Literature Review

‘A hug from the community’: Pikes Peak Hospice seeks red, white and blue blankets for veteran patients The Colorado Springs Gazette, Colorado Springs, CO; by O'Dell Isaac; 1/7/25 Last year, as part of an ongoing effort to honor local military veterans, Pikes Peak Hospice and Palliative Care performed more than 100 “bedside salutes” and pinning ceremonies for veteran patients. The ceremonies include the gift of a handmade red, white and blue blanket, sewn or crocheted by a volunteer. ... Each year, Pikes Peak Hospice provides care to more than 2,200 patients and their families in the region, nearly 25% of whom are former service members, according to veteran liaison Sonya Bergeron.Editor's Note: This is a beautiful example of community gratitude in action. These handmade red, white, and blue blankets offer comfort, honor service, and often remain with families long after a veteran has died. What percentage of your hospice’s patients are veterans, and how do you honor them?

Spotlight on 2026 Medicare policy changes American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC); by Renee Dustman; 1/6/26 A new year always means policy changes in healthcare. In 2026, as in past years, there are changes to medical coding, payer policies, fee schedules, federal regulations, and just about everything else. Here are highlights of several pertinent changes that will affect Medicare-enrolled providers this year.

Senior living executive forecast 2026: ‘Step up or get stepped on’ Senior Housing News; by Austin Montgomery; 1/7/26 ... Today, senior living providers are focused on precision in operations, able to define value to customers, maintain attractive price points and manage rates that can strategically improve margin while not forcing out residents. ... Today, senior living providers are focused on precision in operations, able to define value to customers, maintain attractive price points and manage rates that can strategically improve margin while not forcing out residents.

NPHI organizes listening tour on hospice program integrity with CMS leaders Dr. Oz and Kim BrandtNational Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI); Press Release; 1/8/26On Thursday [1/9], Dr. Mehmet Oz, Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and Kim Brandt, CMS Chief Operating Officer ... are visiting Nathan Adelson Hospice in Las Vegas as part of a listening session and on-site tour. On Friday, the tour continues in California, where NPHI is supporting discussions with federal leaders and providers in the state focused on fraud and abuse challenges impacting hospice care. These conversations are intended to help federal leaders better understand what providers are seeing on the ground and explore how CMS and the provider community can work together to strengthen program integrity while protecting access to high-quality, mission-driven care.

Superior Health Holdings expands Louisiana hospice footprint with acquisition of Hope Healthcare & Hospice (Bayou Country) Business Wire; Press Release; 1/7/26 Superior Health Holdings (“Superior”) ... announced the acquisition of the Bayou Country hospice operations of Hope Healthcare and Hospice BC, LLC ("Hope Hospice"), a community-based hospice provider headquartered in Houma, Louisiana. This acquisition expands Superior’s integrated care capabilities and deepens its presence in Southern Louisiana. Hope Hospice serves a broad area throughout the Bayou Region and offers all Medicare-defined levels of hospice care, including routine home care, general inpatient care, continuous home care, and respite services. The organization delivers care in patients’ homes as well as in assisted living communities, nursing facilities, memory care centers, and partner hospitals. 

New hospice room at Crestview Manor helps homeless veterans Crestview Bulletin, Crestview, FL; by Tony Judnich; 12/31/25 [On December 26,] a 60-year-old man who was a homeless military veteran became the first resident of the "Peoples Health Services Heroes Hospice Room" at the Creview Manor assisted-living facility. [The rest of the article is behind a paywall.]

Home-based care type II workplace violence nurse provider experience a literature review Home Healthcare Now; by LaDawna Goering DNP, APRN, ANP-BC, BC-ADM, CDP and Tracy Ashby, MLIS; Jan/Feb 2026 Home-based healthcare workers are at risk of violence from patients or visitors, known as Type II workplace violence (WPV). A review of studies from 2014 to 2024 found that WPV in home care is often underreported, and current training programs are not tailored for home settings. This leaves workers vulnerable to physical and psychological harm. The review suggests the need for specialized training for home care providers, focusing on patient screening, situational awareness, and de-escalation techniques. Future efforts should aim to create specific WPV prevention and reporting protocols to enhance safety and accountability in home healthcare.

Sue Ryder urges people to donate unwanted Christmas gifts to support hospice care RDG.Today, United Kingdom; by Staff Writer; 1/5/26 The charity Sue Ryder is encouraging people to donate unwanted Christmas presents to its local shops to help raise funds for palliative care and bereavement support. The national charity, which supports people facing terminal illness and grief, said items such as clothing, unused gadgets and home accessories could be given a second life by being donated rather than left unused at home. ... Sue Ryder has almost 400 shops across the UK, with money raised helping to fund palliative and end-of-life care in hospices and in people’s homes, as well as free bereavement support services. 

More services at Central Missouri hospital fall victim to economic pressures News Tribune, Kansas City, MO; by Meg Cunningham; 1/4/26 Fitzgibbon Hospital, a Central Missouri health care system, announced recently that it would shutter some services effective Dec. 31, citing mounting financial pressures. The nonprofit hospital said the closures will affect about 30 employees and hundreds of patients. Fitzgibbon, located in Marshall, operates several primary and specialty care clinics in Central Missouri. Services that are closing include the Grand River Medical Clinic in Brunswick, Fitzgibbon Family Health in Fayette, the hospital's inpatient behavioral health unit, a home health and hospice agency and a pain management clinic.  

Harbor Hospice Foundation raises over $1M for Muskegon County residence MLive.com, Muskegon County, MI; by Ehren Wynder; 1/7/26 The Harbor Hospice Foundation said it has officially exceeded its $1 million fundraising goal in support of the Leila & Cyrus Poppen Hospice Residence. As of Tuesday, Jan. 6, the foundation said it has raised $1.17 million from donors, supporters and partner organizations. The campaign is still accepting donations until the end of January. “This milestone represents more than a dollar amount; it represents the collective commitment of our community to care for one another during life’s most vulnerable moments,” Ammy Seymour, director of development and communications for the Harbor Hospice Foundation, said in a statement. 

Community-dwelling older adults with dementia more likely to be bedbound in final year of life McKnights Long-Term Care News; by Foster Stubbs; 1/2/26 Community-dwelling older adults with dementia were nearly five times more likely to be bedbound in the last year of their lives compared with those without dementia, according to a December study published in JAMA Network Open. ... “Our findings reflect the need for in-home support to older adults who are bedbound,” authors said. 

The overlooked driver of digital transformation MIT Technology Review; by Genevieve Julliard and Chris Schyvinck; 1/5/26 When business leaders talk about digital transformation, their focus often jumps straight to cloud platforms, AI tools, or collaboration software. Yet, one of the most fundamental enablers of how organizations now work, and how employees experience that work, is often overlooked: audio. ... "Audio is the gatekeeper of meaning,” stresses Julliard. “If people can't hear clearly, they can't understand you. And if they can't understand you, they can't trust you, and they can't act on what you said. ..." Without clarity, comprehension and confidence collapse.