Literature Review

Belleville home is full of holiday decor, with a twist The Pantagraph, Bloomington, IL; by Pat Eby If ever a house could come straight out of a Hallmark holiday movie, the Kalish home in Belleville just might be that cozy home where romance flourishes and holiday spirit reigns. And the holiday wouldn't need to be limited to Christmas New Years, Valentine's Day, St. Pat's, Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Halloween, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah there isn't a holiday in the books Stacey and Brian Kalish don't celebrate with themed decorations at their home, inside and out. ... Stacey is especially big on decorating for Christmas. They have a big tree, but she also puts up one small Christmas tree she got for her dad when he was in hospice and decorated it with angel ornaments. She was just 21 when he died. She adds a new angel ornament to the tree each year in his memory. Editor's Note: Stacey's annual ritual of adding the "small Christmas tree she got for her dad when he was in hospice" and adding a new ornament "each year in his memory" is a beautiful, simple, ongoing way to honor his memory visibly, to "continue bonds" (an important, intercultural grief concept) for herself, family, and generations ahead. Consider adding something like this to your holiday care for next year; what community donors might support this?

Early palliative care interventions linked with reduced mortality in patients with advanced NSCLC undergoing ICI treatment Lung Cancers Today; by Cecilia Brown; 12/24/25 Early palliative care interventions were associated with reduced mortality and longer survival among patients with advanced non–small cell lung cancer who received immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), according to a recent study. Researchers from the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center presented the study findings at the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) and American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2025 North America Conference on Lung Cancer.

Carolina Caring Foundation receives $30,000 grant to help families in Burke CountyThe Paper, Morganton, NC; by The Paper Staff; 12/20/25 Burke County families caring for children with serious illnesses will see added support through a $30,000 grant awarded to Carolina Caring Foundation for Cardinal Kids, the region’s pediatric palliative and hospice care program. Carolina Caring Foundation announced it received the grant from Speedway Children’s Charities to help fund services provided through Cardinal Kids. The foundation said this is the third consecutive year Speedway Children’s Charities has selected Carolina Caring Foundation as a grant recipient.

Holiday lights are like great friends. They make everything shine brighter! [Click here for 22 qualities of a good friend. This is great week to reach out and catch up!] 

VNA responds to state approval of a new for-profit hospice provider in Indian River County VeroNews.com, Vero Beach, FL; by Community Submission; 12/23/25 The Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) of the Treasure Coast is responding to today’s announcement by the State of Florida approving a for-profit hospice provider to begin serving Indian River County in early 2026. The newly authorized provider will join a community that VNA has exclusively served with nonprofit hospice care for nearly 40 years. The approval follows a statewide Florida Need Projections review conducted by the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) ... VNA has long met—and continues to meet—the hospice needs of residents across Vero Beach, Sebastian and Fellsmere.

Princess Luz’s final wish Fredericksburg Standard-Radio Post, Fredericksburg, TX; by Tammy Rohlf; 12/24/25Luzmaria Salazar, known to those who loved her as “Princess Luz,” was just 17 years old, but her courage and faith measured far beyond her years. After bravely battling a rare genetic disease that affected her nervous and immune systems, she passed away in June of 2025. One of her last wishes was simple, yet, seemed impossible: She wanted to swim with dolphins. Her mom, Jessica Gurrola, tried to make that dream happen with a trip to SeaWorld, but the experience fell short. That’s when the hospice team stepped in. With the help of a hospice volunteer and virtual reality technology, Luz’s dream came true in a way no one expected. When the headset was placed on her, something extraordinary happened. Her entire body calmed. ... 

Heart failure deaths shift to home, hospice, but racial disparities persistAJMC, Cranbury, NJ; by Sabrina McCrear; 12/23/25 Key Takeaways: 

Hospice House reopens after $3.5M in renovations Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business; by TCA JOB Staff; 12/25/25 After several months of renovations, Tri-Cities Chaplaincy’s Hospice House is hosting a Dec. 29 ribbon-cutting to celebrate its reopening. The nearly 30-year-old building at 2108 W. Entiat Ave., Kennewick, helps care for hospice patients for short-term stays to help with severe symptoms or to give caregivers a break.  The $3.5 million renovation created a larger nurse station, an expanded front entryway, added a fireside room to honor loved ones, upgraded family gathering areas and enhanced patient rooms. “This renovation ensures it will continue to serve families with compassion, comfort, and dignity for decades to come,” said Laurie Jackson, CEO of Tri-Cities Chaplaincy.

Healthcare staff retention post-acquisition SOVDOC; 12/18/25 ... Stark Reality: 47% of employees leave within the first year following an acquisition, climbing to 75% by year three.

Artificial Intelligence at CMSCMS webpage; 12/19/25At CMS, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the power to reshape the way we use data to make decisions. Given CMS' vast data resources, we have an unprecedented opportunity to drive innovation, boost productivity, and enhance service delivery through AI. This website conveys CMS' resolve to strategically leverage AI in alignment with Federal and agency values.

Palliative care staff attitudes toward music therapy for hospitalized adult patients American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AJHPM); by Katherine A. Carney, APRN, CNP, MS, Rachel M. Wiste, APRN, CNP, MSN, Susanne M. Cutshall, APRN, CNS, DNP, MS, Christina Wood, MA, MT-BC, Rachel C. Gentes, APRN, CNP, MSN, Brianna E. Larsen, MA, MT-BC, Nana A. Tiwaa, MAS, Amelia E. Tetlie, APRN, CNP, DNP, and Regina M. Mackey, MD; 12/18/25 ... Top reasons for music therapy (MT) referral were psychosocial support, pain and symptom management, and coping. The most common symptom-focused indications were anxiety, mood, and existential distress. A variety of factors influenced decisions to refer for MT. Most felt that at least half of their patients could benefit from MT, and nearly all rated MT as “extremely” or “very” effective for improving patients’ quality of life.Editor's Note: Visit stories about music therapy the American Music Therapy Association. For clinical uses of music therapy in hospice and bereavement care, I invite you to explore my book, Music of the Soul - Composing Life Out of Loss, published in Routledge's Series in Death, Dying and Bereavement, 2006. 

Hospice News’ 10 most-read stories of 2025 Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 12/19/25 Large acquisitions, regulatory headwinds and the fate of COVID-era telehealth flexibilities were top-of-mind issues for hospice providers in 2025, as evidenced by the 10 most-read Hospice News stories of the year. ... The following are the 10 most-read Hospice News articles of 2025.