Literature Review

Loneliness tied to death ideation in older adults, study findsMcKnight's Long-Term Care News; by Kristen Fischer; 8/29/24A new study explored the relationship between loneliness, suicidal thoughts and death ideation in older adults. Overall, feeling lonely was linked with thoughts of wanting to die, according to the results... The researchers found that the subjective feeling of loneliness was more strongly linked with death ideation than with other measures of social disconnection, such as living alone or being socially isolated. The association between loneliness and a wish to die remained strong after the team controlled for depression and other markers of social disconnection. Regular attendance at religious services and other communal activities helped lower death ideation among the adults. Cognitive-behavioral therapy targeting depression and anxiety may also reduce the impact of loneliness.Publisher's note: It is difficult to underestimate the impact of loneliness and social disconnection. This article and study provide interesting implications for hospice patients and those who love them.

In case you missed it: Labor Day Special Edition Hospice & Palliative Care Today; Joy Berger; 9/2/24  Instead of typical business articles, we posted favorite "Today's Encouragement" quotes. Click here, in case you missed it. 

Hospital to hold focus groups after Facebook controversyBecker's Health IT; by Giles Bruce; 8/29/24An Idaho hospital plans to host focus groups after a Facebook post received a flood of negative comments about its emergency care. Local resident Cassidy Chun posted Aug. 13 on Facebook about her grandfather's emergency department experience at Rexburg, Idaho-based Madison Memorial Hospital, where she said he had to wait hours to see a physician after crushing his hands in an accident and deal with apathetic staff along the way. Her post on the Life in Rexburg Facebook group received more than 200 comments, many of them echoing similar problems with the hospital's ED.Publisher's note: How does your hospice track social media comments? How do you respond?

State seeks input on Columbia Gorge hospital, Gentiva hospice care The Lund Report, Oregon and SW Washington; by Nick Budnick; 8/29/24 State officials are checking in on two health care acquisitions that have occurred since August of 2022, the absorption of Mid-Columbia Medical Center into California-based Adventist Health as well as a private equity firm's acquisition of Kindred Hospice. Now the state wants to hear how the renamed entities are doing: Adventist Health Columbia Gorge and Kindred Hospice Care. “OHA wants to understand how ownership changes may have affected health care services at AHCG and Gentiva hospice agencies,” according to a state announcement. “We’d like to hear from patients, health care providers, employees, and community members who have interacted with AHCG or Gentiva in the past year.”

I wonder if my first breath was as soul-stirring to my mother as her last breath was to me. ~ Lisa Goich-Andreadis, 14 Days: A Mother, A Daughter, A Two-Week Goodbye

Monday is for people with a mission. ~ Cristina Imre

I can't change you and you can't change me, but together we can work to change the world!  ~ Germany Kent

If you don't like the road you're walking, start paving another one. ~ Dolly Parton

If you want to be the best you have to do things that other people aren't willing to do. ~ Michael Phelps, Olympic swimmer 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, the most decorated Olympian of all time with a total of 28 medals. Click here for his post-Olympic Foundation, with its vision "to save lives and help build healthier families."

It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light. ~  Aristotle

2nd Annual Walk for Hospice raises over $60,000 for the Aroostook House of Comfort The County, Presque Isle, ME; 9/19/24 The Aroostook Hospice Foundation is proud to announce that the 2nd Annual Walk for Hospice, presented by Event Sponsor McCrum Family Holdings, LLC, raised over $60,000 in support of the Aroostook House of Comfort. Held in memory of Dr. David Jones, the event was a powerful and moving tribute to those impacted by hospice care. The Foundation extends heartfelt gratitude to  everyone who contributed to the event’s success. The Walk for Hospice not only aims to raise essential funds but also to increase community awareness and celebrate the lives of those  impacted by hospice care. This year’s event saw tremendous support with 15 Trail Sponsors, 12 Community Sponsors, 22 Friend Sponsors and 10 In-Kind Sponsors, and boasted a remarkable turnout of 32 teams and 335 participants. The day offered families, friends, and colleagues a beautiful opportunity to walk, reflect, and honor their loved ones in a memorable and meaningful way.  

Everyone breathes in air, but it's a wise person who knows when to use that air to speak and when to exhale in silence. ~ Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, Queen of Dreams

What is Death?GeriPal podcast; by Eric Widera, Alex Smith, Winston Chiong, Sean Aas; 8/22/24We’ve talked about Brain Death before ... and in many ways today’s podcast is a follow up to that episode. Why does this issue keep coming up? Why is it unresolved? Today we put these questions to Winston Chiong, a neurologist and bioethicist, and Sean Aas, a philosopher and bioethicist.