Literature Review

The hidden value of thrift stores in hospice care Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN); hosted by Chris Comeaux with Mark Cohen and Lin Sue Flood; 11/19/25 This TCNtalks episode explores the multifaceted role of thrift stores in Hospice Care, highlighting their impact on community engagement, grief support, and economic sustainability. Our guests, Lin Sue Flood, Director of Community Engagement at Hospice of the Valley, and Mark Cohen, retired Editor & Publisher of Hospice News Today, and Principal, Cohen-Fyfe Communications, discuss how thrift stores serve as vital assets for Hospices, providing not only financial support but also fostering community connections and environmental sustainability.

The most powerful person in any family is the person who tells the other family members what to bring to Thanksgiving dinner.

Mercy Hospice House temporarily closes; parent company to assume outpatient care The Durango Herald, Durango, CO; by Elizabeth Pond; 11/17/25 The Mercy Hospice House, an end of life care wing of Mercy Hospital, has temporarily closed because of a change in outpatient service ownership and a required licensing review. A reopening date has not been determined. The facility, owned and operated by CommonSpirit Health, will transfer leadership of outpatient services to its national entity, CommonSpirit Health at Home, said Kevin Massey, a spokesman. Inpatient hospice care will continue under CommonSpirit Health and Mercy Hospital, he said.

United States, et al. v. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated, et al.; Response of Plaintiff United States to Public Comments on the Proposed Final Judgment Federal Register, The Daily Journal of the United States Government; A Notice by the Antitrust Division; 11/19/25 Notice is hereby given pursuant to the Antitrust Procedures and Penalties Act, 15 U.S.C. 16(b)-(h), that the Response of Plaintiff United States to Public Comments on the Proposed Final Judgment has been filed with the United States District Court for the District of Maryland in United States of America, et al. v. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated, et al., Civil Action No. 1:24-cv-03267. Copies of the Public Comments and the United States' Response are available for inspection on the Antitrust Division's website at http://www.justice.gov/​atr.

Rowan and Bayada Home Health Care to strengthen nursing workforce with innovative partnership Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ; Press Release; 11/18/25 “More. Great. Nurses”: That was the chant echoing through the room as BAYADA founder and chairman of the board Mark Baiada energized the crowd during a ceremonial signing event on Nov. 17 at Rowan University. The celebration launched a new agreement between Rowan and BAYADA Home Health Care, the nation’s largest independent nonprofit home health care provider. The partnership creates a debt-free pathway for aspiring nurses and expands access to high-quality home health care in the region.

“I was horrified”: 34 surgeons and doctors recall their worst mistakes BoredPanda; by Justin Sandberg; 11/19/25 Someone asked “Medical professionals, what mistake have you made in your medical career that, because of the outcome, you've never forgotten?” and people shared their stories from fortunately comical to downright grim. ...#4.  I work in palliative care, ... I knew he wanted to be a DNR (do not resuscitate). I wrote it on my note. But I didn't re-fill out the hospital paperwork. The next day, I got to work to discover he'd been coded and was on a ventilator in the ICU. Instead of passing peacefully, his wife had to make the decision to turn off life support.  ...Editor's Note: Entry #20 comes from a hospice nurse describing a patient with severe bone pain started on morphine—then an out-of-town daughter arrived, shocked to see “Daddy on morphine.” What unfolded was realistic and tragic. This story highlights two timely essentials:

‘No Place Like Valley Hospice’ gala honors four decades of care WTRF.com, Wintersville, OH; by WTRF Staff; 11/15/25 Community members followed the yellow brick road to Wintersville on Saturday night [11/15] to celebrate Valley Hospice’s 40th anniversary. St. Florian Hall was transformed into the Emerald City for the “There’s No Place Like Valley Hospice” celebration. “We have been a part of Valley Hospice from the beginning. We are thrilled to be a partner with Valley Hospice. ... I can’t imagine not being a part of the mission of Valley Hospice,” said Laurie Labishak, director of marketing and communication for Trinity Health System. ... From all of us at 7News — congratulations, Valley Hospice, on your 40th anniversary. Editor's Note: This news story reflects your long-standing culture of relationships with your community partners, local news sources, and donors, all splashed with a bit of fun. Yes, congratulations Valley Hospice! 

States’ promising practices to improve care of serious illness National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP); by Stacie Sinclair (Center to Advance Palliative Care) and Wendy Fox-Grage; 11/17/25 Every state has taken meaningful action in some capacity to improve care for residents facing serious illness, affirms a recent publication from the Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC). The report documents how states are using a wide array of policy levers — such as legislation, Medicaid innovation, public education, and workforce development — to improve access to and quality of palliative care. 

Grateful patient finds strength and support through UConn Health’s ALS Program UConn Today; by Jennifer Walker; 11/17/25 ... ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord responsible for muscle movement. ... Originally conceptualized by Dr. Amanda Hernandez, division chief of Neuromuscular Medicine, the UConn Health ALS and MD Program provides a “one-stop shop” for patients with progressive neuromuscular diseases that often require coordination across multiple specialties. ... “Our social worker meets every patient,” said Viguera Altolaguirre. “We address caregiver stress, financial barriers, and emotional coping. Palliative care helps patients navigate difficult decisions about feeding tubes, ventilation, and future planning—always at their own pace and comfort level.” 

Consciousness and meaning at life’s end: How the study of dying deepens our understanding of everyday presencePsychology Today; by Alexander Batthyany, PhD; 11/15/25Sergei Rachmaninoff lies dying in his Beverly Hills home. Family and friends surround him, the room suffused with that particular stillness that often accompanies life's final hours. Then something unexpected occurs. The composer opens his eyes and asks those present: "Can you hear this beautiful melody? The enormously beautiful music?" The response from those at his bedside is immediate: "No, there's no music here." ... I share this story with all those who wish to participate in our work as mandatory reading, simply because I want to prevent us from making the same error—saying "No, there's no music" instead of asking "What do you hear?" ...

Empathy is the strongest form of leadership: Kyle Godhard Cleveland.com; by guest columnist Kyle Godhard, VP of Human Resources at Hospice of the Western Reserve; 11/16/25 ... In hospice care, that compassion runs especially deep. Staff walk alongside patients and families in their final days, often carrying emotional weight long after each goodbye.  In such a setting, leadership must offer more than direction; it must offer empathy. At Hospice of the Western Reserve, we believe compassionate leadership is not only kind, but also strategic. And it may be the most important investment any healthcare organization can make. ... Compassionate leadership doesn’t replace high expectations. It strengthens them. It builds teams that trust one another, stay committed and show up fully for patients and families. 

[United Kingdom] Daughter of hospice patients backs bed campaign BBC News; by Will Jefford; 11/18/25 The daughter of a couple who spent their final moments together side by side in a hospice has backed a campaign to save two end-of-life care beds from funding cuts. Julie Whittaker's parents, Chris and Lynne Johnson, were cared for in the same room at Ashgate Hospice, in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, before dying just days apart in February 2024. Ashgate Hospice announced plans to reduce the number of inpatient beds as part of wider plans to save more than £2.6m in October Editor's Note: Read more, "Married 'soulmates' spent final days side by side," which we posted on 7/17/24.