My mother and brother have terminal cancer. I'm worried I won't feel anything when they die. 
Business Insider; essay by Kimanzi Constable; 3/1/25 
... My brother was diagnosed with Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) three years ago, and my mother found out she had stage four lung cancer a year ago. I got a call earlier this year that the cancer was spreading, and I flew to spend time with them. I knew it would be hard seeing them battling late-stage cancer, but what I walked into was my brother in the Advanced Cancer Care Center, unable to move, and my mother wanting to hold an "end of life" planning meeting. It was worse than I anticipated. It was hard to see him not moving and the nurses having to help him do everything. My mother looked like she weighed 50 pounds ... I'm worried I won't feel anything when they pass away. ... I think it might be just another day when they pass away. I've been thinking — what does that say about me? Am I a bad person for not falling on the ground and losing it for over half of my family dying? Or is this nothingness an OK feeling due to the complicated relationship we've had most of my life? ... 
Editor's note: Leaders, welcome to the daily world of your clinicians, especially your social workers, chaplains, and grief counselors. Read this with openness to the normalcy of this author's conflicted relationships, emotions, thoughts, and empowered actions toward "not wanting to regret how I handled this opportunity to say goodbye more healthily."

VNA Hospice NWI celebrates staff, volunteers and community at annual dinner banquet 
NWI.Life; by Garrett Spoor; 3/4/25 
For more than half a century, VNA Hospice NWI has been assisting seniors in Northwest Indiana with hospice care and the Meals on Wheels program. The organization hosted its Annual Dinner and Awards banquet on Monday, March 3, ... “The big purpose of the annual dinner is to thank all the people who made last year possible,” [Maria Galka, director of development] said. “It’s a great opportunity for us to show our appreciation for the staff, volunteers and our supporters. We present our annual report from the past fiscal year and look forward to what's coming in the new year.” ... VNA Hospice NWI was presented with a check for $32,798 from Don Quijote Restaurante to support VNA Meals on Wheels. The Legion Riders Post #94 provided a check for $12,500 for the VNA Hospice NWI. The dinner presented plenty of awards and scholarships to recognize some of the attendees ...
Editor's note: What appreciation events and awards/recognitions do your organization regularly provide for your employes, volunteers, and community? Click on this article's title to explore the scope of this organization's highly valued Annual Dinner and Awards. When you have events such as these, remember to take provide "take-out" food for your employees who are duty elsewhere, like your on-call office and hospice inpatient care. 

The project: This is hospice care 
PA Mediapoint, United Kingdom; 3/1/25 
Hospice UK approached us to support the launch of their national “This is Hospice Care” campaign. The campaign aimed to raise awareness about hospice care and encourage people to leave a gift in their will to their local hospice. ... To further strengthen the campaign’s storytelling, we encouraged hospice nurses to bring objects representing the diverse services offered by hospices. Some of props included a pug to represent pet therapy, a potted plant symbolising hospice gardens and outdoor spaces, a birthday cake reflecting the sense of community and celebration within hospices, and a gift box to emphasise the theme of leaving a legacy. Bringing together nurses from twelve hospices, the shoot successfully blended visual storytelling with the core campaign messages. The imagery not only highlighted the importance of hospice care but also created compelling content for national and regional media.
Editor's note: This creative initiative can be adapted easily for hospice teams (clinical and non-clinical), volunteers, and more. Click on the title's link to read more about this project's meaningful design, implementation, and outcomes.

Bristol Hospice launches new locations in 4 states 
Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 3/3/25 
Bristol Hospice has unveiled de novos in Arizona, South Carolina, Texas and Washington. The move marks an important period of expansion in states with some of the largest aging populations pushing up demand for hospice. The hospice provider has plans to expand in Fort Worth, Texas in the “near future,” the organization stated in an announcement. “We are thrilled to announce that Bristol Hospice is now accepting patients in the following locations: Lubbock, Texas; Tacoma, Washington (Pierce County); Phoenix, Arizona; [and] Charleston, South Carolina,” the organization said in a social media post. 

Can default palliative care referrals increase consults? 
Medscape; edited by Gargi Mukherjee; 3/4/25 
A default palliative care referral intervention increased palliative care consultations by more than fivefold and decreased end-of-life systemic therapy by more than half among patients with advanced cancer being treated in the community oncology setting. ...

• Early palliative care among patients with cancer can enhance quality of life and reduce intensive end-of-life care and is recommended by national guidelines. However, there are barriers to making these referrals and limited strategies to increase access in the community oncology setting.
• Researchers developed an intervention — an algorithm-based default palliative care referral, embedded in an electronic health record (EHR) — to help overcome barriers to palliative care referrals. The EHR algorithm assigned scores to each patient based on their palliative care risk factors to identify those eligible for palliative care.

Medical student uses music therapy to help patients find peace in their final days
CBS News Mornings; by Elizabeth Cook, Analisa Novak; 3/4/25 
When Melonie Ambler prepares to treat a patient, her medical toolkit includes something unexpected: A cello. "I ask, 'Transport me to your favorite place on Earth,' or 'What are you famous for within your friends or your family?'" Ambler said. "When I get that response, I can accentuate the drama, emotions, personalities and energy of the patient." Ambler, a Stanford University medical student, has ... an innovative approach to palliative care by transforming patients' life stories into spontaneous musical compositions. She has paused her medical education for a year to formally research the intersection of music and end-of-life care. The approach has shown some powerful results, particularly for families coping with loss. "I had one patient, this lovely man. I sent the recording to his wife and him the day that he died. When she listened to it, she said it was like he was there with her, and that she's listened to the recording every single night since he passed," she said.
Editor's note: Note that the music is all about the person, not the musician. While this reporter indicates that this process is new, it is core for board certified music therapists, with variations based on the person's abilities to respond or not, and often involving family. The music might be old or new; with lyrics or not. An especially profound moment occurs when the musician amplifies and records the person's heartbeat, and puts music to it, such as the clinical music therapy provided by Brian Schreck at the Norton Cancer Institute in Louisville.

Qualitative analysis through the lens of minority nurses 
American Nurse; by Sonya Moore, PhD, RN, CRNA; Carolyn Still, PhD, RN; and Siobhan Aaron, PhD, RN; 3/4/25 
Many argue that experiences of discrimination, racism, and microaggression (intentional or unintentional) serve as key barriers to the recruitment and retention of diverse nurses. Iheduru-Anderson, who interviewed 30 Black nurses, noted that despite an increase in the number of Black nurses in the U.S. workforce over time, they remain significantly underrepresented in leadership and faculty positions. The study identified several themes that contribute to lack of advancement, including maintaining White comfort, distrust, lack of role models and representation, expectations about leadership roles, and the ineffectiveness of advanced degrees in securing advancement. 

Duke Health, Novant to partner 
Becker's Hospital CFO Report; by Madeline Ashley; 3/4/25 
Durham, N.C.-based Duke University Health System and Charlotte, N.C.-based Novant Health have shared plans to partner and build new campuses across the state to expand care. Under the partnership, clinicians from both systems will offer services in new locations to increase primary care and advanced specialty treatment access. The partnership also aims to reduce wait times, create more appointment availability and increase virtual access to specialists, according to a March 3 news release shared with Becker's.  ... Duke Health comprises three hospitals — Duke University Hospital, Duke Regional Hospital, both in Durham, and Duke Raleigh (N.C.) Hospital. It has around 28,000 employees ... Novant Health comprises 19 hospitals, more than 900 outpatient locations, more than 750 physician clinics and more than 40,000 employees ... 
Editor's note: Both Duke Health and Novant Health provide palliative and hospice care.

Exploring the role of AI in palliative care and decision-making 
Penn Today; by Erica Moser; 2/28/25 
Oonjee Oh [nursing Ph.D studen] was the lead author on the paper “The ethical dimensions of utilizing Artificial Intelligence in palliative care,” which published in the journal Nursing Ethics in November. ... The paper applies the moral principles of beneficence, nonmaleficence, autonomy, justice, and explicability to examine the ethical dimensions of three hypothetical use cases: machine learning algorithms that predict patient mortality, natural language processing models that capture the signals of psychological distress from clinical notes, and chatbots that provide informational and emotional support to caregivers.

4 strategies to build trust in new technologies and drive meaningful change 
Kyndryl; by Farhaz Thobani; 3/3/25 
Four strategies every organization can use to build trust in new technologies and drive successful transformation:

1. Foster a culture of trust ...
2. Embrace imperfections for improvement ...
3. Learn from failure ...
4. Prioritize quick wins ...

Patient put in hospice at 52 celebrates life years after admission, thanks to heart surgery 
KCTV-5, Kansas City, MO; by Morgan Riddell; 2/27/25 
A local man with heart failure who was told numerous times he only had months to live now has a new outlook on life two years later. ... It started in 2023. Sam Edwards, who was diagnosed with ALS after serving in the military, started experiencing new pains. He went to doctors who all determined Sam was just experiencing issues related to ALS. Then, a doctor at the VA Hospital noticed some tests were off and found Sam was experiencing heart failure. What he needed was open heart surgery, but doctors determined the risk of putting Sam on the operation table was too high. Not only was he at risk of having a stroke and dying on the operating table, but his recovery would also be months long and painful. They declined to do the surgery at the VA and suggested Sam go get a second opinion. This is when he was connected with Dr. Michael Gibson.
Editor's note: While we in the palliative and hospice field promote earlier admissions to care and elimination of overtreatment, another side of the coin exists. Click on the title's link to read more about this hospice patient who sought out a second opinion. Imagine: the hospice patient is you (at age 52); or a family member; or a best friend. Especially as AI becomes more prevalent in assessing palliative and hospice referrals, we must see the bigger picture and retain human element. 

Bride rushes wedding so dying dad can walk her down aisle 
Doniphan Herald, Doniphan, NE; by TImogen Howse; 3/4/25  
A bride planned her wedding in less than 24 hours - so her dying dad could walk her down the aisle. Maurice Haynes, 69, is currently being cared for at St. Giles Hospice in Whittington, Staffs. [UK], ... His daughter Hannah Haynes, 29, was desperate for him to be present at her upcoming wedding - and knew Maurice had always wanted to walk her down the aisle. So she made sure her dad's dream came true. With the help of the hospice staff, Hannah and her partner, Josh, also 29, organized their special day in less than 24 hours. Carers transformed the hospice's chapel into a beautiful venue - complete with bunting and candles - and Hannah managed to secure a wedding dress on the morning of the ceremony. Just hours later, on February 18, Maurice, from Cannock, Staffs. [UK], walked Hannah down the aisle ... Hannah said: "What St Giles have done for my dad is unbelievable.

What do the ashes symbolize in life, death, and cultural rituals? 
Brain Wise Mind - Symbolism; by Jodie Lawrence; 1/26/25
In this article, you’ll explore the rich symbolism behind ashes, from themes of loss and renewal to connections with the cycle of life. By understanding these meanings, you can gain a deeper appreciation for how ashes play a role in various rituals and practices. Get ready to uncover the significance that lies within these seemingly simple remnants. ... Ashes symbolize a range of profound concepts, particularly in relation to life and death. You can find their meanings in various cultures and traditions, reflecting significant themes.

• Themes Associated with Ashes: Loss ... Renewal ... Mortality ...
• Cultural Practices Involving Ashes: Ash Wednesday ... Ceremonial Uses ... Memorials ... What do ashes symbolize in different religions? ... How can I incorporate ashes into personal rituals? ... Are ashes used in art? ...
• Historical Significance of Ashes: ... Cultural Perspectives ... Religious Interpretations (... Christianity ... Buddhism ...) Every faith incorporates ashes into its rituals, underscoring their role in connecting the physical and spiritual realms. These interpretations showcase the unifying themes of loss, renewal, and remembrance that ashes embody across different belief systems.
• Common Themes: 1. Loss ... 2. Renewal ... 3. Mortality ... 4. Transformation ...
  

Editor's note: "Ashes to ashes." We honor today's Ash Wednesday observances with this article's rich symbolism across the broad multi-faith span of the patients and families we serve, of employees and volunteers who serve. Click here for additional historical and cultural perspectives for using ashes: ancient Egypt, Hindi cremation, Mexican Día de los Muertos, Japanese Shinto practices, Native American ceremonies and prayers, African lifecycle rituals, and more. Also, pair this with Today's Encouragement, using a quote from Pope Francis about Lent (which begins on Ash Wedenesday).

Galleria Dallas partners with Visiting Nurse Association of Texas for March gallery wall exhibit 
Addison - The Magazine of the North Dallas Corridor; by Erin Uhl; 3/4/25 
Each month, Galleria Dallas spotlights an important organization or cause on a Gallery Wall in the center through its Galleria Gives program. During March, the partner organization is the Visiting Nurse Association of Texas. The exhibit, which will be on display beginning Monday, March 3, will feature information on the Visiting Nurse Association’s Meals on Wheels, Hospice Care and Palliative Care programs. ...  “Partnering with Galleria Dallas and its Galleria Gives program gives us the opportunity to connect with thousands of North Texans, sharing our call to action to Give, Learn, Serve,” said Katherine Krause, president and CEO of the Visiting Nurse Association of Texas. ... During the exhibit, the VNA will host several events at Galleria Dallas. The first, Make Cards & Spread Joy, will allow guests to create colorful, one-of-a-kind handmade cards for Meals on Wheels recipients ...

Lent comes providentially to reawken us, to shake us from our lethargy. ~ Pope Francis 
Honoring Ash Wednesday, the worldwide ushering in of Lent 2025