Literature Review

Building empathy for dementia patients The Vindicator; by Susan Wojnar; 4/24/26 As dementia rates continue to climb across Ohio — particularly in the Mahoning Valley — a new hands-on training is helping caregivers and community members better understand what it’s like to live with the condition. ... Mahoning County ranks fourth in the state for the highest percentage of seniors living with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Approximately 6,000 residents age 65 and older — about 12.1% of that population — are affected. ... In response to the growing need for caregiver support and education, Ohio Living Home Health & Hospice has introduced a new training program called Dementia Live. ...

New research shows earlier hospice election could save Medicare over $1 billion annually National Alliance for Care at Home, Alexandria, VA; Press Release; 4/23/26 A new analysis commissioned by the Research Institute for Home Care (the Institute) reveals that if Medicare beneficiaries elected hospice care just five days earlier, the program could save between $1.19 billion and $1.5 billion annually.  The analysis, conducted by ATI Advisory, demonstrates how modest, clinically appropriate changes in hospice timing could generate significant Medicare savings while improving patient outcomes. These findings are particularly relevant as Medicare spending on hospice services increases by nearly 10% annually, and overall enrollment of Medicare beneficiaries using hospice continues to grow.

Chapters Health System launches new pediatric program PR Newswire, Temple Terrace, FL; Press Release; 4/23/26 Chapters Health System announced the launch of Chapters Kids, a system‑wide pediatric hospice and palliative care program. Chapters Kids will expand resources for pediatric patients and families throughout the Chapters Health System service area and unite existing pediatric programs from several affiliates. "The launch of Chapters Kids is another critical step forward as we work toward fulfilling our mission of taking care of patients, or taking care of those who do," said Andrew Molosky, President and CEO, Chapters Health System.

End-of-life guidelines [in the ICU] emphasize unified care American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, in "Clinical Voices April 2026"; 4/21/26 New guidelines for end of life (EOL) care in the ICU call for clearer communication with families, stronger support for decision making and coordinated teamwork across disciplines to align treatments with what patients can realistically achieve and reduce suffering. “Society of Critical Care Medicine Clinical Practice Guidelines on Adult End-of-Life Care in the ICU ,” in Critical Care Medicine, highlights the need for standardized processes, including identifying legal surrogates, using shared decision making tools and adopting protocolized withdrawal pathways. Additional priorities include early palliative care involvement, spiritual support and focused education to reduce conflict. Recommendations are summarized in three major areas:

“This is the beginning”: DOJ signals intensifying health care fraud enforcement in California Pillsbury; by Christopher Lee, Dylan M. Aste, Fank Kalinski; 4/16/26 Recent U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and California Attorney General enforcement activity sends a clear signal that California health care entities that interact with government programs—in particular the hospice and home health industries—are now under intense scrutiny. Companies in these sectors should prepare for subpoenas, Civil Investigative Demands, and searches as a result of federal and state agencies conducting independent and parallel investigations. This uptick in government enforcement is sure to spur qui tam relators and whistleblowers. Unprepared California hospice and home health companies may face significant civil, and even criminal, exposure.

Hospice Insights Podcast - high risk hospices are in the hot seat across six states JD Supra; podcast by Husch Blackwell, LLP; 4/15/26 Since September 2024, CMS’s Medicare Administrative Contractors have been conducting expanded prepayment reviews (also known as “EPRs” or targeted high-risk reviews) of existing hospice providers in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Texas. As of December 2025, hospices in Georgia and Ohio are also under the microscope. In this episode, Husch Blackwell attorneys Bryan Nowicki and Zaina Niles discuss how hospices can differentiate between EPRs and other audit types. You’ll also learn what to expect throughout the EPR process and strategies to overcome claim denials and other possible EPR consequences.

Avow expands hospice services into Glades, Hendry and Lee countiesLake Okeechobee News, Naples, FL; 4/13/26On Monday, April 13 , Avow, a leading nonprofit health care provider based in Southwest Florida, announced its expansion into Glades, Hendry and Lee counties. This expansion extends Avow’s high-quality hospice and comprehensive bereavement support, increasing access and impact for families across the region. ... Over the past year, Avow has expanded its reach and deepened its impact, caring for more than 2,900 hospice patients annually and providing more than 4,000 palliative care visits through its Naples clinic and satellite locations. 

Improving quality for gender-diverse hospice patients Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 4/8/26 Various factors impede the ability of transgender and gender-diverse individuals to receive goal-concordant care at the end of life. Individuals in the LGBTQIA+ community often face greater risks of privacy violations, cultural suppression, disrespect and trauma compared to others, according to Amanda Monteiro, palliative care social worker at Mount Sinai Hospital. ... LGBTQIA+ individuals are often referred to hospice or palliative care later in their disease trajectories compared to others, according to Dr. Alexis Drutchas, palliative care physician at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. ... Clinicians need better tools to help guide end-of-life conversations with gender-diverse patients and their loved ones, said Dr. Ramón Rodriguez, palliative care physician at Massachusetts General Hospital.Editor's Note: For a definitive, groundbreaking resource, examine LGBTQ-Inclusive Hospice and Palliative Care : A Practical Guide to Transforming Professional Practice, by Kimberly D. Acquiva. 

Sovereign Hospice shares what MS families should know about palliative care Press Services, Dallas/Fort Worth, TX; Press Release; 4/9/26 As National Healthcare Decisions Day approaches on April 16, 2026, Sovereign Hospice, a service area business based in Aubrey, Texas, is drawing attention to the care options available to families affected by multiple sclerosis. MS is a complex, progressive neurological condition, and many families reach critical decision points without a clear picture of what palliative care or hospice care can offer them.

As demand for hospice care increases, Lansing nonprofit breaks ground on expansion PBS-WKAR Public Media; by Lillian Williams; 4/8/26 Demand for end-of-life specialized care is increasing nationwide, and a Mid-Michigan provider says that has led to a facility expansion that broke ground today. Hospice of Lansing plans to add four bedrooms to its Stoneleigh Residence by next spring. ... Executive Director Heather Vida says her organization turns away more than 100 families each year because they don’t have enough rooms. "What we want to do is make sure there are beds available for everyone at any time," she said. 

Asbury Hospice House breaks ground on expansion in Hattiesburg WDAM-TV 7, Hattiesburg, MS; by Delaney Dukes; 4/1/26 The Forrest Health Foundation broke ground Wednesday afternoon on an expansion at the Asbury Hospice House that will add new spaces designed for comfort and connection. ... The expansion includes larger family areas, a children’s activity space, a larger on-site pharmacy and an outdoor pavilion. ... The Forrest Health Foundation raised more than $3 million to support the expansion.

[United Kingdom] Hospice facing 'worst financial crisis in 35 years' BBC News, Southport, United Kingdom; 4/8/26 A hospice has said it faces closure in the next 18 months if it cannot overcome what it says is its worst financial crisis in 35 years. Queenscourt Hospice, in Southport, Merseyside, currently spends £7.5m annually, but has revealed its income is only £5.5m, and that it will have to cut services unless additional funding is found. Since it opened its doors in 1991, it has helped more than 70,000 patients and families across West Lancashire, Formby and Southport. However, the hospice said annual government funding had not risen with inflation.Editor's Note: From the UK with clear implications for the US -- when hospice funding lags, care doesn’t stretch—it breaks.

How does hospice care adapt to different home environments? Healthcare Business Today; by Editorial Team; 4/7/26 There isn’t just one way to do hospice care at home. Every home has its own noise level, layout, privacy restrictions, and rhythm of care, so the care team adapts to the space instead of making the space fit the care. ... Care Adjustments That Fit Real Homes