Record-breaking Lube-a-Thon for Hospice 
GreatNews.Life; by Center for Hospice Care; 8/31/26 
On July 31, Tom’s Car Care Center hosted the 21st Lube-a-Thon for Hospice. At this one-day event, customers get an oil change – full- or semi-synthetic oil, it doesn’t matter – and a car wash for a minimum donation of $50 to Center for Hospice Care. This year’s event broke the “modern-day” record for the number of cars serviced and the amount of money raised to support our promise that no one eligible for hospice care will ever be turned away, regardless of their ability to pay. The team at Tom’s changed the oil in 177 vehicles that day. The doors on the two bays opened just before 7am and there were cars in each of them until just before 6pm. In fact, cars started to line up at 6am – a full hour before the event began. Including donations and sponsorships, the event raised over $12,500, with all proceeds benefiting Center for Hospice Care.

Patient and caregiver perspectives on communication quality in tele-palliative care 
Journal of Palliative Medicine; by Julia I. Bandini, PhD, Elaine Li, BA, Dio Kavalieratos, PhD, FAAHPM, Natalie C. Ernecoff, PhD, Kimberly Curseen, MD, and Jordan Harrison, PhD; 8/27/26 
Objective: To qualitatively explore patient and family caregiver experiences with telehealth and in-person visits for outpatient palliative care, including preferences related to mode of care and any perceived differences in communication quality by mode in a post-pandemic context. 
Results: Three themes emerged: (1) participants weighed convenience, symptom burden, and visit reason in choosing mode of care; (2) opinions differed on the authenticity of communication via telehealth; and (3) comfort and privacy shaped communication quality. Some patients and family caregivers perceived communication via telehealth as comparable to in-person care, while others felt in-person visits allowed for more authentic interactions. Many found that the convenience of telehealth outweighed any perceived differences in communication quality. In addition, some patients noted that without the option for telehealth, the benefits of an in-person palliative care visit may not have outweighed the travel burden.

Palliative care is about living better — not giving up 
Patch, Westport, CT; by Hartford HealthCare, featuring Dr. Sara Dost; 8/31/26 
For many patients and families, the words palliative care can be difficult to hear. Some assume it means treatment has stopped. Others confuse it with hospice care or believe it is only appropriate during the final stages of life. But according to Dr. Sara Dost of Hartford HealthCare's Cancer Institute at St. Vincent's Medical Center, palliative care is about something much different: helping people feel better and live as fully as possible while facing a serious illness. “I like to call palliative care supportive care,” Dr. Dost said. “We help patients deal with side effects, decision-making and the challenges that can come with a serious illness. Think of us as an extra layer of support.”

Priorities for advancing palliative care for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: a consensus report from a palliative care for ALS working group in the United States 
Muscle & Nerve; by Kara E. Bischoff, Yaowaree L. Leavell, Jessica M. Besbris, Christi Lero, Kelsey Noble, Astrid Grouls, Jerome Kurent, Benzi M. Kluger, Steven Z. Pantilat, Ambereen K. Mehta, on behalf of the International Neuropalliative Care Society's Palliative Care for ALS Working Group; 8/31/2026 
The Palliative Care for ALS Working Group was formed within the International Neuropalliative Care Society, consisting of interprofessional ALS and palliative care clinicians, researchers, advocates, and patients and care partner representatives who are committed to improving palliative care for people living with ALS. The group engaged in a strategic planning process to determine what is needed to advance palliative care for people with ALS over the next 3–5 years. This report outlines the core recommendations from that strategic planning process. Recommendations are divided into five sections: (1) clinician education, (2) clinical service expansion, (3) research, (4) public awareness, and (5) policy change. 
Editor's Note: ALS can be an especially devastating, demanding disease for patients, caregivers and families, for your clinical staff and volunteers. What disease-specific education and resources do you provide? How many ALS patients have been served by your organization in "x" years? Do you partner in any way with your regional ALS association? For non-clinical leaders, an important, easy distinction for you to remember the clinical, deeply personal differences between ALS versus ALZ: 

• ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; "Lou Gehrig's disease"): the body weakens as motor nerves fail — the mind usually stays clear.
• ALZ (Alzheimer's Disease, a subset form of dementia): the mind weakens first — and over time, the body follows.

Longtime hospice volunteer grateful for ability to help patients, families 
Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, Tupelo, MS; by Leslie Criss; 9/1/26 
Back in 2000 when Pat Rutledge was new to Fulton, she realized she needed to find something to do with her time. She went through training to become a volunteer at North Mississippi Health Services Hospice. That was more than 20 years ago. "I'm the only volunteer from back then still here," said the 83-year-old. "I was assigned a patient, went to visit and just fell in love with being a hospice volunteer."
Editor's Note: As hospice organizations' names, ownership, and services shift over the years, do your volunteers still feel seen? Pat began in her mid-50s and stayed 25 years — proof that purpose and appreciationcan keep a volunteer for decades. Look at your volunteers: what are you doing--today--to help them stay, through years ahead? What is something new you can do?

CHAP: The Compliance Monitor 9/1/26 
Community Health Accreditation Partner (CHAP); 9/1/26
August/September 2026 Compliance Activity:

• Notice of  a New Matching Program
• CMS Rule: Medicare Program; CY 2027 Changes to the End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Prospective Payment System, Acute Kidney Injury Dialysis (AKI) Payment, and ESRD Quality Incentive Program [CMS-1846-P] 
• Medicare Program; Strengthening Oversight of Accrediting Organizations (AOs) and Preventing AO Conflicts of Interest, and Related Provisions
• Hospice Medicare Care Compare Refresh 
• PEPPER webinar – Home Health 

2027 Final hospice rule could slow M&A 
Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 8/31/26 
Regulatory scrutiny is slowing down hospice M&A deals in 2026, and the recently approved 2027 final rule will be no hope. Interest in hospice acquisitions remains high, particularly among publicly traded companies and private equity firms. However, buyers are painstakingly combing through any potential compliance or billing issues during the diligence process, which is delaying closures, according to Mark Kulik, senior managing director of the M&A advisory firm The Braff Group.

Bloom Healthcare expands Dallas-Fort Worth presence with acquisition of Christian Care House Calls 
Business Insider, Denver, CO; Press Release by GlobeNewswire; 8/31/26 
Bloom Healthcare, a passionate team of medical providers specializing in in-home primary care for seniors with complex health needs, today announced its acquisition of Christian Care House Calls, a Dallas-Fort Worth-based home primary care practice. Effective August 31, Christian Care House Calls will operate under the Bloom Healthcare name, strengthening Bloom’s presence in the region and expanding its ability to provide high-quality primary care to patients in their homes and senior living communities. ... Through Bloom’s integrated Hospice, that coordinated approach can continue through end-of-life care, with individualized care plans that honor the wishes of patients and families and keep primary care closely involved throughout the care journey.

Frazier Healthcare Partners completes acquisition of MatrixCare, appoints Jonathan Lujan as Chief Executive Officer 
WKOW-27 ABC, Madison, WI; Press Release via Business Wire; 9/1/26 
Frazier Healthcare Partners ("Frazier"), a private equity firm focused exclusively on the healthcare industry, today announced the closing of its acquisition of MatrixCare (the "Company") from Resmed (NYSE & ASX: RMD). MatrixCare is a leading provider of cloud-based electronic health record (“EHR”) and revenue cycle management (“RCM”) solutions purpose-built for out-of-hospital care settings, including skilled nursing, senior living, home health, hospice, and life plan communities. ... Concurrent with closing, Frazier Executive in Residence Jonathan Lujan has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of MatrixCare. Jonathan brings deep experience across healthcare services and technology, with a track record of operational leadership, commercial transformation, and value creation.
Editor's Note: See our recent post, MatrixCare publishes their list of 2026 CAHPS Honors Elite and Honors Award winners.

Levels of memory care and how they match changing dementia need 
The Good Men Project; by Alexander Reid; 8/31/26 
Dementia care changes as memory impairment affects safety, communication, movement, and personal tasks. Early assistance might involve reminders, while advanced services can require continuous observation and extensive physical help. Families benefit from recognizing these changes before a crisis occurs. A careful review considers current abilities, medical conditions, personal preferences, and possible future needs. This process helps relatives compare residences confidently while preserving dignity, comfort, and familiar routines.

Beloved celebrities who opened up about their battles with dementia 
MSN; by Travis Reeed; 8/31/26 
Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease have affected people from many walks of life, including some of the most recognizable figures in entertainment, politics, and culture. Their experiences helped bring greater attention to memory loss, cognitive decline, and the challenges faced by families and caregivers. From Hollywood legends to celebrated musicians and political leaders, these individuals continued to leave lasting legacies despite their health struggles. Their stories also helped encourage public conversations about conditions that were once poorly understood or rarely discussed openly. [Click on the slides to see personalized stories of Tony Bennett, Sally Kirkland, Ronald Reagan, Sean Connery, Margaret Thatcher, Rita Hayworth, and Jimmy Stewart.] 

When eating fruit, remember the one who planted the tree. ~ Vietnamese proverb