Literature Review

Couple marry in ICU an hour before bride’s father takes his last breath Our Community Now, North Providence, RI; by OCN staff; 8/22/24, published in our newsletter 9/1/24A Rhode Island hospital held an emergency wedding that had to be performed before the bride’s father died from muscular dystrophy. Sabrina Silveira-DaCosta says her father, 58-year-old Frank Silveira, was Portuguese-born and raised, a serious chef and a five-star dad. ... With Silveira’s health rapidly declining, his family realized he wasn’t going to make it his daughter’s wedding on Sep. 7, so plans changed. “Everyone was able to bring the wedding to him in the hospital, and he got to walk me down the aisle,” Silveira-DaCosta said. From his intensive care unit bed, Silveira escorted his daughter down the hospital hallway Monday into the hands of her fiancé, Sam DaCosta. ... Silveira-DaCosta’s father died about an hour after he walked her down the aisle. “It’s very complex. It’s a lot of emotion. Our community hospitals don’t get enough credit because any big hospital couldn’t have done this for us,” she said.

Father keeping a promise to son to 'never miss a baseball game' despite entering hospice Fox 13 - Tampa Bay, FL; by Briona Arradondo; 1/30/25 A father diagnosed with cancer left hospice Thursday to spend the evening making final memories with his family on a baseball diamond in Tampa. Family and friends surrounded Steve Uhal and his wife Amy with love and support as he arrived to see his 9-year-old son Charlie play one last game.  ... 

‘Let’s talk’: How to help families have difficult conversations Yale Medicine; by Carrie Macmillan; 6/10/25 At a time when modern medicine is allowing people to enjoy longer, fuller lives, mortality is not always a chief concern. But when a serious illness occurs, the topic becomes unavoidable. This became especially clear during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic when hospitals were overrun with patients, many with grim prognoses. “The pandemic gave all of us a sense that life can be short and there’s the very real possibility of dying,” says Jennifer Kapo, MD, director of the Palliative Care Program at Yale New Haven Hospital. “It opened the door for us to talk more about death and have a better sense of our mortality.” ...

Four Seasons offers virtual dementia training Four Seasons, Flat Rock, NC; Press Release; 6/10/25 Four Seasons is excited to now offer Virtual Dementia Training to the community! The Virtual Dementia Tour (VDT) is a patented, ground-breaking, and evidence-based method of building a greater understanding of dementia. This training will be provided free for community groups or faith-based communities. There is a cost for external healthcare staff training. Learn more or schedule a training by contacting Mary Jo Powers (Four Seasons Director of Home Care) or Jenny Martin (Four Seasons Home Care Recruitment & Training Coordinator) at 828.696.0946 or HomeCareVM@FourSeasonsCFL.org. ... “Virtual Dementia Training helps caregivers better understand what their patients’ and loved ones’ lives are like. The training helps foster empathy and patience to ensure the best care and quality of life for those living with dementia. We are honored to bring this impactful training to our communities,” says Dr. Ruth Thomson, DO, MBA, HMDC, FAAHPM, FACOI, Four Seasons Chief Medical Officer.

Hospice & Palliative Care Today is proud to roll out our new Guest Editor selections and commentaries. We start with two posts today that spoke to Mark Cohen, the founder of Hospice News Today, the predecessor of this daily, national newsletter. Scroll down to our "Post-Acute Care News" for insights from Mark.

Hospice in a hurricane: What it takes to keep care going TBBW - Tampa Bay Business & Wealth, Clearwater, FL; by Jo-Lynn Brown, contributed by Kerry Hoerner, CHPN, BSN, RN, Chief Clinical and Quality Officer, Empath Health; 6/10/25... At Empath Health, the vast majority of the 75,000 Floridians we serve each year receive their care in the place they call home. ... But when a hurricane is looming and travel may be limited, we shift our focus to preparing for the unknown—ensuring patients, caregivers and clinicians have the guidance, tools and confidence to weather whatever comes next. If you’re a caregiver, here are a few critical steps you can take today, to be more prepared:

Commonwealth Hospice cuts ribbon on new office Times Leader, forty Fort, WY; by Sam Zavada; 6/10/25 Commonwealth Hospice — formerly based in Berwick — now has a presence in the Wyoming Valley. They held a ribbon-cutting and open house at their new office at the 900 Rutter Avenue building on Tuesday afternoon. The new location officially opened about two weeks ago. Residents of Luzerne County will now have access to the services provided by Commonwealth Hospice, including nursing assistance, social work and bereavement and spiritual care. Commonwealth also has a team of volunteers who can go to patients rather than vice versa.

Local community unites for 'Together in a Day' to transform homes and lives for Georgia families Media Industry Observer, EINPresswire.com, Athens, GA; Press Release; 6/11/25 In a powerful display of community solidarity, Family Hospice and the Alzheimer's Association, Georgia Chapter, are joining forces to host a "Together in a Day" community service day on June 20, 2025. This one-day volunteer effort will provide vital repairs and safety modifications to pre-selected homes, changing the lives of local Athens, Georgia, families affected by Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. The initiative aims to enable individuals living with dementia to remain safe and comfortable in their homes for as long as possible. By tackling essential home improvements, such as installing ramps and adding crucial safety features, this "Together in a Day" directly addresses both the physical and emotional needs of these families. ... For more information on available resources and upcoming initiatives, visit the Family Hospice website or the Alzheimer’s Association Georgia Chapter website.Editor's note: Bravo and thank you, Family Hospice and the Alzheimer's Association!

National Alliance: Proposed 2.4% hospice payment update would create shortfall Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 6/11/25 The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) proposed 2.4% hospice base rate increase is woefully inadequate, and new physician attestation requirements may place undue burdens on providers, according to comments from the National Alliance for Care at Home. The Alliance on Tuesday released its public comments on the 2026 hospice payment rule, which stated that the proposed increase will not adequately cover hospices’ rising costs for supplies, labor, travel and other expenses. 

New report details ongoing staffing shortages in Iowa nursing homesIowa Capital Dispatch; by Clark Kauffman; 6/5/25The latest analysis of federal data on nursing home staffing shows the overwhelming majority of nursing homes in Iowa and the United States are operating with less than the recommended staff to meet residents’ needs.

2,200 Walk to Remember those who have passed away Cleveland Jewish News; by Kirsten Beard; 6/9/25 About 2,200 people attended the 14th annual Walk to Remember with the Hospice of the Western Reserve on June 8 at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. This event offered a meaningful way to celebrate life, to honor the memory of loved ones and support care that brings comfort and dignity for those facing serious illness. “The Hospice Walk to Remember is both our most important fundraiser of the year, but it’s also a really important time for families to come together and remember their loved ones that aren’t with us anymore, ...” Bill Finn, president and CEO of Hospice of the Western Reserve in Cleveland, told the Cleveland Jewish News. Gary Isakov, board member of Hospice Western Reserve, told the CJN while this is a fundraising event, it’s more about “bringing people together.”

Longtime Fargo-based hospice service has new name Fargo Forum, Fargo, ND; Press Release; 6/9/25 Hospice of the Red River Valley, which has had a presence in the region for decades, is now called HIA Hospice. Editor's note: The rest of this article is behind a paywall. Click here for more from HIA Health's website.

7 browser extension rules every organization should follow to stay secure PI - Programming Insider; by Mar Berman; 6/9/25 Browser extensions have become essential for workplace productivity. Yet, they pose serious security risks that many organizations ignore. These small programs can access sensitive data, alter web content, and create openings for cyberattacks. ... This article presents seven important rules for organizations to manage risks effectively. Whether you work in IT or lead a team, these steps keep your network safe and easy to use. ...