Literature Review

Volunteer gardeners raise funds for care of the gardens and meadow at Community Hospice House in Merrimack The Cabinet Press, Merrimack, NH; by Loretta Jackson; 6/1/26 "Gardeners and shoppers braved unseasonably cold, wet and windy weather for the display of beautiful native plants grown in New Hampshire,” said Barb Young, co-leader of the garden team, along with Jeanne Abramson. Proceeds from the sale go directly to the CHH garden fund ...” The Community Hospice House, built in 2000 and operated by the nonprofit Home Health & Hospice Care, based in Merrimack, has expanded in recent years to 16 suites. The CHH gardens with new plantings, new benches, a supportive irrigation system and other enhancements have developed into a lovely enclave of respite, ... tended by more than 20 volunteer gardeners, ... with visibility from each patient's room and common areas.Editor's Note: Hospice care extends beyond clinical services. This volunteer-led effort shows how community support can help create and sustain comforting spaces for patients and families, while preserving resources for direct patient care.

‘Behind the blue’: social work's Abbie Latimer on how to support those who are suffering UKNow | University of Kentucky HealthCare, Lexington, KY; by Kody Kiser; 6/1/26 When someone we care about is going through something painful, many of us struggle with the same question: what do I say? On this episode of “Behind the Blue,” Abbie Latimer, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the University of Kentucky College of Social Work, discusses hospice and palliative care, serious illness communication and how people can better support one another during difficult moments. Latimer also holds an affiliate appointment in the UK College of Medicine’s Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Palliative and Supportive Care. 

Minster Baseball Hospice Night raises record $8,000 for Grand Lake Hospice Mercer County Outlook, Minster, OH; by Mercer County Outlook Staff; 5/30/26 The Minster Wildcats baseball program once again brought the community together for a meaningful cause during its annual “Minster Baseball Hospice Night,” raising a record $8,000 this year to benefit Grand Lake Hospice. ... In addition to fundraising, Hospice Night serves as a time of remembrance and recognition for local families who have been touched by hospice care. The Minster baseball program continues to honor those individuals, reinforcing the personal connections that make the event so impactful. 

New Iowa law allows ‘adult close friend’ to make end-of-life medical decisions KCRG-9 ABC, Iowa City, IA; by Lacey Reeves; 5/28/26 Starting in July, a close adult friend can make end-of-life medical decisions for someone who is unable to make them themselves under a new Iowa state law. When a patient can’t make medical decisions for themselves, a hierarchy establishes who can make the decisions for them. Typically a spouse, adult child or adult sibling of the patient can make those decisions. “Not everybody has a family member who is available, willing, capable to make decisions for them,” said Sara Krieger, CEO of Iowa City Hospice. Iowa City Hospice said it has been working for years to add “close adult friend” to that list through legislation.

What I've learned at the bedside: Jewish wisdom for the time before death ReformJudaism.org - Jewish Life In Your Life; by Ptarmigan Emery; 5/27/26 I have been a hospice nurse for 10 years. ... I am also a Jew, though not a particularly observant one. ... What has surprised me is how often those two parts of myself, the nurse and the Jew, have found each other in the same moment at the bedside. Jewish tradition has a great deal to say about the time before death. ... In traditional Jewish law, a person who is actively dying has a name: a goses. The rabbis gave this passage its own category, saying: this time is sacred and deserves our full attention. ...Editor's Note: Sacred Time. Without rushing or turning away, this thoughtful reflection explores how Jewish wisdom honors the moments before death as deserving presence, meaning, and our fullest attention.

Bridging faith and palliative care: Catholic clergy and community engagement in the United States American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care; by Clotilde Dudley-Smith and Brian Stiltner; 5/27/26 ... Spiritual care delivered by community clergy when disconnected from contemporary palliative care principles may, in some cases, unintentionally contribute to delayed hospice referral and increased use of aggressive, nonbeneficial treatments near the end of life. Drawing on interdisciplinary literature in palliative care, chaplaincy, and sociology of religion, this paper examines structural, educational, and cultural barriers that limit collaboration between palliative care teams and Catholic clergy in the United States.

Sevierville teen seeking Eagle Scout rank turns personal pain into purpose WBIR 10 News, Knoxville, TN; by Heather Waliga; 5/27/26 A Sevierville teenager working toward her Eagle Scout rank is being recognized for a project that's helping families navigate one of life's hardest experiences: grief. Arrianne Witt, 17, transformed a once-empty prayer room inside Sacred Ground Hospice House into a peaceful space for reflection. ... The project quickly grew into a major undertaking. Witt spent months fundraising, collecting thousands of dollars in donations and organizing nearly two dozen volunteers to help bring the vision to life. The result is now a calming retreat inside the hospice house, complete with thoughtful décor and a soothing atmosphere meant to give families a moment of peace during difficult times. 

Unlocking human potential through the workplace FacilitiesNet.com; by AnnMarie Martin; 5/22/26 ... Today’s facility leaders are no longer simply maintaining buildings. They are actively shaping the conditions for organizational success, serving as the critical connector between people, place, strategy and technology. That shift carries both weight and possibility. ... The question driving forward-thinking facility leaders today isn’t whether the workplace matters. It’s how to make it matter more. ... At the heart of this life-centered, people-first approach is a simple but powerful premise: the built environment shapes behavior. Lighting affects focus. Acoustics affect stress. Layout affects collaboration. ...

Veterans’ Memorial Garden to be dedicated May 25 Carteret County News-Times, Morehead, NC; by Cheryl Burkes; 5/20/26 Among ceremonies that will honor fallen veterans on Memorial Day, which is May 25, is dedication of a new Veterans’ Memorial Garden at the Crystal Coast Hospice House in Newport. ... The garden is behind the Hospice House, adjacent to the Memorial Brick Garden. Kay Coole, Executive Director of the Crystal Coast Hospice House, said, “I wanted to recognize the veterans in our area and we needed a flagpole. ... Memorial Day will be the first time the flag is raised." The garden contains a flagpole, military branch stones and bushes, and flowers.

Michael Jordan shares emotional FaceTime moment with former teacher in hospice: "They laughed, reminisced, picked at each other" Basketball Network; by Bjorn Del B. Deade; 5/17/26 Nowadays, Michael Jordan only makes headlines because of the success of his NASCAR Cup Series team ... However, the news cycle recently took a refreshing turn after Jordan’s kind gesture toward one of his former teachers at Emsley A. Laney High School in Wilmington, North Carolina. The teacher, Ms. Etta, is currently a patient at Lower Cape Fear LifeCar, which is located in his hometown. And as she recounts her tales about Laney High School, she has repeatedly said she wanted to reconnect with the Chicago Bulls legend. So, Jordan did what he could to make it happen. The non-profit hospice shared its unforgettable interaction on its social media.

Early electronic advance directives reduce burdensome end-of-life care News Medical & Life Sciences | Wiley; 5/20/26 Advance directives document patient preferences for future care, including end-of-life. An analysis in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found that older patients with an advance directive that had been uploaded into the electronic health record at least six months before death were 25% less likely to experience potentially burdensome end-of-life care (19.9% versus 26.8%) and 31% less likely to have died in the hospital (23.2% versus 32.1%).

Calvert youth generosity celebrated at annual ‘Boots & Bling’ event Maryland BayNet, Prince Frederick, MD; by Hospice of the Chesapeaker; 5/19/26The can-do spirit of Calvert County’s 4-H youth helped make “Boots & Bling: A Culinary Experience” a fundraising success for Hospice of the Chesapeake. ... One of the evening’s featured moments focused on the story of the Hospice Hog, shared by T.J. Ireland. In 2019, Ireland and his brother, Colby Ireland, donated proceeds from the sale of one of their 4-H market hogs to honor their grandmother and support Hospice of the Chesapeake. Their first hog, Harry, raised $7,000 at the Calvert County Fair. After the Ireland brothers aged out of 4-H, the Said family continued the tradition. Together, the families have raised more than $150,000 through the sale of home-raised hogs. ... Ireland said the Said family plans to continue the tradition until Lena turns 19.Editor's Note: Do you need some inspiration? Read this. For context, revisit the 2026 "Boots & Bling" story we posted on 5/18/26 and celebrate this behind-the-scenes story of family tribute to a beloved grandmother.