Literature Review

Hospice care around the world: How other cultures approach end-of-life care - Gilchrist and Nkoaranga Palliative Care ehospice; by Gilchrist Hospice; 2/25/26 ... What began as a knowledge and skill-sharing partnership became something even greater: when Nkoaranga lost its main source of financial support in 2011, Gilchrist stepped up to fully fund the program’s annual operating budget. Today, through this enduring partnership, Gilchrist provides the $80,000 per year that allows Nkoaranga’s dedicated team to deliver life-changing care to patients and families who would otherwise go without. ... In 2024 alone, Nkoaranga’s small but mighty team conducted over 170 home visits and served 123 additional patients and families beyond their monthly caseload.

Volunteers prepare bears to offer comfort and hope to hospice families CBS WKNB News - 27; by Austin Caroline; 2/28/26 Making a difference, one bear at a time. That was the mission Saturday morning at Hanoverton Christian Church in Columbiana County. Volunteers spent the morning creating Burden Bears for hospice families and the Jacob’s Heart nonprofit at Akron Children’s Hospital. These small bears are made to offer comfort, hope and a tangible reminder that no one walks through hard seasons alone. Pamela Lattimer says she holds these sessions as a way for her to continue her mother’s legacy. 

Navigating end-of-life decisions with Islamic ethics WisconsinMuslimJournal.org; by Sandra Whitehead; 2/20/26 Medical College of Wisconsin Professor Aasim I. Padela, M.D., founder and president of the Initiative on Islam and Medicine, discussed Islamic bioethics during a January workshop on end-of-life decisions at the Islamic Society of Milwaukee. ... About 50 people attended the four-hour workshop, Islamic Bioethics & End-of-Life Healthcare Decisions, held Jan. 31 at the Islamic Society of Milwaukee. It featured experts with backgrounds in medicine, palliative care, hospice and Islam. Speakers made presentations and led discussions about practical steps, resources and strategies to help Muslims “transition from a state of uncertainty about end-of-life healthcare to thoughtful preparation for it,” a workbook given to participants stated.

It is good to have an end to journey toward, but it is the journey matters in the end. ~ Ernest Hemingway

How family caregivers are shaping their own future AARP; by Paul Wynn; 2/18/26 Applying hard-learned lessons from caring for others, nearly half of caregivers are planning their own legal, financial and medical futures. Helen Bundy Medsger spent three decades caring for multiple family members, including her parents and sister, an experience that shaped both her advocacy and her determination to plan ahead so her two children don’t inherit the challenges she faced as a caregiver. ... 

Do you feel like an emotional sponge? Here’s how to protect your energy and refocus Real Simple; by Nandini Maharaj; 3/1/26 It’s possible to stay compassionate without feeling drained—experts explain how. ... [There's] a difference between healthy forms of distraction—like going for a walk or taking deep breaths—and unhealthy habits. We asked mental health experts about healthy and unhealthy distractions and how to protect your energy when you’re feeling like an emotional sponge.

March is Social Work Month: "Uplift. Defend. Transform." NASW - National Association of Social Workers; retrieved from website, 3/2/26 Social Work Month was first celebrated in March 1963 to build public support for the profession. It has become an event celebrated by hundreds of thousands of social workers – and their supporters – each year. This year’s theme is “Social Workers: Uplift. Defend. Transform.” Learn more about why this theme was selected and what activities are planned for Social Work Month 2026!

Savage Boards expanding after partnering with Hospice of Wichita Falls KFDX Wichita Falls, TX; by Curtis Jackson; 2/27/26 Katie Fowler has recently formed a partnership between her restaurant, “Savage Boards,” and Hospice of Wichita Falls’ in-house bistro. Fowler partnered with Hospice about three years ago and offers several sandwiches, salads, and more, alongside her to-go “adult style” lunchables and some sweet treats. Fowler said two years ago she never would have thought she’d be in the position to expand her business, and what better way to do that than with hospice, and said she’s doing more than just providing food for patients, she’s helping to ease the burden for those families going through tough times.

Mercy Hospital’s outpatient palliative care switches to for-profit model The Durango Herald; by Elizabeth Pond; 3/1/26 Outpatient palliative care through Mercy Hospital is now operating on a for-profit basis under new CommonSpirit Health at Home ownership. Meanwhile, the palliative care program – which offers symptom management for those with serious and terminal illnesses – is facing staff turnover. 

What Enhabit’s $1.1B acquisition means for the hospice landscape Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 2/24/26 Enhabit Inc. (NYSE: EHAB) has plans to grow its hospice and home health service lines to new levels upon the completion of its recent acquisition by the private equity firm Kinderhook Industries LLC. ... The recently announced $1.1 billion acquisition represents an important milestone in terms of expanding the provider’s patient reach and workforce, according to Barb Jacobsmeyer, president and CEO of Enhabit. ... Enhabit is among the largest hospice and home care companies in the United States, according to Hospice News’ Hospice Top 50 report. ... The timing of the Enhabit transaction comes at a pivotal point in its growth trajectory, according to Joe Widmar, director of the consulting firm West Monroe.

Choices Healthcare CEO Michael Link eyes growth, innovation while staying true to hospice mission LNP | Lancaster Online; by Rachel Curry; 3/1/26 Michael Link always admired the loyalty it took for a long, stable career — in terms of being loyal to the company and vice versa. In October 2025, Link became CEO of Choices Healthcare, the parent company of Hospice & Community Care, where he began working as an IT trainer in 2001. ... For Link, it was quickly apparent that the work he found himself in was meaningful, and staying within the organization afforded him the opportunity to work across all kinds of departments. In 2024, Hospice & Community Care merged with Hospice of Central PA to form Choices Healthcare. Together, they provide care across 11 Pennsylvania counties. The organization also operates the Pathways Center for Grief & Loss in Mount Joy. Much of Link’s new role involves maintaining a strong legacy of care.

John Bowlby’s theory of attachment and separation: revisiting his original visions after 50+ years, what we know today, and where to go from here?

Bills to let patients use medical marijuana in hospitals are advancing in states across the U.S. Marijuana Moment; by Kyle Jaeger; 2/27/26 Lawmakers in multiple states are considering bills to allow seriously ill patients to access and use medical marijuana in hospitals and other healthcare facilities, with several such proposals advancing this week and one running into a legislative roadblock. ... Here’s a look at where Ryan’s Law bills are seeing action in state legislatures: