Literature Review

Hundreds pack Northport 5k, raising more than $50k for hospice care Patch, Northport, NY; by Kepherd Daniel; 5/22/26 More than 500 runners and walkers gathered in Northport on Saturday May 16th for the 26th annual “Run for the Health of It” 5K hosted by Visiting Nurse Service & Hospice of Suffolk, raising more than $50,000 to support hospice programs and Hospice House. ... “The turnout at this year’s ‘Run for the Health of It’ is a testament to the incredible spirit of this community and the meaningful work being done every day by the staff and volunteers of VNS and Hospice of Suffolk,” Silvia Cota, chief executive of Visiting Nurse Service & Hospice of Suffolk, said.

SOS – Should there be a six-month moratorium on new hospices and changes in majority ownership (CIMO) across the United States?Substack; by Joan Teno; 5/26/26A temporary nationwide moratorium on new hospices and changes in majority ownership could give regulators time to strengthen oversight, stop bad actors from reentering the system, and rebuild public trust in hospice care. Supporters argue that a pause would help address fraud, weak enforcement, and quality concerns before more providers enter the market. Key to this policy being effective is implementation that avoids penalizes good hospice providers... So, for me, the right policy needs thoughtful implementation to avoid unintended consequences.

Palliative care education boosts assisted living staff confidence, care quality for residents with dementiaMcKnights Senior Living; by Kimberly Bonvissuto; 5/27/26...  Most assisted living staff members currently say they lack the training to engage in advance care planning, according to the researchers. The National Institutes of Health, which funded [this] study, said that the palliative care education intervention studied has the potential to be delivered more broadly among assisted living communities and could be vital in addressing workforce challenges in providing high-quality palliative and end-of-life care there. 

Sevierville teen seeking Eagle Scout rank turns personal pain into purpose WBIR 10 News, Knoxville, TN; by Heather Waliga; 5/27/26 A Sevierville teenager working toward her Eagle Scout rank is being recognized for a project that's helping families navigate one of life's hardest experiences: grief. Arrianne Witt, 17, transformed a once-empty prayer room inside Sacred Ground Hospice House into a peaceful space for reflection. ... The project quickly grew into a major undertaking. Witt spent months fundraising, collecting thousands of dollars in donations and organizing nearly two dozen volunteers to help bring the vision to life. The result is now a calming retreat inside the hospice house, complete with thoughtful décor and a soothing atmosphere meant to give families a moment of peace during difficult times. 

Enhabit plans for ‘aggressive’ hospice growth Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 5/26/26 Enhabit Inc. plans to expand aggressively this year and beyond, with a goal of achieving a double-digit growth rate, according to the company’s new CEO Dale Clift. Clift took the helm at Enhabit last week, succeeding Barbara Jacobsmeyer. The announcement follows closure on Friday of Enhabit’s $1.1 billion acquisition by the private equity firm Kinderhook. The deal took Enhabit off of the New York Stock Exchange as a publicly traded company. ... Hospice News sat down with Clift to discuss Enhabit’s plans for growth and its future. 

Veterans Guest House hospice program nears one-year milestone ahead of Memorial Day KOLO 8 ABC NewsNow, Reno, NV; by Hana Altenburg; 5/25/26 As Memorial Day approaches, a Northern Nevada nonprofit is encouraging the community to reflect on the sacrifices made by veterans while highlighting a growing need for hospice care services in the region. ... According to Veterans Guest House, there are an estimated 10 hospice beds dedicated specifically to veterans in the Reno-Sparks area, despite Nevada being home to more than 150,000 veterans statewide. Nearly half of those veterans are age 65 or older. The Cynthia Lake House provides free accommodations for veterans and family members during hospice care.

Delaware governor signs bill allowing medical marijuana use in hospitals by terminally ill patients Marijuana Moment; by Tom Angell; 5/25/26 Delaware’s governor has signed a bill to let terminally ill patients use medical cannabis in hospitals. Both the Senate and the House of Representatives had unanimously passed the marijuana legislation from Sen. Marie Pinkney (D) this session, and Gov. Matt Meyer (D) signed it into law on Thursday [5/21].

Allina Health and Sutter Health sign definitive agreement, taking next step in advancing shared vision Vitals, Northern California and Minnapolis, MN; by Sutter Health; 5/21/26 Allina Health and Sutter Health announced today that they have approved a definitive agreement, taking the next step toward their shared goal of creating an integrated nonprofit health system. The organizations will expand local access to high-quality, affordable care, while leading nationally in digital and technological advancements that transform care and meaningfully improve the experiences of patients and caregivers. ... The definitive agreement formalizes the plans outlined in the Letter of Intent announced in March, including: ...

Center for Hospice Care hosts 41st Helping Hands Awards Dinner GreatNews.Life; by Bennett Silveus; 5/22/26 Community members from across Michiana gathered at South Bend’s Gillespie Conference Center for a night of celebration and fundraising at Center for Hospice Care’s 41st Helping Hands Award Dinner on Wednesday, May 6. ... The event wrapped up with fundraising for Center for Hospice Care, resulting in more than $500,000 raised for the organization.

Dying for a change: understanding compassionate release policies in the United States ehospice; by Shivani Kaushki, PhD, MSSW; 5/25/26 As the United States prison population continues to age, the question of how society supports incarcerated individuals at the end of life has become increasingly urgent. ... Conducting a systematic review utilizing rigorous PRISMA guidelines, this study analyzed decades of research examining U.S. compassionate release policies, programs intended to allow terminally ill or severely debilitated individuals to spend their final days in the community instead of a correctional facility.

Second annual Hospice News provider rankings and trends report: top 50 providers + exclusive analysis Hospice News; 5/26/26 The hospice sector continues to evolve rapidly, driven by shifting ownership structures, demographic demand and new approaches to caring for seriously ill populations. For the second annual Hospice News 50 report, we partnered with Hospice Analytics to rank the largest hospice chains by 2024 Medicare claims. Drawing on proprietary data — including Medicare payments, corporate disclosures, acquisition activity and SEC filings — the report provides a detailed view of how consolidation, investment patterns and emerging players are reshaping the industry.

Unlocking human potential through the workplace FacilitiesNet.com; by AnnMarie Martin; 5/22/26 ... Today’s facility leaders are no longer simply maintaining buildings. They are actively shaping the conditions for organizational success, serving as the critical connector between people, place, strategy and technology. That shift carries both weight and possibility. ... The question driving forward-thinking facility leaders today isn’t whether the workplace matters. It’s how to make it matter more. ... At the heart of this life-centered, people-first approach is a simple but powerful premise: the built environment shapes behavior. Lighting affects focus. Acoustics affect stress. Layout affects collaboration. ...

The dying dream of the dead to be at peace with life DW; by Hannah Fuchs; 5/22/26 Many people have vivid dreams shortly before death. Research suggests the dreams are not a sign of confusion — but may help both the dying and their loved ones make sense of loss. Known as End‑of‑Life Dreams and Visions (ELDVs), they often occur as dreams during sleep, and sometimes as visions while a person is awake. For those experiencing them, they can feel more vivid and real than ordinary dreams — and for those observing them from the outside, it can be unsettling. Medicine long dismissed ELDVs as episodes of sudden confusion (delirium) or as side-effects of medication. But today, the thinking is shifting.