Literature Review

Nonprofit hospice home offers free, 24/7 end-of-life care to unhoused, low income Albuquerque Journal, Albuquerque, NM; by Gregory Hasman; 5/12/25 Dorothy Marquez has spent the last month with her brother Gerald Moya in a Downtown Albuquerque hospice home, reminiscing about their childhoods or his lime green 1964 Chevrolet Impala lowrider he loved to show off. Moya, 59, is battling stage 4 lung cancer and has days to live. ... Inhora is doing its best to ensure Moya feels comfortable. "I'm very happy because he's not in pain and he's not out there just laying on the road because that's what he'd probably be doing because we don't have a place to go," Marquez said. "We're both homeless." Since April, the hospice home on Tijeras NW, near Seventh Street, has served as a place for people who are unhoused or have low incomes to spend their final days with loved ones. "Our culture throws dying people away and hides them behind closed doors," said Miles Gloetzner, Inhora's founder and executive director. ""And they deserve better. They deserve dignity and compassion, ..."

Martinsburg baseball team hosts Hospice Night at the Ballpark The Journal, Martinsburg, WV; by Staff; 5/12/25 The Martinsburg High School baseball team welcomed everyone to the annual Hospice Night at the Ballpark on May 7, when the Bulldogs took on the Spring Mills Cardinals. Each team and those in attendance were given cards provided by Panhandle Printing and Design displaying, “Hospice Can Be Your Shining Light.” Hospice Night originated back in 2017, when coach Larry and Anita Cooper wanted to honor their parents (Rev. Mason and Alma Cooper and Walter and Vivian Ridenour) in a way that brought awareness to others about Hospice. In 2018, they purchased the teal jerseys and hats in the Hospice teal color to compliment Martinsburg’s orange and black school colors.

How DispatchHealth’s CEO plans to change the face of in-home careModern Healthcare; by Diane Eastabrook; 5/7/25DispatchHealth CEO Jennifer Webster said the company is eyeing new markets and care models after its acquisition of hospital-at-home provider Medically Home is complete. Denver-based DispatchHealth announced a definitive agreement in mid-March to acquire Boston-based Medically Home. Webster said the deal is still on track to close in a couple of months, but there is a lot of work to be done first. That includes integrating operations and technology, as well as senior leadership.

We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give. ~ Winston Churchill

Be ready for updated Special Focus Program, hospice experts sayMcKnight's Home Care; by Adam Healy; 5/9/25A revised hospice Special Focus Program is coming, and providers should make sure they have plans and procedures in place to be successful under this strict oversight program, Linda Woodle, director of accreditation at Community Health Accreditation Partner (CHAP), and Patricia D’Arena, vice president of clinical excellence at Enhabit Home Health and Hospice, said... When that program will be reinstated is anyone’s guess... The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has indicated that assessments will place a high emphasis on four specific Conditions of Participation: patient’s rights; initial and comprehensive assessment of the patient; interdisciplinary group, care planning and coordination of care; and quality assessment and performance improvement. So providers should ensure they meet all of these conditions’ requirements.

Time’s 100 most influential people in healthBecker's Hospital Review; Kellly Gooch; 5/8/25 Time released its second annual Time100 Health list May 8, highlighting the 100 most influential individuals in health.

Building an ethical culture: Leadership’s role in corporate integrity The Wall Street Journal; by Lori Pressler, Michael Rossen and Miira Velia; 5/7/25 Built from the top down, a strong ethical culture can help mitigate risk by weaving ethics into decision-making at every level. Much of the time, a single moment or lapse in judgment does not precipitate a crisis. Instead, corporate scandals tend to spring from systemic failures in corporate culture, specifically around ethics. However, within many organizations, ethics are often discussed in theoretical terms—lofty yet nebulous aspirations or nice-to-haves. ... Given its potential for harm, organizations may not be giving ethical risk the attention it deserves, particularly from the top down. 

Celebrating National Nurses Month with 62 years of nursing excellence: Meet Alma Flowers, hospice nurse Jacksonville News - JAXChamber, Jacksonville, FL; 4/30/25 This month, we are proud to spotlight Ms. Alma Flowers, a dedicated Registered Nurse at Community Hospice & Palliative Care, whose remarkable career spans an impressive 62 years. Alma's journey began at the Brewster Duval School of Nursing in Jacksonville in 1959, marking the start of a lifelong commitment to compassionate care and professional excellence. Alma's career has been a testament to the evolution of nursing, encompassing diverse roles from acute psychiatric units to the compassionate realm of hospice care. Throughout her journey, Alma has adapted to and contributed to advancements in healthcare practices and policies. ... As we celebrate National Nurses Month, we are reminded of nurses' profound impact on patient care, healthcare innovation, and community well-being. Alma Flowers' journey is a testament to the enduring spirit of nursing excellence at Community Hospice & Palliative Care.Editor's note: What a beautiful tribute to Alma, especially when describing her journey as a "testament to the evolution of nursing." Imagine changes ahead for today's student nurses: 62 years from now will be the year 2087. While we struggle to keep up with the current barrage of nursing workforce challenges, we can draw inspiration from Alma's life-long commitments, flexibility, and immeasurable contributions.

Hospice of Midland opens new Community Center to expand local support Midland Reporter-Telegram, Midland, TX; by B. Kay Richter; 5/8/25 After years of envisioning a community center next door to Hospice of Midland headquarters, the day is finally here. The commercial building, located at 901 W. Texas Ave., will serve as a space for various community needs, including professional and student educational support, bereavement support, memorial services, volunteer gatherings and even collaborations with other nonprofit organizations.  Deborah Goodman, chief executive officer of Hospice Midland, said that the building was initially purchased by Midlander Ted Johnson and was renovated with community support. The one-story building offers 3,000 square feet of space and is equipped with a new commercial kitchen.

National Alliance for Care at Home unveils new website to enhance member experience The National Alliance for Care at Home, Washington, DC; Press Release; 5/5/25 The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance), the leading advocate and educator for the care at home community, is proud to announce the launch of its newly redesigned website, AllianceForCareAtHome.org. The new site reflects the Alliance’s commitment to innovation, accessibility, and delivering enhanced value to member organizations and all care at home stakeholders. ... “We’re excited to introduce our new website as a digital reflection of who we are and where the Alliance is headed,” said CEO Dr. Steve Landers. ... Key features of the new website include:

Navian Hawaii receives $400K grant Pacific Business News - Health Care, O'ahu, HI; by Christina O'Connor; 5/8/25Hospice and palliative care services nonprofit Navian Hawaii, formerly known as Hospice Hawaii, recently received a $400,000 grant from the Zilber Family Foundation to expand its palliative care program. The Honolulu-based nonprofit said on Wednesday the program features personalized care plans focused on improving quality of life for individuals with serious illnesses. It addresses physical symptoms, as well as emotional distress and planning for next steps, and includes access to nurses, physicians and social workers. This donation follows a $4.3 million gift from the Weinman Foundation earlier this year. That funding is going toward growing residential care. [The full article is behind a payall.]

Illinois plan calls for annual report on hospice, palliative care for prisoners WAND TV News, Springfield, IL; by Mike Miletich; 5/8/25 The Illinois House Restorative Justice & Public Safety Committee passed a bill Thursday [5/8] to require the Illinois Department of Corrections report data on hospice care available for prisoners. Over 1,000 Illinois prisoners are 65 or older, and a growing number of those people are in need of end-of-life care and support services. The Department of Corrections does not have a formal hospice program, as end-of-life care is provided on a prison-by-prison basis. Although, sponsors and advocates said this has led to inconsistent care for prisoners diagnosed with terminal illnesses or who are expected to reach the end of their life.

Donate Life Ceremony celebrates organ donors and their families Vanderbilt University Medical Center; by Matt Batcheldor; 5/6/25 In addition to honoring organ donors and their families, the ceremony salutes hospital staff who care for donors and transplant recipients. Seventy-one individuals donated their organs at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in 2024, and they and their families were saluted on April 30 at the annual Donate Life Ceremony. “Those 71 donors resulted in 235 lives that were saved,” said C. Wright Pinson, MBA, MD, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Health System Officer for VUMC. ...  In addition to that, there were another 191 individuals who made the remarkable gift of tissue donation … which restored sight to the blind, enhanced the lives of burn victims, and gave mobility to those with bone and joint injuries.” ... The ceremony, held in the lobby of Langford Auditorium, was part of a national effort to raise awareness about the need for organ and tissue donors.