Literature Review
Living with grief caused by your child’s death
05/15/25 at 03:00 AMLiving with grief caused by your child’s death Bonner County Daily Bee, Sandpoint, ID; by Kathy Hubbard; 5/14/25 “The challenge for many people is to speak about their feelings after the death of a child,” Tami Feyen, RN, manager of Bonner Community Hospice said. “If you haven’t gone through it, you can’t imagine what it’s like.” We were talking about the “tree” with the heart-shaped “leaves” that “grows” in the Children’s Healing Garden. This memorial, designed by artist Betty Gardner was installed in 2019 with the idea that people who had lost a child would have a comforting place to come to remember their loved one(s).
[Pre-Memorial Day Outreach] Hospice of Texarkana to host Veterans Appreciation Picnic on Friday
05/15/25 at 03:00 AM[Pre-Memorial Day Outreach] Hospice of Texarkana to host Veterans Appreciation Picnic on Friday Texarkana Gazette, Texarkana, TX; by Gazette Staff; 5/14/25 Hospice of Texarkana will have its third annual Veterans Appreciation Picnic from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday at the Hospice of Texarkana Care Center grounds, ... The picnic is open to all current and former members of the U.S. Armed Forces ... The picnic not only celebrates veterans but also fosters community, allowing attendees to connect, share stories, and relax in a supportive and respectful environment, according to a news release. Guests will enjoy complimentary lunch and beverages and are encouraged to bring lawn chairs for outdoor seating. "As part of our 'We Honor Veterans' program, this event reflects our deep appreciation for the sacrifices made by our nation's heroes," said Cynthia Marsh, executive director of Hospice of Texarkana. "With Memorial Day around the corner, it's a meaningful time to come together in honor and reflection."Editor's note: What great community outreach!
New York bill aims to ban new for-profit hospices amid fraud concerns
05/15/25 at 02:15 AMNew York bill aims to ban new for-profit hospices amid fraud concerns CBS WRGB-6, Albany, NY; by Lara Bryn; 5/14/25 A new bill awaiting the governor's signature could ban the establishment of new for-profit hospices in New York, a move lawmakers and industry experts say is necessary to improve care quality and prevent potential fraud. ... The bill has already passed in both the state Senate and House. The push for this legislation comes in part due to findings from national studies by the American Medical Association and ProPublica, which highlighted issues in for-profit hospice care. ... Jeanne Chirico, CEO of the Hospice and Palliative Care Association of New York State, said, "To try and make a quick turnaround of profit either through falsifying eligibility records or by fraudulently submitting records for individuals who never even knew they were on hospice." Chirico noted a case where a New York Medicare recipient was unknowingly enrolled in a hospice-certified program based in California.
Virtual nursing at Hackensack Meridian Health is making nurses and patients happy
05/15/25 at 02:15 AMVirtual nursing at Hackensack Meridian Health is making nurses and patients happy Healthcare IT News; by Bill Siwicki; 5/12/25 In-hospital nurses can focus on more critical tasks and direct patient care while virtual nurses handle the routine monitoring and documentation tasks. Patients appreciate more personalized support and the overall hospital experience. Hackensack Meridian Health has made a conscious effort to identify ways to streamline administrative tasks for its bedside teams, minimizing non-clinical burdens for frontline staff. ... Early results show virtual nursing supports faster discharging procedures, coordinated care planning and optimization of in-unit nursing time through the shifting of the documentation burden.
In the wake of HICPAC: How APIC is leading the fight to preserve national infection prevention standards
05/15/25 at 02:00 AMIn the wake of HICPAC: How APIC is leading the fight to preserve national infection prevention standards Infection Control Today, Branbury, NJ; by Tori Whitacre Martonicz; 5/13/25 The Trump administration has disbanded a federal advisory committee that guided efforts to prevent the spread of infections in health care facilities. The Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) established national standards for hand hygiene, mask-wearing, and isolating patients with infectious diseases that most US hospitals adhere to.Infection Control Today® (ICT®) spoke with Connie Steed, MSN, RN, CIC, FAPIC, an infection prevention consultant and former president of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), about HICPAC's disbanding and its implications for national standards in infection control.
Roughly 40 percent of nurses plan to leave profession within 5 years, survey finds
05/15/25 at 02:00 AMRoughly 40 percent of nurses plan to leave profession within 5 years, survey finds McKnights Home Care; by Adam Healy; 5/13/25 The nursing workforce today is more stable than it was during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, but a significant share of nurses still plan to leave the profession behind in the next five years, according to the 2024 National Nursing Workforce Survey published in the Journal of Nursing Regulation. ... Approximately 40% of RNs, LPNs and LVNs surveyed said that they planned to leave nursing sometime in the next five years. In 2022, roughly 26% of nurses said the same. The most common reasons nurses cited for wanting to leave their jobs included retirement, stress or burnout, workloads and pressures caused by understaffing, the report noted.
CMS seeks public input on improving technology to empower Medicare beneficiaries
05/14/25 at 03:00 AMCMS seeks public input on improving technology to empower Medicare beneficiaries CMS Newsroom; Press Release; 5/13/25 The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is taking bold steps to modernize the nation’s digital health ecosystem with a focus on empowering Medicare beneficiaries through greater access to innovative health technologies. The agency, in partnership with the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy/Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ASTP/ONC), is seeking public input on how best to advance a seamless, secure, and patient-centered digital health infrastructure. The goal is to unlock the power of modern technology to help seniors and their families take control of their health and well-being, manage chronic conditions, and access care more efficiently. ...
Today's Encouragement: Let your grief be a bridge to ...
05/14/25 at 03:00 AMLet your grief be a bridge to the love that remains. ~ Mary Oliver
He was dying, Alabama sent him back to prison anyway
05/14/25 at 03:00 AMHe was dying, Alabama sent him back to prison anyway AdvanceLocal - AL.com - Alabama Media Group; by Renuka Rayasam; 5/12/25 Brian Rigsby was lying with his right wrist shackled to a hospital bed in Montgomery, Alabama, when he learned he didn’t have long to live. ... Rigsby decided to stop efforts to treat his illness and to decline lifesaving care, a decision he made with his parents. And Rigsby’s mother, Pamela Moser, tried to get her son released to hospice care through Alabama’s medical furlough policy, so that their family could manage his end-of-life care as they saw fit. But there wasn’t enough time for the furlough request to be considered. After learning that Rigsby was on palliative care, the staff at YesCare, a private prison health company that has a $1 billion contract with the Alabama Department of Corrections, told the hospital it would stop paying for his stay and then transferred him back to Staton Correctional Facility in Elmore, according to the hospital record his mom provided to KFF Health News. Moser never saw or spoke to her son again. “The last day I went to see him in the hospital, I was hoping he would take his last breath,” said Moser, a former hospice nurse. “That is how bad I didn’t want him to go to the infirmary” at the prison. A week later, Rigsby died ... in the infirmary, according to his autopsy report. Officials at the corrections department and YesCare did not respond to requests for comment.
Thrift shop to benefit hospice patients opens on Charleston's West Side
05/14/25 at 03:00 AMThrift shop to benefit hospice patients opens on Charleston's West Side Charleston Gazette-Mail, Charleston, WV; by Staff report; 5/10/25, updated 5/12/25 A new thrift store has opened on Charleston's West Side to benefit West Virginia's largest hospice care agency. Heart to Home Charity Shop is run by more than 100 volunteers of HospiceCare, which is headquartered beside the thrift shop. ... [In] addition to providing revenue to be used for services for HospiceCare's patients and families, the store enables those wanting to give their time to HospiceCare, but are not ready for--or are uncomfortable with--direct patient care opportunities.
Texas lawmakers pass bills to expand Medical Marijuana Program and support psychedelic research
05/14/25 at 03:00 AMTexas lawmakers pass bills to expand Medical Marijuana Program and support psychedelic research Marijuana Moment; by Tom Angell; 5/13/25 The Texas House of Representatives has passed bills to significantly expand the state’s limited medical cannabis program and to support research on the therapeutic potential of ibogaine with the aim of encouraging federal approval of the psychedelic. The marijuana measure cleared the House on third reading with a vote of 122–21 and the ibogaine legislation was approved 138-2. The body’s action sends both proposals to the Senate and comes one day after the bills were given initial approval on second reading. ... A second amendment approved by members would require doctors who issue medical cannabis recommendations to report them to the state’s prescription drug monitoring program.
Honey, Sweetie, Dearie: The perils of elderspeak
05/14/25 at 03:00 AMHoney, Sweetie, Dearie: The perils of elderspeakKFF Health News, originally published by The New York Times; by Paula Span; 5/9/25 A prime example of elderspeak: Cindy Smith was visiting her father in his assisted living apartment in Roseville, California. An aide who was trying to induce him to do something — Smith no longer remembers exactly what — said, “Let me help you, sweetheart.” “He just gave her The Look — under his bushy eyebrows — and said, ‘What, are we getting married?’” recalled Smith, who had a good laugh, she said. Her father was then 92, a retired county planner and a World War II veteran; macular degeneration had reduced the quality of his vision, and he used a walker to get around, but he remained cognitively sharp. People understand almost intuitively what “elderspeak” means. “It’s communication to older adults that sounds like baby talk,” said Clarissa Shaw, a dementia care researcher at the University of Iowa College of Nursing ... “It arises from an ageist assumption of frailty, incompetence, and dependence.” Its elements include inappropriate endearments. “Elderspeak can be controlling, kind of bossy, so to soften that message there’s ‘honey,’ ‘dearie,’ ‘sweetie,’” said Kristine Williams, a nurse gerontologist at the University of Kansas School of Nursing ...
Team work makes the dream work for hospice veteran
05/14/25 at 03:00 AMTeam work makes the dream work for hospice veteran Veterans Administration, VA.gov; by Douglas A. Etter; 5/12/25 When Marine Corps Veteran Ivson Shelley came to the Lebanon VA Medical Center for a follow-up visit with his oncologist, Suhail Ali, MD, the staff was concerned about how much the former New York resident had declined since his last appointment. They didn’t think he could be cared for at home any longer, so a decision was made with the family to admit him to the medical center’s hospice unit Thursday afternoon. Once there, the Marine shared a heartfelt wish with the staff – he wanted to marry his lifelong love, Wanda Rivera. The couple had dated more than 50 years ago and rekindled their relationship 10 years ago. Upon hearing the Vietnam Veteran’s wish, the VA team, lead by Hospice Nurse Manager Jessica Himes, RN and Hospice Social Worker, Erin Miller, MSW, LCSW quickly came together to make it happen. Palliative care nurse Melissa Buchinski, RN began to research what the requirements were to secure a marriage license for the couple. ... [Continue reading this inspirational story.]
UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty steps down
05/14/25 at 03:00 AMUnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty steps down Modern Healthcare; by Shelly Banjo; 5/13/25 UnitedHealth Group Inc. unexpectedly replaced its chief executive and suspended earnings guidance, raising increasing questions over how the company once regarded as a safe bet by investors has got its cost predictions so wrong. The company brought back Chairman and former CEO Stephen Hemsley for the top role, saying Andrew Witty has resigned “for personal reasons.” The health insurer, whose top insurance executive was murdered in New York last December, also ripped up its 2025 outlook. The meltdown in its outlook blindsided investors yet again.
AI tool uses face photos to estimate biological age and predict cancer outcomes
05/14/25 at 03:00 AMAI tool uses face photos to estimate biological age and predict cancer outcomes Mass General Brigham - Technology & Innovation - Research; by Hugo Alerts, Ray Mak, Dennis Bontempi, Osbert Zalay, Danielle S. Bitterman, Fridolin Haugg, Jack M. Qian, Hannah Roberts, Subha Perni, Vasco Prudente, Suraj Pai, Christian Guthier, Tracy Balboni, Laura Warren, Monica Krishan, and Benjamin H. Kann; 5/8/25 Mass General Brigham findings suggest FaceAge tool could provide objective data to help inform treatment decisions in cancer care and other chronic diseases. Eyes may be the window to the soul, but a person’s biological age could be reflected in their facial characteristics. Investigators from Mass General Brigham developed a deep learning algorithm called FaceAge that uses a photo of a person’s face to predict biological age and survival outcomes for patients with cancer. They found that patients with cancer, on average, had a higher FaceAge than those without and appeared about five years older than their chronological age. Older FaceAge predictions were associated with worse overall survival outcomes across multiple cancer types. They also found that FaceAge outperformed clinicians in predicting short-term life expectancies of patients receiving palliative radiotherapy. Their results are published in The Lancet Digital Health.Editor's note: This summary article is published by the main source, Mass General Brigham. Various articles are being written about this new use of AI.
[Australia] New study amplifies rural voices to improve palliative care at end-of-life
05/14/25 at 03:00 AM[Australia] New study amplifies rural voices to improve palliative care at end-of-life NewsWise; by University of South Australia; 5/13/25 ... [A] new study from the University of South Australia is shining a light on the experiences of rural South Australians who are navigating end-of-life care, in the hope of improving access to palliative care services and supports in rural and country areas. ... “People living outside of major cities are notoriously under-supported and underserviced when it comes to health care – and palliative care is no different,” Associate Professor Gunn says. “More than seven million Australians, almost 30% of the population, live in rural communities, yet only 16% of the palliative care workforce live and work in these areas. “Research tells us that earlier referral to palliative care services gives patients and families more control, helping them maximise their quality and quantity of life. Yet patients living in country or rural areas have less opportunity to receive specialist palliative care, and this can negatively affect their wellbeing, and the wellbeing of their family members."Editor's note: Sound familiar? Click here for "Rural Hospice and Palliative Care - Resources," from the Rural Health Information Hub.
Wisconsin Hospice and Palliative Care Council: Applauds state Assembly for approving bill establishing a State Palliative Care Council
05/14/25 at 03:00 AMWisconsin Hospice and Palliative Care Council: Applauds state Assembly for approving bill establishing a State Palliative Care Council WisPolitics, Kimberly, WI; Press Release; 5/13/25 |Today, the State Assembly approved Assembly Bill 23, a bill that would establish a state Palliative Care Council. The Wisconsin Hospice and Palliative Care Association (WiHPCA) strongly supports this legislation, which would ultimately help increase awareness and utilization of this specialized type of medical care throughout the state. The Assembly Committee on Health, Aging, and Long-Term Care voted 14-1 on March 13 to recommend approval of this legislation. This bill would establish a council of individuals with palliative care and other medical expertise to consult and advise the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) on this type of specialized medical care. In addition, this legislation would require DHS to create a statewide palliative care consumer and professional information and education program, as this type of specialized care is often misunderstood.
Congress offers new plan for Medicaid cuts, raising fresh concerns among HCBS advocates
05/14/25 at 02:00 AMCongress offers new plan for Medicaid cuts, raising fresh concerns among HCBS advocates McKnights Home Care; by Adam Healy; 5/13/25 House Republicans on Sunday [5/11] introduced a new budget reconciliation that outlines exactly how Medicaid cuts could take shape. Home- and community-based services advocates quickly spoke out in opposition to the bill. [Various leaders responded.]
I held my wife's hand as she died. It was the most painful moment in my life, but also the greatest gift.
05/14/25 at 02:00 AMI held my wife's hand as she died. It was the most painful moment in my life, but also the greatest gift.Yahoo!Life; by Juan Cruz, Jr.; 4/13/25
Downside risk, upside payment highlight new CMS innovation agenda
05/14/25 at 02:00 AMDownside risk, upside payment highlight new CMS innovation agendaModern Healthcare; by Bridget Early; 5/13/25The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is rolling out a broad new agenda for its innovation center that could lead to requirements that participants in value-based care programs to take on downside risk, the agency announced ... The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation plan prioritizes shared risk and prospective payments, streamlined quality measurement, artificial intelligence and other technologies, and Medicare Advantage payment models, Director Abe Sutton said in an interview Friday [5/9]. Notably, CMS is walking away from a goal set four years ago to have all fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries under accountable care arrangements by 2030, Sutton said. CMS provided Modern Healthcare an advance look at the new innovation center platform. ... Designing models that require providers to accept at least some downside risk could be the most consequential action stemming from the plan. Subjecting participants to potential financial losses, not just potential benefits, is key to driving cost savings and quality improvement, Sutton said.
Nonprofit hospice home offers free, 24/7 end-of-life care to unhoused, low income
05/14/25 at 02:00 AMNonprofit 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, ..."
[United Kingdom] Wife to walk across island for late husband
05/13/25 at 03:30 AM[United Kingdom] Wife to walk across island for late husband BBC News; 5/11/25 The wife of a gardener who died of cancer is preparing to walk across the Isle of Wight in his memory. Debs Goodenough will be taking part in the Walk the Wight challenge in aid of the Mountbatten Hospice. She said it was an opportunity to honour her husband Simon, while also supporting the hospice which cared for her and her family. ... Mr. Goodenough was a gardener known for his work on Ventnor Botanical Gardens, but he also created a garden for the hospice. ... Mrs. Goodenough will be walking 26.5miles (42.6km) across the island with her sons Rory and Jake. ... The annual Walk the Wight challenge has been running for 35 years and supports the hospice by raising money for patients and the families it cares for. More than 6,500 people are expected to take part, and Mrs. Goodenough has spent the past three months training for the event. ... "The day Simon died, we had a little walk and it was two miles, and I promised Simon I would support the hospice, and my sons said 'If you want to Walk the Wight we'll do it with you'."
Martinsburg baseball team hosts Hospice Night at the Ballpark
05/13/25 at 03:15 AMMartinsburg 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.
Be ready for updated Special Focus Program, hospice experts say
05/13/25 at 03:00 AMBe 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.
A daughter’s cautionary elder care tale
05/13/25 at 03:00 AMA daughter’s cautionary elder care tale The Progressive Magazine - Book Review; by Bill Lueders; 5/12/25 The call that woke Judy Karofsky in the middle of the night on May 18, 2015, was from a hospice nurse, who got right to the point: “I’m calling to tell you that your mother has died.” Karofsky, deeply shaken by the unexpected news, managed to ask, “Did she struggle?” Karofsky’s important new book, DisElderly Conduct: The Flawed Business of Assisted Living and Hospice, does not mention the hospice nurse’s response to this question. But it does note that she called back a moment later to say: “I’m so sorry . . . . I called the wrong number. I’m at a different facility and I had the wrong file.” Karofsky’s mother, Lillian Deutsch, had not died at all. It was someone else’s mother. Apologies were made. This is just one of many stories Karofsky shares throughout the book about the final years of her mother’s life in Wisconsin. This particular anecdote strikes me as noteworthy not just as an example of the sort of awful things that can happen when facilities are understaffed and staff members are overworked, but also because Karofsky’s first reaction was to wonder whether she struggled.Editor's note: Though printed news typically lifts up the good, compassionate moments of hospice care, most all of us have experienced negative accounts--professionally and/or personally. While this book is sure to give significant insights, perhaps the most important lessons are waiting to be validated from your own family caregivers, employees, and volunteers. What stories are behind your lower-than-you-want CAHPS Hospice scores? Dig deeper. May we all listen, learn, and improve care.