Literature Review

From Iowa City to the Rockies: How one social work graduate built a career on connection Iowa University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, School of Social Work; 6/25/26 Since earning her bachelor's degree in social work from Iowa in 2010, Amanda Hebel has spent 15 years helping people navigate life's challenges—from hospice care to rehabilitation services across Colorado. ... Her senior year also brought her practicum placement in hospice care, and it’s where her education became a career. Having lost both of her parents before starting college, Hebel entered the placement with a depth of understanding that shaped how she showed up for patients from day one. The hands-on work—grief counseling, difficult conversations, navigating complex family dynamics—translated directly into the skills she'd carry into the workforce.

[United Kingdom] Hospice hosts wedding for cancer patient in hours BBC News; by Asha Patel; 7/7/26 Hospice staff organized an "unforgettable" wedding in seven hours so a cancer patient could marry her partner of 33 years. Karen and Stephen Glossop, from Eckington in Derbyshire, put their wedding plans on hold after Karen was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year and her health deteriorated. After a conversation with staff at Ashgate Hospice, Chesterfield, where Karen is currently an inpatient, the couple's wishes became a reality, all in the space of a few hours. Karen, 58, and Stephen, 57, exchanged their vows in the hospice's courtyard, which was transformed into the wedding venue, on Thursday, surrounded by family and friends. 

Hospice pinning ceremony honors Margate veteran The Press of Atlantic City; by Haram Shahid; 7/1/26 After celebrating 87 Fourths of July, Vietnam War veteran Tom Misner knows the simple pleasures that make America home: Homemade Italian gravy filled with meatballs and sausage, dairy-free ice cream packed with thick chunks of pecans, and “God Bless America” sung by his music therapist. On Wednesday, days before Independence Day, Misner’s front yard was filled with neighbors, family, hospice staff and even his mail carrier for a pinning ceremony honoring his service in the Navy from 1956 to 1962 and the Army Reserves from 1976 to 1985. The ceremony, organized by NJ Health Hospice, is part of a veteran recognition program that brings end-of-life care into moments of memory, identity and community, focusing not just on medical support but on honoring the lives patients lived before hospice.

My parents moved in with us before my dad got sick. It made all the difference when he passed. Business Insider; by Justin Murphy; 6/27/26

MSU nursing program blends coursework and community care at Camp SMILE Morehead State Public Radio, Morehead, KY; by Morehead State University; 6/26/26 For many students, electives are a way to earn credits, but for Morehead State University nursing students, one course is also a chance to serve their community and gain life-changing perspective. Thanks to a partnership between Morehead State’s Department of Nursing and UK St. Claire Regional Hospice & Palliative Care in Morehead, MSU nursing students can gain unique experience working with children at Camp SMILE while working toward their nursing degree. Camp SMILE (Sharing Memories In a Loving Environment) is a bereavement camp for children [ages 7-17] who have lost a loved one.

Adams County Community Foundation supports Hospice of Hope patient care initiative The Highland County Press, Hillsboro, OH; by John Condon; 6/24/26 The Adams County Community Foundation has awarded a grant to Hospice of Hope to support a special patient-centered initiative designed to provide comfort, dignity and meaningful personal connections for hospice patients and their families. The grant will help fund the creation of personalized “All About Me” boards that will be developed and decorated by Hospice of Hope volunteers for patients receiving hospice care. Each board will highlight important aspects of the patient’s life, including their personal story, favorite things, family memories, and what matters most to them. ... In addition to serving as a communication and memory-sharing tool during hospice care, the boards will remain with families as keepsakes and reminders of their loved one’s life and experiences.

South Shore Stitchers’ compassion touches hospice patients’ lives Ocean City Sentinel; Tuckahoe, NJ; 6/24/26  The South Shore Stitchers Quilt Guild, based at Tuckahoe United Methodist Church, is a dedicated service‑focused group of talented volunteers who share a passion for quilting and community outreach. Through countless hours of creative and thoughtful work, the guild creates comfort quilts, fidget blankets, walker bags, adult bibs, and other handmade items designed to bring reassurance, dignity, and warmth to those in need. Their handcrafted creations support health care organizations, first responders, and community groups — helping to calm, support, and comfort hospice patients, children, and individuals living with dementia. They have partnered with NJHealth Hospice and Palliative Care to provide comfort for patients.

Father's Day flashback: Son's pitch to ailing dad to take in a game becomes gift for both The Dallas Morning News; by Evan Grant; 6/21/26 I took my father to a baseball game Friday. It was his last. He is 87, dying from congestive heart failure and has been in the care of a hospice nurse for two months. We know what lies ahead shortly. And yet, this is not a sad story. Not in the least. Some 40 years ago, just down the block in what is now a parking lot, my dad introduced me to Major League Baseball. ... He opened a door to a world that has become my passion and my life. I wanted to simply try and repay him by taking him to one game as a way of saying thanks. It was going to be my Father's Day gift to him. Instead, it is about a gift he gave me.

Seniors stitch quilts for hospice patients, turning personal grief into community giving WTXL-27 ABC, Tallahassee, FL; by Tatyana Purifoy; 6/19/26 A group of seniors at the Gadsden County Senior Center is turning thread, fabric, and friendship into comfort for others — forming a quilting club that creates handmade quilts donated to local hospice patients. ... For Rose Jackson, the project is personal. She was eager to partner with hospice because of the care and support her family received when her mother passed away. ... Member Ora Green says the project has given the group more than just something to do. Green is 96 years old and began her quilting journey at age 10. She says the club has given members an opportunity to use their talents to help others.

Designing the dream house of an 87-year-old tech visionary DNYUZ; 6/16/26 Brand’s life has been going for 87 years, but lately the going has been tough. The man known for creating the Whole Earth Catalog—the 1960s countercultural guide to self-sufficiency that Steve Jobs was fond of—has an incurable disease and is down to 130 pounds, an alarming weight for a nearly 6-footer. Brand’s mind is sharp as ever; you can’t talk to the man for five minutes without learning something. ... Brand is a world-class pragmatist and a philosopher of structures; he once wrote a book called How Buildings Learn about how homes and commercial properties evolve over time. ... We do a walk-through of the studio, all 715 square feet of it. Off of the living space, under an arch, is a motorized bed. There are no rails, and it looks nothing like hospital equipment. Brand grabs a remote and playfully shows me how it rises and kneels. The kitchen counters are lower than usual, to accommodate Brand if he ever needs a wheelchair. The bathroom is the space that’s most optimized for accessibility. ...

Stitching love The Ironton Tribune, Ironton, OH; by Mark Shaffer Patriotic-themed quilts made by the Ohio Hospice Quilters are on display at the Lawrence County Courthouse. Some of the quilts are for sale to buy more quilting supplies and the others will be donated to veterans. Ohio Hospice Quilters has made hundreds of quilts to comfort. For years, the members of the Ohio Hospice Quilters have put their skills to use to bring comfort. ... Each quilt is catered to the recipient as much as possible, they are designed for men, women, veterans or to a person’s interest or hobby.

Never be limited by other people's limited imaginations. If you adopt their attitudes, then the possibility won't exist because you'll have already shut it out. ~ Mae Jemison

Pulling for Hospice draws record turnout WIFR, South Beloit, IL; by Madalyne Korzeniewski and Caleb Mays; 6/7/26 Teams put their strength to the test Sunday during Pulling for Hospice, a fundraiser supporting Beloit Regional Hospice patients and their families. Teams of eight to 10 people competed to pull a fire truck 75 feet as quickly as possible. The event raises money for services not always covered through traditional care, including grief support and family programs. Beloit Regional Hospice has served families across southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois for more than 40 years. Organizers say the fundraiser has grown significantly since it began six years ago, expanding from about eight teams to 16 this year and moving to the Beloit Health System.