Literature Review

Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties receives $10,000 donation from Elan Charitable Giving Program Mid-Hudson News; 1/31/25 Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties has received a $10,000 donation from the Elan Charitable Giving Program. This contribution is part of Elan Credit Card’s nationwide philanthropic initiative, which has awarded $250,000 to 25 community organizations across the country. 

Carolina Caring receives a $975,000 grant from The Duke Endowment Carolina Caring; Press Release; 1/29/25 We are excited to announce that Carolina Caring, through the work of Carolina Caring Foundation, has received a $975,000 grant from The Duke Endowment to fund a palliative care pilot program developed in partnership with CaroNova, a nonprofit health transformation catalyst serving North and South Carolina. Combining strategy and solutions to accelerate the future of an affordable, equitable, and effective system of health for all Carolinians, CaroNova works with partners across the Carolinas to drive reforms. The Endowment grant is one of the highest grant amounts Carolina Caring has received in organizational history. The grant will be distributed over two years:  $375,000 in 2025 and $600,000 in 2026. 

Tracing value from social determinant solutionsHealth Affairs Scholar; by Len M Nichols, Timothy A Waidman, Lisa Clemans-Cope, Bowen Garrett, Kima Taylor; 1/25We develop and illustrate a framework to trace value from social determinants of health (SDOH) interventions across 4 dimensions: health, cost and quality, engagement, and equity... Prior research frequently overlooks non-healthcare savings, concluding that interventions “don’t pay for themselves.” In contrast, our findings show that when all beneficiaries are considered, many SDOH interventions yield a net positive value. Recognizing the public good nature of SDOH interventions is essential for reaching accurate policy conclusions.

Organic growth top of mind for hospice providers in 2025Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 1/31/25 Hospices in 2025 are laser-focused on organic growth rather than other tactics like acquisitions. Among 112 hospice professionals who responded to the 2024 Outlook Survey by Hospice News and Homecare Homebase, 60% said that expanding current locations would be the growth tactic they plan to use the most during 2025. About 64% of the respondents were c-suite leaders, VPs and directors. “Organic growth remains a top priority for providers, with 60% of respondents focusing on expanding within their existing locations,” the survey report indicated. “Referrals from senior living and assisted living facilities, hospital systems and palliative care programs are also expected to significantly drive growth.”

Father keeping a promise to son to 'never miss a baseball game' despite entering hospice Fox 13 - Tampa Bay, FL; by Briona Arradondo; 1/30/25 A father diagnosed with cancer left hospice Thursday to spend the evening making final memories with his family on a baseball diamond in Tampa. Family and friends surrounded Steve Uhal and his wife Amy with love and support as he arrived to see his 9-year-old son Charlie play one last game.  ... 

Arizona couple pleads guilty to $1.2B health care fraud Office of Public Affairs - U.S. Department of Justice; Press Release; 1/31/25 An Arizona couple pleaded guilty for causing over $1.2 billion of false and fraudulent claims to be submitted to Medicare and other health insurance programs for expensive, medically unnecessary wound grafts that were applied to elderly and terminally ill patients. According to court documents, Alexandra Gehrke, 39, and her husband, Jeffrey King, 46, both of Phoenix, conspired with others to orchestrate the massive scheme. Gehrke ran two companies, Apex Medical LLC and Viking Medical Consultants LLC, that contracted with medically untrained “sales representatives” to locate elderly patients, including hospice patients, who had wounds at any stage and order amniotic wound grafts from a specific graft distributor. 

Awards and Recognitions - January 2025

N.J. actor from ‘Lassie’ and ‘The Mary Tyler Moore Show’ dies at 91 NJ.com; by Amy Kuperinsky; 1/24/25 Jack De Mave, a New Jersey native who enjoyed an acting career of more than 40 years, has died. On TV, De Mave, 91, was known for his roles in shows like “Lassie” during the 1960s and ’70s, as well as for portraying The Lone Ranger in commercials for Frito-Lay. The actor, who was in hospice care in Macon, Georgia, died Jan. 16 after he had a heart attack on Thanksgiving, per The Hollywood Reporter.

Palliative care slashes ED visits, hospitalizations in people living at home with dementia: study McKnights Long-Term Care News; by Kristen Fischer; 1/30/25 A program that provides palliative care to people with dementia and their caregivers lowered the number of emergency department visits and hospitalizations by approximately half in about a year, a new study shows. Those who benefitted the most from the Indiana Palliative Excellence in Alzheimer Care Efforts (IN-PEACE) initiative were Black people and those with lower incomes. A report detailing the findings was published in JAMA ... The 50% decrease in emergency department visits and hospitalizations among people who received the intervention shows that the program can keep some people with dementia out of the hospital, where they can develop complications and functional declines.

Sons of the American Legion donates $14K to Hospice HouseOwatonna People's Press, Owatonna, MN; 1/29/25 On Saturday, Jan. 18, the Owatonna Sons of the American Legion presented their donation of $14,063 to members of the Homestead Hospice House Board. This generous donation was made possible by raising the proceeds from their 2024 raffle ticket sales and a match in proceeds from the Owatonna Legion Post members. Kasy Kamholz stated that the Homestead Hospice House is nearly ready to open as they have met their fundraising goals. He stated that they are currently negotiating the final details on a contract with Seasons Hospice out of Rochester. 

Followup: Helene and hospice care in the western North Carolina mountains Hospice & Palliative Care Today; summary from a meeting between Vern Grindstaff (CEO, Compassionate Care Western North Carolina), Chris Comeaux and Tina Gentry (Teleios Collaborative Network), Cordt Kassner and Joy Berger (this newsletter); 1/28/25 Hospice recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene in North Carolina's mountains have been massive, with extensive longterm needs ahead. Vern Grindstaff, CEO of Compassionate Care Western North Carolina described the "new normal" they are experiencing.  Photos of this hospice and its service vividly demonstrated the state before, soon after flood waters receded, and current recovery status. Key topics included unthinkable patient care challenges with practical, creative solutions, financial implications amounting to a $350,000 deficit for repairs, and the trauma experienced by staff—both professionally and personally. Discussions highlighted the importance of long-term recovery strategies, including the involvement of larger trusts for sustained funding, while also recognizing community support efforts by organizations like Cajun Navy and Samaritan's Purse. Additionally, Chris Comeaux is presenting to hospice organizations about Emergency Disaster Management, equipping leaders to learn from this tragedy. Editor's note: Click here (or the title's link) for a map of Compassionate Care Western North Carolina's service area (CCWNC). Click here to donate to their ongoing recovery. We thank our readers for your previous support to this other hospices affected by emergency disasters. Additional resources: CMS Emergency Preparedness Rule; Wisconsin's CMS Emergency Preparedness Rule Toolkit: Hospices; "Community Crisis and Grief" public service education, designed for hospice organizations. Disclosure: CCWNC is member of Teleios Collaborative Network and the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation, both sponsors for our newsletter. "Community Crisis and Grief" is from our sponsor Composing Life Out of Loss.

Leading nursing facility cuts turnover by 50% with DailyPay Benefit for employees HealthCareDive, New York; Press Release from DailyPay; 1/30/25 The Springs Arkansas, the leading skilled nursing provider across Arkansas, is celebrating three years of partnership with DailyPay – a worktech platform and leading provider of earned wage access. Throughout this partnership, The Springs Arkansas is empowering employees with the ability to access their earned pay on their own timeline. ... Since implementing DailyPay into their benefits offerings, they have seen a 74% participation rate, and in 2024 reduced turnover by 50%. Headquartered in Little Rock, AR, The Springs Arkansas operates over 20 skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities, offering a wide range of care services, including skilled rehab, long-term care, memory care, and hospice care. ... The Springs Arkansas introduced DailyPay in January 2022 to better support its dedicated workforce. 

Caring for a dying spouse at the end of life Inspiyr; 1/25/25 ... In this article, we will explore the various aspects of caring for a dying spouse, including trends, common concerns, and expert insights. Trends in Caring for a Dying Spouse: