Literature Review
Hospice House board announces plans to sell shuttered facility
04/02/26 at 03:15 AMHospice House board announces plans to sell shuttered facility Owatonna Peoples Press, Owatonna, MN; by Josh Lafollette; 4/1/26 For nearly two decades, Homestead Hospice House brought peace and comfort to community members in their final days, and brought joy to their loved ones in even the most trying times. Today, the house sits empty, despite the concerted efforts of local volunteers. After efforts to reopen the house stalled last year, the HHH board has announced plans to sell the facility and surrounding acreage, and use the proceeds to establish a fund dedicated to supporting local end-of-life care services.
You know, every old person knows what it is to be young, but ...
04/02/26 at 03:00 AMYou know, every old person knows what it is to be young, but no young person can know what it is to be old. Thank you for listening. ~ Quote from HBO’s The Pitt, Season 2, Episode 12, marker 44min 53sec
Integrating palliative care: The power of silence in oncology
04/02/26 at 03:00 AMIntegrating palliative care: The power of silence in oncology Oncology Nursing News; by Angela Thomas, MSN, APRN, AGPCNP-C, ACHPN; 3/31/26Integrating palliative care principles into oncology requires the ability to allow silence to create a space where patients can process difficult news and feel truly seen. According to Angela Thomas, MSN, APRN, AGPCNP-C, ACHPN, these intentional pauses validate the patient’s experience and provide a necessary emotional release. By sitting in silence, providers acknowledge the gravity of the patient’s situation, which Thomas identifies as a core “heart issue” learned from palliative care and successfully integrated into the oncology setting. In a recent interview with Oncology Nursing News, Thomas, of Texas Oncology, discusses how practitioners can incorporate these techniques into their daily practice.
New CMS delivery models enable senior living providers to get paid for what they’re already doing
04/02/26 at 03:00 AMNew CMS delivery models enable senior living providers to get paid for what they’re already doing McKnights Senior Living, Nashville, TN; by Kimberly Bonvissuto; 4/1/26 Speakers at the 2026 National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care Spring Conference on Tuesday shared several new federal programs that offer senior living providers opportunities to showcase their value and to get paid for what they are already doing in chronic disease prevention and management.
California targeted in House Committee investigation of hospice fraud
04/02/26 at 03:00 AMCalifornia targeted in House Committee investigation of hospice fraud
FTC creates healthcare task force
04/02/26 at 03:00 AMFTC creates healthcare task force Healthcare Dive; by Rebecca Pifer Parduhn; 3/23/26
Woman pushes for end-of-life care protections after murder charge dropped
04/02/26 at 03:00 AMWoman pushes for end-of-life care protections after murder charge dropped WRDW/WAGT, Augusta/Harlem, GA; by Liz Owens; 3/30/26 woman indicted for killing her mother with a lethal dose of morphine is pushing to change the law after prosecutors dropped the charge six months later. Rachel Waters returned to Harlem on what would have been her mother’s birthday to lay Marsha to rest and advocate for Marsha’s Law, which would provide legal protection for family members giving end-of-life care to dying loved ones. “Today is the first time I felt any meaningful sense of closure,” Waters said. “It’s very surreal. It was almost exactly a year ago that I came down to turn myself in after the indictment.”
Most companies use AI but lack training to help employees work with it effectively
04/02/26 at 03:00 AMMost companies use AI but lack training to help employees work with it effectively Complete AI Training; 4/1/26 72% of U.S. companies now use AI, but 55% lack the training to deploy it well. The gap between adoption and capability has become the defining challenge for 2025 strategy. ... Gusto research found that when employees lack approved AI tools, more than half find alternatives and use them anyway. This creates security risks, fragmented efforts, and frustration for leadership.
QIM26-302: Hospice at the bedside: A Quality Improvement Initiative to improve end of life care and reduce inpatient mortality in a cancer center
04/02/26 at 03:00 AMQIM26-302: Hospice at the bedside: A Quality Improvement Initiative to improve end of life care and reduce inpatient mortality in a cancer center Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network - JNCCN; by Matthew Murphy, Jacqueline Young, Hardik Thakkar, Sean Powell, Timothy Hembree, and David Buxton; 3/31/26 ... Patients dying in the hospital may not survive transfer to external hospice units. ... Integration of GIP Hospice beds into the hospital has streamlined delivery of timely, comprehensive EoL care for patients and bereavement support for families. The collaborative care model allows the hospital-based team to deliver care with active support from the hospice agency. Families express appreciation for the program, especially in situations when the patient is not stable for transfer.
Inspiration from a hospice patient to a medical student
04/02/26 at 03:00 AMInspiration from a hospice patient to a medical student [story in the article, "Students from various bacgrounds succeed with WWAMI]University of Wyoming - Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho (WWAMI) Medical Education Program; by Communications Department; 3/31/26[Various medical students' stories ...]
Seniors who say they’re “not afraid of death” often still carry these quiet worries they don’t talk about
04/02/26 at 03:00 AMSeniors who say they’re “not afraid of death” often still carry these quiet worries they don’t talk about Bolde; by Julie Brown; 4/1/26 My grandmother said it so matter-of-factly that it almost stopped the conversation. ... "I'm not afraid of it," she said. "I've had a very good life. When it's time, it's time." And she meant it. I believed her completely. But then, a few minutes later, she mentioned almost in passing that she hoped she wouldn't "get confused" at the end.
Awards and Recognitions: March 2026
04/02/26 at 12:00 AMAmerican Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine announces 2026 annual Presidential Citation HonoreesPR Newswire; by American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine; 2/3/26The three honorees this year are the
Cleaning reframes end‑of‑life care for mental health
04/01/26 at 03:15 AMCleaning reframes end‑of‑life care for mental health The Philadelphia Tribune, Philadelphia, PA; by Lynn Akesson; 3/28/26... At its core, death cleaning is a decluttering practice: going through one’s belongings with the intention of reducing what survives us. But its appeal lies less in organization than in its promise of emotional relief. By transforming an abstract fear — leaving chaos behind — into a meaningful act of care, death cleaning reframes preparation for death as a process that can support psychological well-being in life. Editor's Note: For a related caregiving video specific to bereavement, visit "Re-Membering: Scrap 'Em, Store 'Em, or Stitch 'Em Together, by Composing Life Out of Loss (disclosure, a newsletter sponsor)
Neenah pastor finds deeper calling after brother’s hospice journey
04/01/26 at 03:00 AMNeenah pastor finds deeper calling after brother’s hospice journey WFRV Green Bay, WI; by Breanna Reinhart; 3/30/26 For the Reverend Niveen Ibrahim Sarras, walking with people through their final moments of life is more than a calling. It’s deeply personal. ... For years, Sarras has guided families through grief, offering prayers and presence at the end of life. But last summer, she found herself navigating that journey from a different perspective. Her brother, Odeh, traveled from Palestine to visit after a long battle with cancer. Just days later, doctors delivered devastating news. “The doctor, after having a CT scan, told me my brother was dying, and I shouldn’t let my brother go back,” Sarras said. Her family turned to hospice care, ... Through language barriers, cultural differences and grief, a team of local caregivers stepped in to help. What followed was a shared experience of compassion and learning. “I just want people to know that with hospice we are there to support you wherever you are at, no matter the cultural background,” said ThedaCare hospice nurse Briana Eggert.Editor's Note: To what extent does your hospice put this into action—supporting persons “no matter the cultural background”? Whatever your strengths, where are your cultural gaps, and how can you better align commitments with action through training, access to translated materials, interpreters, and community partnerships?
Top ten tips palliative care clinicians should know about wound care
04/01/26 at 03:00 AMTop ten tips palliative care clinicians should know about wound care Journal of Palliative Medicine; by Nicole Dussault, Jared Morphew, Veronica Nwagwu, Brittany Gatta, Angela Richardson, Nancy Payne, E Foy White-Chu, Lidiette Wilson, Heather Dalton, Christopher E Winstead-Derlega, Katherine Ramos, Christopher A Jones; 3/30/26 ... In this article, we outline key tips for assessing and managing wounds, including understanding prognosis and goals of care, evaluating care settings, tailoring management to the underlying disease process, and addressing symptoms such as pain, odor, and psychosocial distress. A thoughtful, interdisciplinary approach is essential to reduce the physical and emotional burden wounds place on patients and caregivers.Editor's Note: As CMS implements the HOPE (Hospice Outcomes & Patient Evaluation) Tool as of October 1, 2025, skin and wound assessment becomes a visible quality marker in hospice—requiring structured documentation, ongoing reassessment, and clear alignment with patient goals.
Homecare & Hospice 'thrilled' with community support of fundraiser
04/01/26 at 03:00 AMHomecare & Hospice 'thrilled' with community support of fundraiser The Batavian; Batavia, NY; Press Release; 3/31/26 The HomeCare & Hospice Foundation is thrilled to celebrate the success of its annual bouquet sale fundraiser, which once again brought the community together to support compassionate hospice care. This year, a total of 882 18-stem bouquets and 80 nine-stem bouquets were sold, raising critical funds to support patients and families in our region. ... Pop-up sales were held at nine locations, staffed by a dedicated team of 51 volunteers and staff.
Free webinars: Pediatric concurrent hospice care miniseries | guidance for clinicians: A compassionate, coordinated, and compliant approach
04/01/26 at 03:00 AMFree webinars: Pediatric concurrent hospice care miniseries, guidance for clinicians: A compassionate, coordinated, and compliant approach National Allliance for Care at Home; Press Release; 3/23/26 This Virtual Training will provide a practical, relevant, and comprehensive overview of Pediatric Concurrent Hospice Care as an approach that allows children and adolescents to receive ongoing disease-directed therapies alongside hospice services. Participants will learn the foundations of Concurrent Hospice Care under Section 2302 of the Affordable Care Act including eligibility criteria, planning and coordination requirements, and interdisciplinary collaborative strategies.
Hospice of Amador & Calaveras addresses statewide hospice fraud concerns, reaffirms commitment to ethical, community-based care
04/01/26 at 03:00 AMHospice of Amador & Calaveras addresses statewide hospice fraud concerns, reaffirms commitment to ethical, community-based careLedger News; Press Release; 3/30/26 In response to recent national media coverage highlighting concerns regarding hospice fraud in California, Hospice of Amador & Calaveras (HOAC) is reaffirming its commitment to ethical, transparent and compassionate care for patients and families across Amador and Calaveras counties. ... “Hospice care is built on trust, dignity and compassion,” said Samantha M. Lukow, Executive Director of Hospice of Amador & Calaveras. “While the reports are deeply concerning, it is important for our community to know that not all hospice providers operate in this manner. The vast majority of hospice organizations, including ours, are dedicated to providing ethical, patient-centered care.”
Language preference is associated with goals-of-care communication and end-of-life care in dementia
04/01/26 at 03:00 AMLanguage preference is associated with goals-of-care communication and end-of-life care in dementia Journal of General Internal Medicine; by Lauren R. Pollack MD, MS, Lois Downey MA, Ruth A. Engelberg PhD, James Sibley BS, Linda K. Ko PhD, Kimiko Domoto-Reilly MD, MS, Lyndia C. Brumback PhD, Annie T. Chen PhD & Rashmi K. Sharma MD, MHS; 3/30/26 Background: People with dementia and preferred language other than English (PLOE) in the United States may face communication-related barriers to high-quality end-of-life care.Objective: Compare end-of-life care characteristics among people with dementia and PLOE versus those preferring English. ... [Efforts] to improve end-of-life care for those with PLOE might prioritize ED and hospital-based interventions, recognizing their critical safety-net functions, as well as ensure that people with dementia and PLOE and their families have sufficient cultural and linguistic support to engage in high-quality end-of-life communication with their healthcare providers.Editor's Note: Pair this with today's post, "Neenah pastor finds deeper calling after brother’s hospice journey."
Pikes Peak Hospice & Palliative Care achieves highest quality score in organization’s history
04/01/26 at 03:00 AMPikes Peak Hospice & Palliative Care achieves highest quality score in organization’s history Pikes Peak Hospice & Palliative Care, Colorado Springs, CO; Press Release; 3/27/26 Pikes Peak Hospice & Palliative Care has earned its highest quality ranking ever — a score of 94 out of 100 — on the National Hospice Locator, a nationwide directory that evaluates hospice providers using publicly available quality data. The National Hospice Locator compiles information from Medicare data files, public websites, and direct surveys of hospice providers. Using multiple weighted quality metrics, the platform evaluates thousands of hospice programs across the United States and allows users to compare providers based on quality rankings. With a national average score of approximately 67, a score of 94 places Pikes Peak Hospice & Palliative Care well above the national benchmark and among the highest-rated hospice organizations in Colorado.Editor's Note: What are your organization's publicly reported quality scores? Explore more at the National Hospice Locator. [Disclosure, NHL sponsors this newsletter.]
Canyon acquires Columbine Poudre Home Care, Bloom at Home
04/01/26 at 03:00 AMCanyon acquires Columbine Poudre Home Care, Bloom at Home Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 3/31/26 Colorado-based Canyon Home Care & Hospice has acquired Columbine Poudre Home Care and its affiliate Bloom at Home. The transaction extends Canyon’s footprint across northern Colorado. Financial terms were undisclosed. Columbine employees were offered positions at Canyon. The acquired company provides medical and non-medical home care, hospice, infusion services and medical equipment.
The corporate brand, culture, and the CISO: Why understanding the business is non-negotiable
04/01/26 at 03:00 AMThe corporate brand, culture, and the CISO: Why understanding the business is non-negotiable Halcyon; by Gary Hayslip; 3/30/26 Over the course of my career as a Chief Information Security Officer, I have come to a conclusion that many of my peers eventually reach, though sometimes the hard way: if you do not understand your company's brand and culture, you will never build a security program that is truly aligned to the business. ... This is not a soft topic. It is foundational. The relationship between corporate brand, internal business culture, and cybersecurity strategy is one of the most underappreciated dynamics in our profession, and I believe it deserves far more attention than it typically receives.
The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man ...
04/01/26 at 03:00 AMThe fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool. ~ William ShakespeareHappy April Fools Day!
Live Oak Bank $300k grant supports Lower Cape Fear LifeCare Hospice nurses, addresses growing care shortage in North Carolina
04/01/26 at 02:00 AMLive Oak Bank grant supports Lower Cape Fear LifeCare Hospice nurses, addresses growing care shortage in North Carolina Business Insider, Wilmington, NC; Press Release; 3/31/26 Live Oak Bank is highlighting the impact of a $300,000 grant to the Lower Cape Fear LifeCare Scholars program. LifeCare Scholars is designed to recruit, train, and retain registered nurses in hospice and palliative care, strengthening the essential healthcare workforce across southeastern North Carolina. LifeCare Scholars offers a six-month residency to new graduate nurses, blending classroom learning, mentorship, and hands-on clinical experience to help registered nurses transition into hospice and palliative care at no cost to participants. [Launched in 2021, read more for "Proven Impact an Measurable Outcomes"]