Literature Review

May this year give you the strength to overcome obstacles, the courage to take risks, and the perseverance to achieve your most ambitious goals.

Let our New Year's resolution be this: We will be there for one another as fellow members of humanity, in the finest sense of the word. ~ Goran Persson

Belleville home is full of holiday decor, with a twist The Pantagraph, Bloomington, IL; by Pat Eby If ever a house could come straight out of a Hallmark holiday movie, the Kalish home in Belleville just might be that cozy home where romance flourishes and holiday spirit reigns. And the holiday wouldn't need to be limited to Christmas New Years, Valentine's Day, St. Pat's, Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Halloween, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah there isn't a holiday in the books Stacey and Brian Kalish don't celebrate with themed decorations at their home, inside and out. ... Stacey is especially big on decorating for Christmas. They have a big tree, but she also puts up one small Christmas tree she got for her dad when he was in hospice and decorated it with angel ornaments. She was just 21 when he died. She adds a new angel ornament to the tree each year in his memory. Editor's Note: Stacey's annual ritual of adding the "small Christmas tree she got for her dad when he was in hospice" and adding a new ornament "each year in his memory" is a beautiful, simple, ongoing way to honor his memory visibly, to "continue bonds" (an important, intercultural grief concept) for herself, family, and generations ahead. Consider adding something like this to your holiday care for next year; what community donors might support this?

The hospice conversations that defined 2025 - Best of TCNtalks Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN); by Chris Comeaux; 12/24/25 With nearly 45,000 total downloads across TCNtalks and Anatomy of Leadership, this milestone reflects a shared commitment to thoughtful leadership, courageous conversations, and care as it should be. We’ve curated standout moments from episodes that challenged assumptions, clarified complexity, and pointed toward a better future for serious-illness care. ... This highlight episode isn’t just a recap—it’s a reflection of where hospice and serious-illness care has been, where it is, and where it must go next. These conversations underscore the urgency of leadership rooted in clarity, compassion, and courage. Whether you’re revisiting a favorite or discovering an episode you missed, we hope this collection sparks insight, conversation, and renewed purpose as we head into 2026.

Students deliver custom holiday cards to hospital patients Butler Eagle, Butler, PA; by Sol McCormick; 12/23/25 The next generation of medical professionals might not be ready to deliver health care just yet, but they found a way to deliver a different type of care just before the holidays. About 20 or so members of Butler Senior High School’s Medical Careers Club gathered Tuesday, Dec. 23, at Butler Memorial Hospital to distribute around 1,500 holiday cards to patients. Each card was handmade by students of all eight of Butler Area School District’s elementary schools. ... “A lot of patients were so grateful. One of them, last year when we went up to Clarion, she was in hospice and only had a week left. They said that was the first time they saw her smile for days,” Reese said.

What makes a ‘good’ death? Former Durango hospice director reflects The Durango Herald, Durango, CO; by Jessica Bowman; 12/28/25 What is a “good” death? That’s up to each of us to decide for ourselves, said Anne Rossignol, former director of Mercy Hospice House. Rossignol said it’s a question more people should be asking themselves – and sooner. ... She earned her medical degree in 1999 and completed an internal medicine residency through the U.S. Army, where she served as a flight surgeon and completed two tours in Iraq. It was during her time at an Army hospital – where she guided patients and families through life-or-death decisions – that she felt drawn to palliative care. “These big soldiers in their uniforms would sit down with these families to talk about the end of life, and they’d be crying, and the families would be crying. It was so beautiful,” Rossignol said. ...

A time for community and kindness Senior Concerns; by Martha Shapiro; 12/24/25 I am inspired by the spirit of the holidays and hope to carry some of it with me into the coming year. Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the holiday season. Then Chanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and finally the New Year. ... In truth, each holiday brings its own traditions, but together they form a season that invites reflection, generosity, and connection. ... Recently, someone wished me “happy all the things.”  It was a sweet and funny way to say happy holidays without knowing what holiday I celebrate. Truthfully, I do not mind what holiday someone references if their intent is to be kind. ...  At the same time, I am reminded that the holidays are not joyous for everyone. ... This year, I am making a conscious effort to practice small acts of kindness towards others, and to intentionally recognize and thank those that do them for me.

Holistic hospice provider expands to Pinellas County Catalyst; by Mark Parker; 12/24/25 A national end-of-life care company with unique offerings, including pet visits, personal pampering and Memory Bears made from a patient’s clothing, has expanded to Pinellas County. VITAS Healthcare is a nearly 50-year-old mobile hospice provider that takes a holistic approach to providing support during a sensitive time in someone’s life. A new administrative office at 12425 28th St. N. in St. Petersburg serves as a home base for interdisciplinary care teams. Kathleen Coronado, vice president of operations, said VITAS plans to eventually open a local inpatient center “for patients who need a higher level of care.” However, the company’s primary goal is to provide comfort wherever patients call home.

Laramie Car Club hosts private show for 11-year-old boy fighting cancer Cowboy State Daily, Laramie, WY; by Dale Killingbeck; 12/22/25 Like many 11-year-olds, Wyatt loves cars, especially tricked-out classic rides that are blinged-out to the max. But as a cancer patient in hospice care, he can’t get out to the car shows he loves. So, the show came to him Sunday. Wyatt got to watch from hospice as a parade of classic cars and trucks slowly cruised by. Jimmy Mora, a member of the Rollerz Only Car Club and owner of a 1936 Plymouth P2 Deluxe Coupe, helped organize the private parade for Wyatt.

Holiday lights are like great friends. They make everything shine brighter! [Click here for 22 qualities of a good friend. This is great week to reach out and catch up!] 

Princess Luz’s final wish Fredericksburg Standard-Radio Post, Fredericksburg, TX; by Tammy Rohlf; 12/24/25Luzmaria Salazar, known to those who loved her as “Princess Luz,” was just 17 years old, but her courage and faith measured far beyond her years. After bravely battling a rare genetic disease that affected her nervous and immune systems, she passed away in June of 2025. One of her last wishes was simple, yet, seemed impossible: She wanted to swim with dolphins. Her mom, Jessica Gurrola, tried to make that dream happen with a trip to SeaWorld, but the experience fell short. That’s when the hospice team stepped in. With the help of a hospice volunteer and virtual reality technology, Luz’s dream came true in a way no one expected. When the headset was placed on her, something extraordinary happened. Her entire body calmed. ... 

Interprofessional collaboration between hospital-based palliative care teams and hospital ward staff: A realist review PLoS One; by Louana Moons, Fouke Ombelet, Mieke Deschodt, Maaike L De Roo, Eva Oldenburger, Inge Bossuyt, Peter Pype; 12/19/25  Conclusion: This realist review highlights the complexity of interprofessional collaboration between PCTs and ward staff, emphasizing the importance of tailored approaches that address specific contextual needs, expectations, and norms. Strengthening positive attitudes, clarifying roles, and fostering partnerships can enhance interprofessional collaboration, ultimately improving palliative care quality in hospital settings.