Literature Review
Lifespark’s COMPLETE Senior Living Model sets new standard for senior living innovation
01/29/26 at 03:00 AMLifespark’s COMPLETE Senior Living Model sets new standard for senior living innovation Business Wire, Minneapolis, MN; Press Release; 1/27/26 Lifespark, a complete senior health company managing more than 50 senior living communities in Minnesota and Wisconsin, has unveiled its COMPLETE Senior Living (CSL) model with plans for significant growth in 2026. The CSL model integrates four key components: Lifespark Senior Living Management, SPARK Growth and Wellness led by Dr. Bill Thomas, Lifespark Medical Group, and Lifespark Hospice.
Healthcare leaders must confront toxicity to avoid obsolescence, SCAN Group CEO warns
01/29/26 at 03:00 AMHealthcare leaders must confront toxicity to avoid obsolescence, SCAN Group CEO warns Time.News; by Grace Chen; 1/27/26 A new call to action from Dr. Sachin Jain emphasizes ethical leadership, honest self-assessment, and a relentless focus on patient needs as crucial for survival in a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape. Healthcare organizations face a stark choice: embrace ethical principles and actively combat internal toxicity, or risk becoming irrelevant.
Protecting patients at the end of life: Why CON still matters / part one, with Tim Rogers and Paul A. Ledford
01/29/26 at 03:00 AMProtecting patients at the end of life: Why CON still matters / part one, with Tim Rogers and Paul A. Ledford Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN); podcast/video hosted by Chris Comeaux with Time Rogers and Paul A. Ledford; 1/28/26 Certificate of Need (CON) laws remain one of the most debated—and misunderstood—regulatory frameworks in healthcare. In this in-depth conversation, Chris Comeaux is joined by two of the nation’s most respected Hospice association leaders: Paul A. Ledford, President & CEO of the Florida Hospice & Palliative Care Association, and Tim Rogers, President & CEO of the Association for Home & Hospice Care of North Carolina.
The final year of the late Ben Hurd’s Christmas Tree Farm raised more than $25k for Hospice of Humboldt
01/29/26 at 03:00 AMThe final year of the late Ben Hurd’s Christmas Tree Farm raised more than $25k for Hospice of Humboldt
Sanofi Collective - Foundation S stands behind transformative children's palliative care project in Kenya
01/29/26 at 03:00 AMSanofi Collective - Foundation S stands behind transformative children's palliative care project in Kenya Global Treehouse Foundation; Press Release; 1/27/26 A significant grant from the Foundation S - the Sanofi Collective will enable a transformative three-year project delivering comprehensive grief and bereavement care to families affected by childhood cancer in Kenya. This is about more than funding: it’s about ensuring families are seen, supported and not left to navigate their most challenging moments alone. Foundation S’s investment is a significant milestone in integrating grief and social-emotional support into healthcare systems - an area too often overlooked, yet essential to the dignity and well-being of children and those who love them.
WHO statement on notification of withdrawal of the United States
01/29/26 at 03:00 AMWHO statement on notification of withdrawal of the United States World Health Organization; 1/24/26 As a founding member of the World Health Organization (WHO), the United States of America has contributed significantly to many of WHO’s greatest achievements, including the eradication of smallpox, and progress against many other public health threats including polio, HIV, Ebola, influenza, tuberculosis, malaria, neglected tropical diseases, antimicrobial resistance, food safety and more. WHO therefore regrets the United States’ notification of withdrawal from WHO – a decision that makes both the United States and the world less safe. The notification of withdrawal raises issues that will be considered by the WHO Executive Board at its regular meeting starting on 2 February and by the World Health Assembly at its annual meeting in May 2026.
At least 28 dead as winter storm brings ice, snow, extreme cold
01/29/26 at 03:00 AMAt least 28 dead as winter storm brings ice, snow, extreme cold USA Today, The Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA; by Karissa Waddick and Dinah Voyles Pulver; 1/26/26 At least 28 people have died amid a monster winter storm over the weekend that unleashed freezing temperatures and heavy snow across dozens of states, causing power outages and treacherous road conditions for emergency responders. ... The treacherous conditions have so far been linked to 28 deaths in 12 states, including one each in Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan and South Carolina; two each in Louisiana, Massachusetts and Mississippi, three each in Pennsylvania and Tennessee and nine in New York. ... Here’s what we know about deaths related to the winter storm. ...
MedPAC signals need to bolster Medicare physician payments
01/29/26 at 03:00 AMMedPAC signals need to bolster Medicare physician payments AMA - American Medical Association; by Tanya Albert Henry; 1/27/26 Influential body backs added 0.5% Medicare pay update but backtracks on linking doctor payment to practice-cost inflation. ... The influential Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) voted in January to address inadequate payment for Medicare physician services under current law, once again underscoring a longstanding policy failure that is widely recognized but remains unresolved. MedPAC voted to recommend an additional 0.5% update on top of the updates specified in current law—0.25% and 0.75%—and will forward that recommendation to Congress.
Meant to be: Denise's journey into hospice nursing
01/29/26 at 03:00 AMMeant to Be: Denise's journey into hospice nursing The McKenzie, Tennessee Banner; 1/27/26 When Denise lost her husband, Tony, to leukemia at only 39, her world shifted forever. She was 29. ... In her thirties, ... she enrolled in nursing school, determined to rebuild her own story, one chapter at a time. ...Then came a nursing hospice opportunity. ... For Denise, hospice nursing isn't about endings; it's about helping families find peace, honesty, dignity, and hope in the final chapter. She carries the responsibility with deep reverence. "We're the last chapter," she says softly. "And if that chapter ends poorly, a lot of it is on us." ... Denise's journey reminds us that sometimes the hardest heartbreaks lead us to the most meaningful callings. Editor's Note: [Full access to this may require a subscription.] What personal life experiences brought many of your clinicians to end-of-life care? You may be surpised how little you know about them; what brings meaning and purpose for them; how seeing their journeys inspires you in your leadership role.
Very often you are in the right place, at the right time, but ...
01/29/26 at 03:00 AMVery often you are in the right place, at the right time, but you don't know it. ~ Maria Tallchief
Defining palliative care quality in a tight reimbursement environment
01/29/26 at 03:00 AMDefining palliative care quality in a tight reimbursement environment Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 1/27/26 Palliative care delivery is undergoing an evolutionary period of change. These services are offered in several different ways across the country, which brings both benefits and challenges when it comes to defining quality in the space. Today’s palliative care providers are shaping the outlook of the field, but through diversified approaches, according to Brynn Bowman, CEO of Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC). The field is reaching a pivotal stage when it comes to supply and demand or resources, an issue that greater standardization could help to address, she indicated.
False Claims Act 2025 year-end update
01/29/26 at 03:00 AMFalse Claims Act 2025 year-end update Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher; Press Release; 1/27/26 This update covers recent developments in FCA jurisprudence, summarizes significant enforcement activity, and analyzes the most notable legislative, policy, and caselaw developments from the second half of calendar year 2025, picking up where our mid-year 2025 update left off.
Family Care Palliative & Hospice expands palliative care access for Maricopa County residents
01/28/26 at 03:00 AMFamily Care Palliative & Hospice expands palliative care access for Maricopa County residents ABNewswire, Tempe, AZ; Press release by Family Care Palliative & Hospice; 1/26/25Family Care Palliative & Hospice has expanded its service offerings to meet better the growing demand for specialized end-of-life and serious illness care throughout Maricopa County and surrounding areas. ... The expansion comes at a time when demand for quality best hospice care continues to rise across Arizona.
Urns over caskets: Cremations now way more popular than burials
01/28/26 at 03:00 AMUrns over caskets: Cremations now way more popular than burials Axios; by Carly Mallenbaum; 1/25/26 Cremations are now twice as common as burials in the U.S., reversing a norm from two decades ago, according to the National Funeral Directors Association. Why it matters: Shifting attitudes around religion, cost and the environment are reshaping how Americans handle death. By the numbers: Cremation surpassed burial nationwide in 2015 — and the gap has only widened since, with the NFDA projecting cremation will continue gaining share. ... Instead of opting for a traditional burial — which requires more land use, upkeep, embalming processes and items like caskets — people are going greener.
What home-based care consumers really want
01/28/26 at 03:00 AMWhat home-based care consumers really want Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 1/27/26In interviews conducted by Cozy Home Community with patients and family members who received home-based care, six key themes emerged as factors that influence their perceptions of care — education, navigation, community and fit, families serving as health care “quarterbacks” and the importance of emotional intelligence and empathy.
Briana Kohlbrenner: End-of-life care is under threat End-of-life care is under threat - as demand for hospice grows, workers say staffing and pay must keep pace
01/28/26 at 03:00 AMBriana Kohlbrenner: End-of-life care is under threat - as demand for hospice grows, workers say staffing and pay must keep paceVTDigger, Vermont; commentary by Briana Kohlbrenner; 1/27/26 As demand for hospice grows, workers say staffing and pay must keep pace. University of Vermont Home Health and Hospice (UVMHHH) is at a crossroads. As Vermont’s population ages, the demand for hospice care is growing. ... We are asking for fair and transparent pay scales, safe staffing and equity within the UVM Health system. Though we wear the same logo on our badges, we are paid less than our counterparts in other parts of the UVM Health system. A new nurse starting at UVM Home Health and Hospice earns $6.72 less per hour than a new nurse at the UVM Medical Center.
Many in Pacific Northwest delay end-of-life paperwork, expert says
01/28/26 at 03:00 AMMany in Pacific Northwest delay end-of-life paperwork, expert says NonStop Local Tri-Cities/Yakima, WA; by NonStop Local; 1/21/26 Experts are saying the beginning of the year is a great time to break the silence around one of life's most important, yet most avoided conversations: our wishes for the end of life. Research reveals that only one in three people have completed necessary paperwork like advanced directives, according to Meagan Williams of Compassion and Choices. This national nonprofit focuses on end-of-life healthcare planning and options.
Rethinking medications at the end of life for patients with advanced cancer
01/28/26 at 03:00 AMRethinking medications at the end of life for patients with advanced cancerCure; by Ruan Scott; 1/27/26 Key Takeaways
BAYADA unveils the first Home Intensive Care Unit (HICU®) for infants and children
01/28/26 at 03:00 AMBAYADA unveils the first Home Intensive Care Unit (HICU®) for infants and children PR Newswire, Philadelphia, PA; by BAYADA Home Health Care; 1/20/26 BAYADA Home Health Care ... is proud to announce its pioneering Home Intensive Care Unit (HICU®) program for infants and children with high-acuity medical needs. Following a successful pilot of this unique care delivery model, BAYADA's HICU® services are now available in three states—Delaware, New York, and Pennsylvania—with growing interests to expand nationwide.
Half a million without power and dozens of deaths. A winter storm’s toll, in numbers
01/28/26 at 03:00 AMHalf a million without power and dozens of deaths. A winter storm’s toll, in numbers Associated Press; by Jeff Martin; updated 1/27/26, 1:50pm EST As a deadly storm that brought crippling ice to the South and deep snow to the Northeast finally swirled out to sea, it represented a light at the end of the tunnel for some. However, roughly half a million Americans were still without power or heat, and temperatures were forecast to fall well below freezing Tuesday evening in areas where the massive ice storm did its worst damage. ... Here’s a look at the storm by the numbers. ...
[United Kingdom] Winner's £25k hospice donation matched by lottery
01/28/26 at 03:00 AM[United Kingdom] Winner's £25k hospice donation matched by lottery BBC News; by Rebecca Kenyon; 1/27/26 A lottery winner who donated £25,000 of her prize to a Kent hospice which cared for her late husband says she is "thrilled" her donation has been matched by the company which ran the draw. Linda Styles donated the money to the Heart of Kent Hospice in Aylesford in August after winning £250,000 in the People's Postcode Lottery. ... It costs £7.6m a year to provide services at the hospice but only 20% of that funding comes from the government. The hospices says this means it relies on voluntary donations for the other 80%.
How do I tell my patient they’re dying?
01/28/26 at 03:00 AMHow do I tell my patient they’re dying? Medscape; by Lisa Mulcahy; 1/27/26 Ruth Parry, PhD, still remembers a conversation she mishandled as a junior National Health Service stroke rehabilitation physiotherapist many years ago. ... Since then, Parry has analyzed nearly 100 video consultations between practitioners and patients with poor prognoses in stroke and head injury and with terminal diagnoses. Her research explores a critical clinical dilemma: How do doctors navigate the delicate balance of providing fair, accurate information about dire prognoses while respecting a patient’s feelings and personal choices?
The most important thing you need to know about end of life planning
01/28/26 at 02:00 AMThe most important thing you need to know about end of life planning Forbes; by Peter Ubel; 1/22/26 ... Many experts say I should document my preferences clearly and unambiguously in my medical records so that, in the case of mental incapacity, my doctors can look at what I say and honor those preferences. According to the AARP, leaving ahead detailed instructions about your end-of-life preferences means “that you remain the captain of your own ship.” ... I respect these experts. And I do not begrudge anyone who has filled out such a document. But I worry that this approach won’t work and could even backfire. That is why I prefer a different approach, which I will describe shortly. But first, I need to explain why these kind of detailed advanced directives could backfire. ...
I will be a window in your home. ~ David Tasma to a young Cicely Saunders
01/28/26 at 12:00 AMRemembering the Holocaust with little-known story about a Jewish refugee and Cicely Saunders: Honoring the International Holocaust Remembrance Day - 80th Anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz
The role of specialty palliative care in cancer surgery: Rebecca Aslakson & Myrick Shinall
01/27/26 at 03:00 AMThe role of specialty palliative care in cancer surgery: Rebecca Aslakson & Myrick ShinallGeriPal podcast; by Eric Widera, Alex Smith, Rebecca Aslakson, Myrick Shinall; 1/29/26Recent randomized controlled trials have shown that routine perioperative palliative care does not improve outcomes for patients undergoing curative-intent cancer surgery. No, that wasn’t a typo. Regardless of how the data were analyzed, the findings remained consistent: perioperative palliative care DID NOT improve outcomes in the only two randomized controlled trials conducted in this area—the SCOPE and PERIOP-PC trials... One key takeaway for me from this discussion was the idea that patients undergoing curative-intent surgery might simply be too early in their cancer trajectory to derive meaningful benefits from palliative care, and maybe the focus should be more on geriatrics. I especially appreciated the closing discussion about the future of research in this area: if routine perioperative palliative care doesn’t improve outcomes, what should the next generation of studies focus on?