Giving Tuesday is tomorrow!
We'd like to highlight several ways you can particpate in Giving Tuesday tomorrow, including:

• Ongoing Emergency & Disaster Relief
• Hurricane Helene:
• Donate funds - Amorem, Compassionate Care of Western North Carolina, Four Seasons; Amazon wish lists: Amorem, Compassionate Care of Western North Carolina, Four Seasons, all three hospices
• Volunteer: Contact Chris Comeaux at Teleios, who is coordinating hospice staffing volunteer efforts
• Housing: Samaritan’s Purse and the Cajun Navy Relief
• California wildfires:
• Butte Home Health & Hospice
• Hawaii wildfires:
• Hospice Maui
• Local
• Support your local hospices and their foundations
• State
• Support your state hospice organization
• National
• Give to a hospice--different from your own--that took great care of your family member or friend
• National Alliance for Home Care & Hospice
• American Academy of Hospice & Palliative Medicine
• International
• Worldwide Hospice Palliative Care Alliance
• Association for Death Education & Counseling
  
  

• AAHPM 2025 Awards - American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Thomas J. Smith, MD, FACP, FASCO, FAAHPM
• Gerald H. Holman Distinguished Service Award: Robert M. Arnold, MD, FAAHPM
• Josefina B. Magno Distinguished Hospice Physician Award: Kelly Newcomer, MD
• Distinguished Hospice Interdisciplinary Team Member Award: Chantal Curell, BSN, RN, CPN, CHPPN
• Richard Payne Outstanding Achievement in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award: VJ Periyakoil, MD, FAAHPM
• Humanities Award: Cory Ingram, MD, MS, FAAHPM
• Award for Excellence in Scientific Research in Palliative Care: Alexander Smith, MD, MS, MPH
• Award for Excellence in Education and Training: Stacie Levine, MD, CMD, FAAHPM
• Early Career Investigator Award: Jennifer Gabbard, MD
• These incredible individuals will be honored at the 2025 Annual Assembly of Hospice and Palliative Care in Denver, CO.
  
  
• Individuals
• Kent Anderson, Army veteran and President and Chief Executive of Ohio’s Hospice and Metta Health since 2010 was inducted in the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame. After a tenure at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, he joined the Army, graduated as an honor student from flight school and became the youngest UH-60 Blackhawk pilot-in-command in Europe.
• Madison "MJ" Helmick, a Ringling College of Art & Design student and volunteer at Tidewell Hospice, recently won the Young Leader Service Award from the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.
• Jill Lakey, hospice administrator for Phoenix Home Care and Hospice, was honored with a “Patriot” award in recognition of extraordinary support of its employees and family members of those that serve in the National Guard and Reserve.
  
  

Softly into the night - An end of life love story 
Billings Gazette, Billings, MT; by Joseph Scheller; 11/29/24 
This is a picture story about life — of joys and sadness, of challenges and struggles and sacrifice. It’s a story about dementia and caregiving. It’s a story about souls and spirit and deepening devotion. Mostly, though, this is a love story. It begins with Wayne Roberts, a big and burley guy with a Harley but as personable and approachable as they come. ... It was simple, really. When he wasn’t at work, he was caring for his wife, Lynne, who had onsets of dementia. When he was at work, he was thinking of her. I wasn’t looking for a story about caregiving but there was a warmth and openness about Wayne and Lynne that tugged me to tell one through my camera. ... [With] their comfort and trust, I became part of their world, in a way, and was able to photograph most anything. They were mostly simple scenes of daily living and caring, some sensitive, some not, and as dementia stole more and more of Lynne’s mind, her world got smaller and Wayne was her only gateway to it. He paved it with tenderness. ... [Click on the title's link to see photos and read this inspirational story.] 

Don’t let CMS publish list of lowest-performing hospices, Alliance tells lawmakers 
McKnights Home Care; by Liza Berger; 11/26/24 
Acting on its plan to keep the hospice Special Focus Program in the spotlight until the end of the year, the National Alliance for Care at Home has sent congressional leaders a letter urging them to remedy the grading system for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ program targeting underperforming hospices. “CMS is on the verge of publishing a list of what they claim will be poor-performing hospices based on this flawed grading system,” Ken Albert, president and CEO of Andwell Health Partners and chair of the Alliance, wrote in a Nov. 22 letter to chairmen and ranking members of House and Senate finance committees. “When you see this list, you should view it skeptically, because CMS will have committed a grave error that risks steering patients away from reputable hospices that may be on the list and toward providers that — because they may not have been surveyed at all — could be low-quality or completely fraudulent.”

Tidewell Foundation volunteers give back during Thanksgiving 
Observer, Sarasota, FL; by Jay Heater; 11/29/24
Those in the parking lot of the Tidewell Hospice administration building the day before Thanksgiving in Lakewood Ranch weren't focused on the "being thankful" part of the holiday. They were concentrating on the "giving back" part. The Tidewell Foundation's fifth annual Meal Drive provided more than 500 meals that were delivered through Manatee, Sarasota, DeSoto and Charlotte counties to provide, in many cases, what might be the last holiday meal a couple or family would be able to share. Morton's Gourmet Market, the Venice Yacht Club and Michael's on East made the meals possible and then volunteers packed and delivered the meals Nov. 27. Among those in the parking lot was Bradenton's Terry Dale, who was volunteering in the event for the first time. "I am trying to give back," Dale said as she was busy handing out meals to other volunteers who drove up to take care of the delivery. "Two years ago, these people (Tidewell Hospice) were a godsend." Her husband of 47 years, Bill Dale, died at that time and Terry Dale doesn't know how she would have made it through without Tidewell Hospice. She knew the importance of the food that was being sent out with the volunteers.

Breaking free from self-doubt: A guide to authentic leadership and communication 
Forbes - Leadership; by Lynn Smith; 11/27/24 
In my years of coaching hundreds of top executives, entrepreneurs and CEOs, I've noticed a persistent challenge that holds many back from their full potential as leaders and communicators: self-doubt. This inner critic—what I call the "Brain Bully"—creates a constant stream of negative self-talk. Even the most accomplished leaders wrestle with thoughts like "What if I say the wrong thing?" or "What if I don't sound smart?" These are exact quotes from some of my clients. The larger issue is that inner dialogue was preventing those leaders from communicating clearly and concisely. The self-doubt in their head was reading all across their faces and through their body language. In a time when 93% of communication is weighed by nonverbal cues, we had to do something about this. ... [Click on the title's link to continue reading.]

VFW makes another large donation to Hospice [of the Panhandle] 
The Morgan Messenger; by TMM Editor; 11/26/24 
The VFW Post 4019 hosted a chili cookoff in November with $17,000 of proceeds going to Hospice of the Panhandle. “We greatly appreciate what you do for veterans,” said Commander Arthur Schur. 

Carolina Caring Robin Johnson House welcomes new patient in aftermath of Hurricane Helene 
Hickory Daily Record, Hickory, NC and Carolina Caring; by Carolina Caring; 11/27/24 
A hospice patient seeking immediate safety after the devastating impacts of Hurricane Helene received vital care thanks to the newly established partnership between CaroMont Health and Carolina Caring. ...  Among those affected was 84-year-old Grace, a hospice patient requiring critical medications and oxygen. She was airlifted from her hometown of Burnsville, NC, to temporary shelter at the Catawba Valley Community College Tarlton Complex in Hickory, NC. In dire need, Catawba County Emergency Medical Services reached out to Carolina Caring for assistance, as Grace was rapidly depleting her medication and oxygen supplies. Within 48 hours of the initial call, Grace was successfully transferred to hospice care at the Carolina Caring Robin Johnson House. Though she felt anxious upon her arrival, Grace was comforted by the attentive support of Carolina Caring staff. When asked about the quality of care that she received, Grace described her experience as “wonderful.” “I don’t like being away from home even when I’m sick,” she shared. “... I felt wanted and loved. If I could say anything to the nurses, it’s that I love and appreciate what they’ve done.” This accommodation was made possible by a recent partnership established between CaroMont Health and Carolina Caring. On October 1st, CaroMont Health and Carolina Caring launched a strategic partnership, with Gaston Hospice now operating under the name Carolina Caring. ...

Thanksgiving tradition brings meals to hospice families in Northeastern Pennsylvania  
ABC News 16 WNEP, Scranton, PA; by Jack Culkin; 11/28/24 
It's become a holiday tradition for many volunteers to fill their cars at Mansour's Market in Scranton on Thanksgiving morning, delivering meals to those in hospice care. Ray Gillette, a long-time volunteer, shared, "We've been doing this for a long time, and we've taken the boys with us. Our oldest grandson is 14. This is his 14th year that he's come to deliver with us." ... [Diane Baldi, CEO of Hospice of The Sacred Heart] says the event began as an idea. Quickly growing to not just caring for their patients, but their families too.  "19 years ago, in our very first, we may have had 20 patients. Today we have 200. So it has grown exponentially," said Baldi. ... Along with classic holiday staples like turkey, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce, each meal includes a hand-made card. "I like it because it has like a turkey on the front and it has like all the stuff that you would eat," Said nine-year-old Olivia Catalano. She and her classmates made dozens of these cards, each featuring a Thanksgiving message or drawing. ... With each card placed and each meal delivered, workers successfully brought more than 600 meals to hospice families across Northeastern Pennsylvania. 

Palliative care bypasses Black heart disease patients 
The St. Louis American; by Alvin A. Reid; 11/30/24 
A study by Saint Louis University researchers paints a grim picture for many heart failure patients in America – and the outlook is worse for African Americans. The study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, found that only one in eight patients with heart failure nationwide receive palliative care consultations within five years of diagnosis. Alarmingly, Black people were 15% less likely to receive palliative care compared to white patients with similar heart health illness. Other recent respective studies illustrate the higher risk and mortality rates for cardiovascular disease in the Black population – further demonstrating that the missing palliative care options have a greater negative impact on African American health. New statistics from a medical team at EHproject show African American women are at a greater risk for cardiovascular disease than their white counterparts. It found that 47.3% of Black women have heart disease. If they do not have it currently, they are 2.4 times more likely to develop heart disease. ... A March 2023 study published in JAMA Cardiology showed that Black men remain at the highest risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. ... 

Ensuring equity in access to palliative care 
AJMC - The American Journal of Managed Care; by Laura Joszt, MA and Alexandra Gerlach; 11/28/24 
Palliative care provides high-quality care that can provide relief from the symptoms of a serious illness, but just as there are issues to accessing cancer treatments, there are barriers to palliative care, as well as racial disparities in access, explained Nadine J. Barrett, PhD, MA, MS, FACCC, senior associate dean for community engagement and equity in research, Wake Forest University School of Medicine and Atrium Health, and current president of the Association of Cancer Care Centers (ACCC). ... There are misconceptions about what palliative care is that may limit the utilization of it, but also existing disparities mean fewer Black and Hispanic individuals access these services compared with their White counterparts.

Health system C-suites channel 'hospitality energy' for next year 
Becker's Hospital Review; by Laura Dyrda; 11/27/24 
Health system C-suites are taking their organizations "back to the basics" next year to focus on improving quality outcomes and creating an elite patient experience. This means prioritizing a culture of service and training staff in hospitality. Cliff Megerian, MD, CEO of University Hospitals in Cleveland, said the system has focused on reducing variation in care pathways and optimizing clinical services for maximum quality, safety and efficiency this year, an effort that will continue into 2025. University Hospitals is also doubling down on its reputation for compassionate care, said Dr. Megerian. "The goal is for our patients – our guests – to feel truly cared for at each touchpoint along the patient journey, with clinical and non-clinical caregivers alike both bearing the responsibility to make this happen," he said. "The word 'hospitality' has at its root the word 'hospital' — it's our goal to work to bring that 'hospitality' energy to our work in healthcare, always informed by world-class science."
Editor's note: The Latin root word described is "hospitium," which branched into contemporary words "hospitality," European "hostels" for travelers, "host," "hotels," and yes, "hospice." At its core, hospitium refers to travelers on a significant life journey, tended by compassionate hosts who provide rest and nourishment. Click here for more information, which emphasizes the relationship between the host and the guest.

Seen Health invests $22m for PACE Care Centers 
HomeCare, Los Angeles, CA; by Seen Health; 11/26/24 
Seen Health, a health care organization focusing on aging-in-place services and culturally-focused care models, announced it has invested $22 million in funding to expand access to its culturally-focused care centers for eligible seniors. The company said [its] first center is set to open in California and will be built upon the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) model. The PACE model aims to deliver comprehensive medical and social support for seniors with chronic conditions who are covered by Medicaid or Medicare. The care model intends to provide an alternative method of care to nursing homes by enabling seniors to stay in their homes and age in place. ... The first Seen Health center, which is set to open in Los Angeles County's San Gabriel Valley, intends to serve the local Asian and Pacific Islander community.

Understanding deep disadvantage at the end of life: A nationwide analysis of unclaimed deaths 
Social Science and Medicine; by Jennifer Bridte DrPH, Frank Heiland, PhD, and Deborah Balk PhD; 11/25/24 
This is the first systematic examination of unclaimed deaths at the county level and offers a novel way to understand marginalized populations, such as the unhoused and others living in extreme social or economic deprivation. Unclaimed death rates may also provide an objective measure of social support that can be measured over time. ... This is of public health importance because unclaimed death can be seen as a negative health outcome that may be the result of cumulative disadvantage over the life course. ... Highlights:

• First nationwide study of unclaimed deaths
• Rates increased from 2009 to 2021
• Unclaimed deaths associated with county-level markers social isolation and poverty.

Editor's note: Are you reading this and thinking "but this doesn't apply to hospice"? Think again. Use this topic to test drive our newsletter's new Search Engine. 1. Go to our website: www.hospicepalliativecaretoday.com. 2. Find the new Search Engine at the top of the page. Type in a keyword. For this example, type in "homeless". 3. Articles posted in our newsletter--back through Dec 2023--will populate. 

[Great Britain] British lawmakers give initial approval to a bill to allow terminally ill adults to end their lives 
AP - The Associated Press, London, UK; by Brian Melly and Pan Pylas; 11/29/24 
British lawmakers gave initial approval on Friday to a bill to help terminally ill adults end their lives in England and Wales, following an impassioned debate that saw people sharing personal stories of loss and suffering. Members of Parliament approved the assisted dying bill by a 330-275 vote, signaling their approval in principle for the bill, which will undergo further scrutiny before it goes to a final vote. Friday's vote came after hours of debate — emotional at times — that touched on issues of ethics, faith and law. There was no braying and shouting that often marks debates in the House of Commons and speeches were considered respectfully and heard in silence. ... Supporters said the law would provide dignity to the dying and prevent suffering, while protecting the vulnerable. Opponents said the disabled and elderly were at risk of being coerced, directly or indirectly, to end their lives to save money or relieve the burden on family members. Others called for the improvement of palliative care to ease suffering as an alternative.

Hello December, you are the last one, so be the best one. ~ Anonymous