Literature Review

Preliminary research suggests that grief after the death of a public figure looks very similar to grief over our personal relationships and can have comparable levels of intensity News Wise; by Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center; 12/29/24 Many people are surprised by the intensity of their response when a well-known person dies, and their feelings of sadness may last longer than they expect. In fact, that sadness and grief can be intense, and preliminary research suggests that grief after the death of a public figure looks very similar to grief over our personal relationships and can have comparable levels of intensity. Wendy Lichtenthal, Ph.D., a bereavement science researcher and founding director of the Center for the Advancement of Bereavement Care at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, is available to discuss “parasocial grief” – that which occurs when a celebrity, political figure or other highly recognized person dies.

Even one step a day gets you 365 steps farther in a year. ~ Andie Daniels 

[Wales] Inside a children's hospice, a life-affirming and laughter-filled place that offers so much WalesOnline; by Taite Johnson; 12/29/24 When most people think of a children's hospice they often expect it to be a sombre place filled with sadness. But after spending some time at Ty Hafan I found it's actually quite the opposite. Laughter fills the halls as families make everlasting memories for themselves – and potentially the last for their child. Ty Hafan's hospice, overlooking the serene view of the sea in Sully in the Vale of Glamorgan, has been providing essential end-of-life care for children in a safe space in Wales for 25 years. It is often described at a place you wish you didn't need but you are glad to have.

Hospice workers share the foods that bring patients comfort till the end: Plus, they reveal how families can support their loved ones with scents, small bites and shared memories HuffPost; by Julie Kendrick; 12/30/24... We all live, we all die and we all enjoy food along the way. The memory and meaning of food, along with the bliss of being able to savor a cherished flavor, are still present in our lives, even as we head toward a last meal, a soothing sip of water or a final bit of sustenance. “Food often plays an emotional role in the last stages of life,” said Dr. Kurt Merkelz, the chief medical officer at Compassus, a home-based care company. “Some patients may reminisce about favorite meals or foods that connect them to fond memories and loved ones. There are instances where patients crave a specific dish that reminds them of their family or heritage, even if they can’t eat much.” ... People often ask for things like mashed potatoes, ice cream and chicken soup, according to Gail Inderwies, the founder and president of KeystoneCare, a hospice and home health provider in Pennsylvania. ... Sometimes, those comforts are part of a culinary heritage.

As drugstores close, more people are left in ‘pharmacy deserts’ The San Diego Union-Tribune; by The New York Times Service Syndicate; 12/31/24 In July, a notice appeared on the front door of The Drug Store, the only pharmacy in rural Kernville, in Kern County. After 45 years, the proprietor wrote regretfully, it would be closing in four days and transferring customers’ prescriptions to a Rite Aid about 12 miles away. ... Its closing created practical concerns. “We are an aging population,” Gordon, 69, said of the townspeople. ... Now, those services require a 20- to 30-minute drive to the Rite Aid, which is in Lake Isabella and which Gordon described as understaffed for its growing number of customers. “On any given day, there’s a line of 10 to 15 people waiting at the pickup window,” she said. Unlike The Drug Store, the Rite Aid doesn’t deliver. That leaves Kernville residents in what researchers call a pharmacy desert, defined as living more than 10 miles from the nearest pharmacy in rural areas, 2 miles away in suburban communities or 1 mile away in urban neighborhoods. Nearly 30% of pharmacies in the United States closed between 2010 and 2021, according to a new study in the journal Health Affairs. 

Why 2025 will be a recovery year for providers' finances Modern Healthcare; by Caroline Hudson; 12/19/24 2025 is expected to be a recovery year for hospitals and health systems' finances. Providers’ financial performance has vastly improved since the COVID-19 pandemic stunted the healthcare industry a few years ago. In 2024, many hospitals and health systems benefited from higher patient volumes, wider operating margins and more favorable financial markets that drew investment returns. ... Here’s a look at five trends to expect in the new year and how they could affect financial performance.

‘Change in air’ for senior living and care industry in 2025 McKnights Senior Living; by Kimberly Bonvissuto; 12/20/24 “Change is in the air” heading into 2025 for the senior living and care industry, particularly evidenced in regulatory shifts, dementia care, technology expansion and market rebounds, according to the Health Dimensions Group’s annual white paper outlining key issues expected to affect providers in the future.

5 Leadership trends that will help to shape 2025Forbes; by Sally Percy; 12/19/24In our fast-moving world it’s impossible to know what next year will bring. But here are five important trends for leaders to look out for in 2025:

Today's 10-Second Question (Dec 2024)What hospice or palliative care stories or trends do you predict we'll see in 2025? Themes might include clinical, quality, regulatory, reimbursement, ethics, heartwarming, etc. (Click the link above to participate! Responses will be shared in January.)

I hope you will have a wonderful year, that you'll dream dangerously and outrageously, that you'll make something that didn't exist before you made it, that you will be loved and that you will be liked, and that you will have people to love and to like in return. And, most importantly (because I think there should be more kindness and more wisdom in the world right now), that you will, when you need to be, be wise, and that you will always be kind. ~ Neil Gaiman

SPECIAL EDITION: New Year's Day 2025For December 31st  and January 1st we look back at summary posts about 2024 and projected themes for 2025. May we wisely learn from the past, be present in the present, and forge out the future. We thank you for the hospice and palliative care you provide to our world. Hospice & Palliative Care Today - Cordt Kassner, Publisher, Joy Berger, Editor in Chief, and Cathy Wagner, Assistant Editor.

The year in review: Influential people who died in 2024 AP International - Chicago's Very Own WGN 9; by Bernard McGhee; 12/30/24 ... [Jimmy] Carter was the nation’s longest-lived president when he died Sunday at age 100. But he was just one of many noteworthy people who died in 2024. ... The year also brought the deaths of several rights activists, including the reverends Cecil L. “Chip” Murray and James Lawson Jr.; Dexter Scott King; Hydeia Broadbent; and David Mixner. Business leaders who died this year include: Indian industrialist Ratan Tata, The Home Depot co-founder Bernard “Bernie” Marcus, financier Jacob Rothschild and Daiso retail chain founder Hirotake Yano. ... [Noteworthy] sports figures who died include: basketball players Jerry West and Dikembe Mutombo; baseball players Willie Mays and Fernando Valenzuela; and gymnastics coach Bela Karolyi. The music industry lost a titan in producer Quincy Jones, who died in November. ... Here is a roll call of some noteworthy figures who died in 2024 (cause of death cited for younger people, if available): [Click on the title's link to read more.]

Big senior living stories of 2024McKnights Senior Living; by Lois A. Bowers; 12/23/24Here’s a look at some of the big stories involving senior living providers that captured the attention of McKnight’s Senior Living readers this year.