Literature Review

O’Neill Center Health Fair connects Marietta seniors with medical services, transportation and community resources The Marietta Times, Marietta, GA; by Gwen Sour; 5/5/26 The O’Neill Center hosted its annual Health Fair Monday morning, bringing together dozens of local providers and organizations to connect seniors with health resources, screenings and support services in one place. Rachel Garrison, activity coordinator at the center, said the event is designed to make information and assistance more accessible to older adults across the community. ... [Hospice organizations included] Buckey Hospice, Shrivers Hospice, Cawley Hospice, and Amedisys Hospice.

Have guitar, will travel: music therapist brings comfort Lovin' Life; by Karen Schaffner; 5/3/26 Michael Hieber has a warehouse of music in his brain, everything from the Great American Songbook to Rob Zombie and beyond. He knows the value of music and how personal it is. As a board-certified music therapist, Hieber’s job is no different from other types of therapy. “The way to think of music therapy just in general is, imagine any kind of therapy there is: cognitive behavioral, occupational therapy, speech language pathology, et cetera,” Hieber said. “Music therapists can work in all those areas but you use music to achieve your therapeutic goals.” Hieber is a music therapist at Casa de la Luz Hospice, has a Yamaha guitar and will travel to patients.

Mother's Day support for hospice families

How a Sacramento hospice home brings ‘dignity and compassion’ to people experiencing homelessness Capradio, Sacramento, CA; by Sarit Laschinsky and Vicki Gonzalez; 5/1/26 Homelessness is an enduring crisis, both in Sacramento and across California. Local, state and federal officials have poured in billions of dollars to address these issues, but often those who are most vulnerable are left with few resources. This is especially true for people who are living on the streets with a terminal illness, many of whom are seeking care and stability as they navigate a complicated and emotional process. For the past year, a facility in South Natomas has been helping them live out their final days with dignity and respect. Joshua’s House is the first hospice providing end-of-life care to people experiencing homelessness on the West Coast.

New website launch addresses growing demand for hospice care in the Bay Area lohud, Brentwood, CA; Press Release; 4/29/26 Grace and Glory Hospice has launched a new website designed to help families better understand hospice services and access support more quickly, reflecting a growing need for personalized, non-corporate care options. As demand increases for hospice care bay area providers that offer a more individualized approach, the organization’s updated digital presence aims to simplify decision-making during a critical time.

Wearable technology impacts hospice staff safety, satisfaction Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 5/4/26 Wearable technologies have the potential to improve safety and communication among home-based hospice workers in the field. Hospice professionals navigate several unknown factors when providing care in the home, said Kenny Kelley, founder and CEO of Silent Beacon. Established in 2016, the safety company provides wearable devices featuring a panic button system for emergency response and workplace communication. Ensuring clinicians’ safety and well-being are important to strong staff retention, Kelley said. 

BrightSpring aims for organic growth following Amedisys location acquisitions Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 5/1/26 After a banner first quarter, BrightSpring Health Services (Nasdaq: BTSG) is focused on performance improvement and continued organic growth. The company’s hospice operations are housed within its home health care business, part of its provider services segment. BrightSpring expects rising demand for those services to bolster its growth opportunity in both the near future and the long term, according to CEO Jon Rousseau. ... The average daily census for its home health business, inclusive of hospice, in Q1 rose 52% to 46,056 from 30,241 in the prior year’s quarter. 

Teeing it up for Hospice of the Valley Lovin' Life; by Lin Sue Flood; 5/3/26 Hospice of the Valley’s 2026 Pro‑Am Golf Tournament, presented by Cigna Healthcare, brought together 27 fabulous threesomes and 27 talented pros at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale for an unforgettable day on the course. Under picture‑perfect skies, the 28th annual event on April 2 netted more than $45,000 for the nonprofit’s charity care programs. Since launching the tournament in 1998, volunteer chairman Jay Hoselton has helped raise more than $1.1 million to ensure patients and families in need receive excellent care, regardless of their financial circumstances. 

The most valuable possession you can own is an open heart; the most powerful weapon you can be is an instrument of peace. ~ Carlos Santana

Hospice of Wichita Falls partners to protect against hospice fraud KFDX/KJTL News, TexomasHomePage.com, Wichita Falls, TX; by Angel Owens; 5/1/26 As concerns over hospice fraud continue to grow across Texas and the nation, Hospice of Wichita Falls is taking a strong and public stance against unethical practices that threaten patients and undermine trust in end-of-life care. The nonprofit organization is reaffirming its commitment to compassionate, ethical hospice services while partnering with state and national organizations to strengthen accountability across the industry. For over four decades, the organization has served the Wichita Falls community as a nonprofit, community-based provider dedicated to supporting patients and families through one of life’s most vulnerable and sacred seasons.

Local students stitch comfort, compassion, and dignity for hospice patients Bennington Banner, Bennington, VT; Press Release; 5/4/26 A small group of students in a dedicated class at Mount Anthony Union High School have spent recent weeks carefully crafting handmade catheter bag covers and adult bibs for patients served by VNA and Hospice of the Southwest Region (VNAHSR). Each stitch tells a story — not just of skill learned, but of empathy in action. For hospice patients, small details can make an immeasurable difference. Everyday medical necessities, like catheter bags, can feel clinical and impersonal. These thoughtfully designed covers soften that experience, offering privacy, warmth, and a sense of normalcy. 

Empower Oversight widens state fraud queries to New York Hospice Regulator Empower Oversight Whistleblowers & Research, Washington, DC; Press Release; 5/1/26 Empower Oversight has filed a public records request with New York’s Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, the state agency responsible for regulating the hospice industry, as part of its broader investigation into fraud involving federal taxpayer funds. The request seeks documents that shed light on potential systemic failures in hospice oversight, and on how the agency has identified, responded to, or declined to act on known fraud indicators. ... For a copy of the letter click here.