The living dead among us - a call to recognize social death 
ehospice; by Aizaq P. Davis, medical social worker; 7/31/26
... In healthcare, we often focus on physical symptoms.

We measure pain.
We monitor vital signs.
We prescribe treatments.
These are essential responsibilities.
But there is another form of suffering that rarely appears on assessment forms.

The suffering of losing one’s place in the world.
The suffering of becoming invisible.
The suffering of being present but no longer recognised.

A person may survive cancer and still experience social death.
A person may survive a stroke and still lose their identity.
A person may receive excellent medical care and still die socially through loneliness, exclusion, and neglect.
This suffering cannot be treated by medication alone.
It requires something else.
It requires human connection.
It requires recognition. It requires presence. ...
[Read this full, powerful reflection that names "palliative care professionals."]

Concordia Hospice of Washington Donnell House closes 
Observer-Reporter, Washington, PA; by Karen Mansfield; 8/3/26 
For nearly 25 years, Concordia Hospice of Washington Donnell House has helped patients and their families through life’s hardest moments. Now, the hospice facility in Washington has closed its doors. “Concordia Hospice of Washington can confirm that inpatient hospice services are no longer being provided at the Donnell House,” the company said in a statement. “This change reflects a continuing decline in the need for inpatient hospice care as more patients and families choose to receive hospice services in the comfort of home, supported by advances in community-based care.” The hospice team continues to provide in-home care and support to patients and families throughout the region, according to a spokesman.

Embracing the four M's—a path to person-centered, reliable hospice and palliative care | part one 
Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN); podcast hosted by Chris Comeaux with Margherita Labson and Kelly McCutcheon Adams; 8/5/26 
What if the key to delivering more compassionate, reliable hospice care isn't another regulation—but a simpler way of thinking? In Part One of this compelling conversation, host Chris Comeaux welcomes Kelly McCutcheon Adams, Senior Director at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), and Margherita Labson, President and CEO of MCLabson Consultation & Education Services, to explore the transformative power of the 4 M's Framework.  Originally developed through the Age-Friendly Health Systems initiative, the 4 M's—What Matters, Medication, Mentation, and Mobility—provide an evidence-based roadmap for delivering highly individualized, person-centered care while improving reliability across healthcare settings. 

Beyond the headlines: the hospice story we aren’t telling enough 
National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI); podcast hosted by Tom Koutsoumpas and Carole Fisher with Karen Rubel, Tim Meadows, Viki Jingle, and Brad Luna; 7/31/26
Hospice is making headlines — but there’s a much bigger story to tell. In this episode, hospice leaders Karen Rubel, Tim Meadows and Viki Jingle join Tom and Carole to discuss how organizations can respond to today’s hospice fraud-focused environment by leading with messaging on quality, transparency, and trust. Communications expert Brad Luna then shares practical strategies for developing messages that resonate, engaging local media, and telling the stories that showcase the real impact of hospice care in communities across America.

Safeguarding palliative and serious illness care in America 
The Lancet Regional Health - Americas; by William E. Rosa, Gina Piscitello, Diane E. Meier, Arif H. Kamal, Jean S. Kutner, Abby R. Rosenberg, Allison Silvers, Stacie Sinclair, Robert M. Arnold; August 2026
If a society's greatness is measured by how it treats its most vulnerable, we live in discouraging times for the more than 13 million adults and 700,000 children with serious illnesses in the United States of America (U.S.). ... In this personal view, we describe three threats to specialty palliative care in the U.S., namely healthcare financing changes, increased privatization of services, and low prioritization of palliative care research in myriad contexts, including pharmaceutical and clinical trial research and development. We subsequently provide guidance for multi-sector actors to address these threats and mitigate harms while optimizing palliative care for U.S. populations.

Mom, 35, spent years helping others as a doula. Then, lupus left her on deathbed worrying about her kids’ future
People; by Toria Sheffield and Nicholas Rice; 8/1/26

• Kailee Lowe told PEOPLE that a sore throat quickly progressed into a host of debilitating symptoms, including heart failure and neurological degeneration
• The mom of two was ultimately diagnosed with severe lupus and lupus nephritis before entering end-of-life care
• Lowe is currently stable thanks to a new treatment, but she said the experience has taught her that “most of us are only one diagnosis or health crisis away from devastation within families”

Great leadership in 2026 comes down to 4 human behaviors: technology may be changing how work gets done, but the fundamentals of leading people have not changed.
Inc.; by Marcel Schwantes; 8/4/26
For years, I’ve asked CEOs, executives, coaches, researchers, and managers a simple question: “What makes someone a great leader?” The answers rarely begin with strategy, technical expertise, or operational efficiency. They begin with trust.
Great leaders know how to listen. They understand what people need to perform at their best. They use technology (now AI) without allowing it to weaken human connection. And they create workplaces where people feel both supported and accountable.
These qualities have traditionally been called “soft skills.” In 2026, that description feels outdated. ... These are operating skills. ...

[Sweden] Expressing wish to die not a desire to hasten death but an opportunity for dialogue: study
McKnights Long-Term Care News; by Foster Stubbs; 8/4/26
An advanced healthcare at patients’ homes (AHCPH) patient’s expression of a wish to die should be understood by nurses as an opportunity for dialogue and assessment rather than as a straightforward indication of a desire to hasten death, according to a study published in Global Qualitative Nursing Research. ... One overarching theme was identified over the course of the study, “Alleviating suffering by Engaging With the Patient’s Lifeworld.” 

Heart failure hospital-at-home program matches traditional hospital care on readmission 
Home Health News; by MK Manoylov; 7/28/26 
At-home heart failure care can be a viable alternative for patients getting heart failure care, in terms of safety and quality. Patients with heart failure who received advanced medical care at home had similar post-discharge outcomes to the care found within brick-and-mortar hospitals, according to a new study published in JAMA Network Open. Researchers found that heart failure patients treated at home had no significant differences in hospital readmissions and mortality compared to patients treated in hospitals.

Hackensack Meridian Health first to earn Joint Commission’s responsible health AI certification: The New Jersey health system’s endorsement signals that the industry is prioritizing AI governance alongside rapid technological adoption
Healthcare Divs; by Jill Hughes; 8/4/26

• New Jersey health system Hackensack Meridian Health has become the first organization to earn the Joint Commission’s seal of approval for the responsible use of artificial intelligence in healthcare.
• The Joint Commission ... launched the certification in June with the goal of endorsing U.S. healthcare organizations able to demonstrate they have the proper governance, resources, policies and training programs for the safe and effective use of AI.
• HMH has been refining its AI systems for years, according to Dr. Lauren Koniaris, the organization’s chief medical informatics officer. “As we expand our clinical AI initiatives, we operate under the utmost governance to ensure patient quality and safety are always the priority,” she said.

‘Simple, natural, gentle alternative’: NC couple turns to human composting for eco-friendly end of life 
CBS 17 Plus, Charlotte, NC; by David Schuman; 7/27/26 
Some North Carolina families are making an unusual choice about what to do with their bodies when they die. Marsha and Michael Costigan are turning to a human composting company based in Washington state called Earth Funeral. The Charlotte couple’s been married more than 50 years, but Michael Costigan is nearing the end of his life. ... Through a support group, she discovered Earth Funeral. The company offers what can be called “natural organic reduction” or “soil transformation” or, most vividly, “human composting.” ... Earth Funeral wraps the body in a biodegradable shroud and places it in a proprietary vessel that contains a mixture of woodchips, organic mulch, and wildflowers.

The key is not to prioritize what's on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities. ~ Stephen Covey