Literature Review

Illinois plan calls for annual report on hospice, palliative care for prisoners WAND TV News, Springfield, IL; by Mike Miletich; 5/8/25 The Illinois House Restorative Justice & Public Safety Committee passed a bill Thursday [5/8] to require the Illinois Department of Corrections report data on hospice care available for prisoners. Over 1,000 Illinois prisoners are 65 or older, and a growing number of those people are in need of end-of-life care and support services. The Department of Corrections does not have a formal hospice program, as end-of-life care is provided on a prison-by-prison basis. Although, sponsors and advocates said this has led to inconsistent care for prisoners diagnosed with terminal illnesses or who are expected to reach the end of their life.

[New Zealand] Nelson Airport Trees of Remembrance returns with new sponsorship tiers to support Nelson Tasman Hospice Nelson Tasman Hospice, Nelson, New Zealand; Press Release; 5/9/25 The much-loved Nelson Airport Trees of Remembrance activation is returning this holiday season, offering businesses a unique opportunity to give back to the community while boosting their brand visibility during the busiest travel period of the year. This year’s campaign introduces an exciting new structure with three sponsorship tiers—Gold, Silver, and Bronze—allowing even more businesses to take part in this heartwarming tradition that supports Nelson Tasman Hospice. The Trees of Remembrance campaign has been a cherished part of the Nelson Tasman community for over 30 years, offering individuals and businesses a meaningful way to honour loved ones while contributing to free hospice services. Sponsored Christmas trees will once again illuminate Nelson Airport from December 2025 through January 2026, spreading festive cheer to the thousands of locals and travellers passing through during the holiday season.Editor's note: Fall/Winter fund raising plans are surely underway for nonprofit hospices and foundations. What ideas does this article generate? What might you adapt for your community? 

New study uncovers significant variations in life expectancy across U.S. states Bioengineer.org - Health; by Bioengineer; 5/7/25 "A Century of Unequal Longevity: How Geography and Policy Sculpt Life Expectancy in the United States"In an extensive new investigation led by the Yale School of Public Health (YSPH), researchers have unveiled profound disparities in life expectancy trends throughout the United States over the last hundred years. This groundbreaking study reveals how the interplay between public health policies, social environments, and regional factors critically shapes the longevity of populations across states and the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. ... The findings are striking: while states in the Northeast and West Coast, alongside the District of Columbia, achieved remarkable gains in life expectancy over the twentieth century, several Southern states remained largely stagnant. Specifically, females born in some parts of the South experienced life expectancy increases of less than three years between 1900 and 2000.

Dying ‘Beautifully’ in the Rio Grande Valley: Rivera-Burciaga embeds end-of-life nursing into UTRGV curriculum: National Nurses Week is May 6-12 UTRGV, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley - The Newsroom, Rio Grande Valley, TX; by Karen Villarreal; 5/9/25 Death, for the most part, makes people uncomfortable. But not UTRGV’s Dr. Andrya Rivera-Burciaga.  After a personal loss early in her nursing career drove her to seek advanced certification in hospice and palliative care, she has made it her life’s work to normalize conversations about death and dying.   ... While Rivera-Burciaga’s efforts successfully have woven palliative care into the UTRGV nursing curriculum, her Ph.D. research on the unique cultural perspective of death and dying among Mexican Americans aims to further tailor the care that nurses provide to end-of-life patients in South Texas.  ... Through clinical interviews, Rivera-Burciaga found that many individuals of the Mexican American culture are afraid to die – despite engaging in Día de los Muertos, a celebration of death every November. “We've built a compassionate community for the dying, yet we don't say it by name. Many Mexican Americans in the United States believe that to talk about death invites it. Or, that we don't have time to be depressed, or that even in mourning men don't cry,” she said.

Haven Hospice's [FL] E.T. York Hospice Care Center implements "Christmas Room"Haven Hospice press release; by Hailey Reidy; 4/3/25Haven Hospice's E.T. York Hospice Care Center in Gainesville has created a Christmas Room to allow their pediatric patients to celebrate with their families. The room came to be at the wish of these patients wanting to celebrate Christmas one last time which their care team and other member of Haven's team supported. The Haven Women of Philanthropy group also supported the room, covering the cost and gathering supplies.Article posted in Florida Hospice & Palliative Care Association's newsletter The Hospice Professional.

The Big Bend Hospice linen drive brings comfort to patients in rural communities: Addressing a critical need in underserved areas ABC WTXL-TV 27, Tallahassee/Monticello, FL; by Lentheus Chaney; 4/30/25 In Jefferson County, kindness sometimes comes in the form of cotton. Big Bend Hospice is collecting linens here to help patients face their final days with dignity. Big Bend Hospice just launched a linen drive. It's asking neighbors to donate new Twin XL-sized bed sheets. They'll be used for patients across Jefferson, Madison, and Taylor counties. The drive's goal is to ensure no one spends their final days without the comfort of clean sheets—something most of us take for granted. The  need is especially great in rural areas. According to state data, hospice use in parts of North Florida lags behind the statewide average—just 57%. That's compared to nearly 66% across Florida. That gap means fewer resources in the places that need them most.Editor's note: Typically, we don't post donor-related articles until after completion. However, this unique community outreach by Big Bend Hospice raises our awareness of practical, simple, meaningful outreach in underserved rural areas. What practical, affordable, meaningful outreach does this spark for your hospice's rural--or other underserved--patients?

NPHI Honors Visionary Leaders and Organizations at 2025 Annual Summit National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI), Washington, DC; Press Release; 5/6/25 The National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI) proudly recognized three outstanding leaders and organizations during its 2025 Annual Summit, honoring their profound contributions to end-of-life care. These annual awards celebrate those who have demonstrated exemplary commitment to innovation, compassion, and person-centered care in the hospice, palliative, and advanced illness care field.  

[France] Deputies approve bill creating Right to Assisted Dying Time.News; 5/3/25 Is the right to die a fundamental human right, or a risky step towards devaluing life? France is grappling with this profound question as a new bill edges closer to legalizing aid in dying. the implications could ripple far beyond French borders, influencing the debate in the United States and around the world. The bill, initially presented by President Emmanuel Macron in March 2024, faced delays due to the dissolution of the National Assembly. Now,revived and championed by Prime Minister François Bayrou,the executive text has been divided into two separate legal proposals. One focuses on enhancing palliative care, while the other addresses aid in dying.

Dombi: At-home care providers must overcome ‘self-inflicted challenge’ to flourish Home Health Care News; by Morgan Gonzales; 5/2/25 Despite operating on razor-thin margins and facing persistent reimbursement challenges, some home-based care providers are setting themselves apart by leaning into innovation. By embracing alternative payment models, virtual health and opportunities like hospital-at-home programs, providers can save themselves from home-based care’s “self-inflicted challenge” of not capitalizing on the industry’s evolving opportunities, according to Bill Dombi, senior counsel for Arnall Golden Gregory law firm. He also formerly led the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC), which following a merger is now the National Alliance for Care at Home. While workforce shortages, potential Medicaid cuts and unsustainable payment rates threaten the industry, opportunity awaits those willing to evolve, Dombi said.

Hospice AIA Hospice & Palliative Care Today compilation; 5/5/25We've seen several recent articles discussing the benefits of additional AI integration into hospice services.

To describe my mother would be to write about a hurricane in its perfect power. Or the climbing, falling colors of a rainbow. ~Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

‘Losing a part of yourself’: How women grieve their close friend’s deathOmega-Journal of Death and Dying; Elizabeth W. Sauber, Karen M. O’Brien; 4/25Friendship provides women with a plethora of benefits, including reduced physiological and psychological distress. Thus, this study qualitatively described the bereavement of seven women who experienced the death of a close woman friend and tested an integrative model predicting prolonged grief and posttraumatic growth with 148 women grieving the death of a close woman friend. Findings from directed content analysis highlighted grief reactions, disenfranchising interactions related to social support, ways of coping, growth after loss, and ongoing challenges. Results from a path analysis indicated that avoidant emotional coping was a key mediator and predictor of prolonged grief, while problem-focused coping served as a key mediator and predictor of posttraumatic growth. The findings can be used to advance research, clinical practice and intervention efforts for women who are grieving the death of a woman friend.

Advance care planning and unlimited treatment preferences in dementia scenarios: Insights from community-dwelling adultsAmerican Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care; Yuchi Young, Yichun Liu, Yufang Tu, Wan-Yu Chiu, Ashley Shayya, Thomas O'Grady; 4/25Dementia leads to progressive cognitive decline, impairing self-care and decision making. Advance directives (AdvDirs) enable individuals to document healthcare preferences while cognitively capable, ensuring value-aligned care and reducing caregiver burden. In the dementia scenario, 26.9% of participants preferred unlimited medical treatment. This preference was strongly associated with a pre-existing attitude favoring life-sustaining treatments ... and religious beliefs ... Conversely, an interest in learning about quality of life at the end of life was negatively associated with preferring unlimited treatment ... Our findings highlight the need to align advance care planning with individuals' values, beliefs, and religious practices.