no longer wish to receive Hospice & Palliative Care Today, please unsubscribe here or reply to this email with the message “Unsubscribe”. Thank you.