Literature Review

I'm a palliative care nurse and I look after patients on their deathbeds - these are the top 5 regrets I hear from people in their final days DailyMail.com; by Ellen Coughlan; 10/30/24 When people are faced with their own mortality they experience a variety of emotions and gain perspective on their lives. A palliative care nurse, who works at Old Colony Hospice in Massachusetts, wrote a blog post, which has since resurfaced, revealing the top five regrets people express on their deathbed.  ...

Creating death box eases stress, brings 'peace of mind' to those left behind BradfordToday.ca, Canada; by Andrew Philips; 10/26/24 Creating a death box might sound like sort of a morbid thing to do, but it’s vitally important. That’s according to Tammy Vaters, supportive care coordinator at Hospice Huronia-Tomkins House, ... who leads upcoming workshops on creating a death box or a “legacy box or final wishes box” for those uncomfortable with the more succinct terminology ["death box"]. ... Besides end-of-life wishes, Vaters says the box can include photos that someone would like displayed at a celebration of life or similar offering along with personalized letters to family and friends and personal mementos that have special meaning. “It gives you more opportunities of expressing how you feel about somebody,” she says, noting the boxes should also contain usernames and passwords that may aid one's loved ones after death. “They can be more thoughtful and personal.” Vaters, who is a specialist in thanatology (the study of death, dying and bereavement), says people will often use another term for death. 

The ‘perfect way to die’ in North Dakota CBS KX News, Bismarck, ND; by Brendan Rodenberg; 10/27/24 Death is not something people tend to look forward to at the end of their lives, but it is important to discuss nonetheless — and while many have ideas of how they would like to pass away, these vary immensely across America. This begs the question: How would North Dakotans like to spend their last moments?  ... [An insurance poll that surveyed 3,000 people from across the nation indicated]  that the perfect death for a North Dakotan would be to pass while hiking White Butte, the state’s highest point. ... The survey also delved deeply into other aspects of one’s last moments, including those surrounding them and what occurs after the moment of death. Below is a list of the most prevalent takeaways from this part of the study.

Finding purpose and joy through the gift of volunteering SMA News Today - Bionews, Inc., Pensacola, FL; by Jasmine Ramos; 10/24/24 My physical limitations don't define my ability to give back to others. Volunteering has given me more joy and meaning than I ever imagined possible. Living with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) means I can’t move my own body, but that hasn’t stopped me from finding ways to move others. Whether supporting disaster relief efforts or creating meaningful moments for hospice patients, my work gives me a sense of freedom and fulfillment that transcends physical limitations. Every task, no matter how small, reminds me that we all have the power to make an impact. My body may not move independently, but through volunteering, my heart and spirit are constantly in motion, reaching out to touch the lives of others. ... Working with the hospice center brought a different set of rewards. I help create monthly newsletters that inform, comfort, and connect patients and their families.

A meal, a smile and a prayer: volunteers venture into the heart of flood-affected areaThe Mountaineer, Waynesville, NC; by Brionna Dallara; 10/23/24 Luke Ross and Louisa Koehring peer out their car window as they snaked down Old Clyde Road, muddy piles of flood debris strewn along the shoulders. With a trunk full of hot meals, they scan for flood-stricken homes, looking for people in their yards or signs of anyone home. Their arrival at homes has been a sure sign of hope. Relief sweeps across the flood victims' faces as Luke and Louisa approach their doorsteps with hot meals or a new pack of under garments. The first stop along their route this day is Ronnie Hall, who was stranded for eight days post-Helene, alone with nothing but his two cats — Famous Amos and Snowflake — to keep him company. Not only do the young couple feed him, but offer him friendship. ... Without power and alone for eight days following the flood, with no one but hospice to check on him, Hall said he persevered with the help of his faith.

Everyday moments of grace: Hospice patient’s art brings joy PeaceHealth; 10/22/24 A hospice patient’s room becomes an art studio to create expressions of her life she loves to share with others. A stay at hospice did not stop Sherry McCalden from doing what she loves - creating art and sharing it with others. ... McCalden is a lifelong artist. Her love of painting started in high school. She's been creating works of art ever since. From landscapes to animals to flowers, she paints what inspires her and what she loves. Not much stops her from painting, including Parkinson's disease. For a few months, she was at the PeaceHealth Richard Nau Hospice House in Longview, Washington before her health stabilized and she was relocated to another facility. She transformed her room at Hospice House into an art studio filled with her paintings. A visit brought joy to both visitors and staff.

Nonprofit repurposes wedding bouquets for seniors Spectrum News 1, Columbus, OH; by Taylor Bruck; 10/21/24 Todd Davis, a resident of Columbus, knows it’s the simple things in life that mean the most. That’s why every weekend, he and volunteers pick up leftover flowers from weddings and other events and repurpose them into beautiful bouquets. They then deliver them to senior citizens all over Columbus and people in hospice care. ... Every week, volunteers turn thousands of flowers into about 200 bouquets, equating to nearly 10,000 this year and endless smiles.

Family and friends deliver early Christmas cheer to woman in final days of her life  CBS News, Antioch, IL; by Dana Kozlov and Tracy O'Brien; 10/16/24 Driving by a home in the far northwest suburbs, you might wonder what happened to Halloween, as each day more Christmas decorations keep showing up. The answer is a touching tribute to a loving mom, wife and friend; with a special message for everyone. Voices of holiday cheer rang outside a home on a warm fall day in Antioch during a festive gathering for Jamie Haley, a woman loved by many, watching from the front window. "It couldn't be better. I could not be happier," Jamie said. Hearing those words, you wouldn't realize Haley is in the final stages of her life, with hospice coming daily. Known for her lifelong love of Christmas, her family is bringing the joy of the season to her in a big way. "Everybody is showing up and strangers are showing up," said her daughter, Anna. "It's Christmas for as long as it can be. We just love her so much.  … We are going to love her until we have to miss her." ... [Click on the title's link to continue reading this beautiful story.]

‘It’s more like hope’: New hospice patient’s Halloween wish come true WTOC 11, Pooler, GA; by Jasmine Butler; 10/14/24 Tons of candy, a bunch of costumes and hundreds of people. That is what a neighborhood in Pooler looked like as people gathered for a Layla Alacan, who recently entered Hospice Care. “She is so sweet when she wants to be and she’ll cuddle up and give kisses, she’s the definition of a sour patch kid. She’s super sour and then super sweet after,” said Layla’s mother, Courtney Alacan. She has a big personality, but she’s fighting a big battle. Layla has a rare terminal disorder called 4H Leukodystrophy. ... It’s an experience her parents Courtney and Nick Alacan know all too well. “Our first child Jamie also had the condition. And she unfortunately passed in April of 2023,” said Alacan. So, they’re vowing to make her wildest dreams come true. ... “[We]  asked her what her favorite holiday was and she said Halloween," said Alacan. “Thinking we would have 40 or 50 kids come through and just you know, have a nice little night. Then, it blew up and now we’re here and we couldn’t be more grateful," said Alacan. An entire community, celebrating Halloween a little early but also rooting on the six-year-old with enough spunk, for them all. 

Women’s Club donates to local hospice care workers The Point/Plover Metro Wire, Portage County, WI; by Metro Wire Staff; 10/11/24 The GFWC-Stevens Point Women’s Club donated more than 60 caregiver baskets to Heartland Hospice in Stevens Point during its Oct. 10 meeting. The baskets were assembled by members to show gratitude for the care hospice workers provide to their patients. The GFWC-Stevens Point Women’s Club, founded in 1895, is part of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC), an international organization established in 1890 that focuses on community improvement through volunteer service.Editor's note: November's Hospice & Palliative Care Month is near. What community groups might want to provide simple, meaningful thank-you's to your hospice staff?

Still going at 90: Pioneering Jacksonville triathlete Dottie Dorion's life is now a film [Co-found of Community Hospice & Palliative Care in Jacksonville, FL]Jacksonville Florida Times-Union; by Matt Soergel; 10/8/24 ... Dorion's remarkable athletic life is told in a documentary called "Beyond Triathlon," which features her and fellow athlete Celeste Callahan of Denver, each of them pioneering competitors who in midlife decided they would devote themselves to grueling endurance races. ... [Her husband of 63 years,] George Dorion was in hospice care, a cause Dottie has long championed as an advocate for and a co-founder of Community Hospice & Palliative Care — at a time when hospice was a foreign concept to most people in America. She has been involved in numerous causes beyond hospice. She is co-founder of Volunteers in Medicine, a clinic that provides free health care to uninsured working adults and their families. And she's supported sports programs at the University of North Florida, particularly for women athletes; she's set up endowed scholarships there, and there's a fitness center on campus named after her. 

West Des Moines teacher battling cancer hopes to inspire his community KCCI Des Moine, IA; by Nicole Tam; 10/4/24 Luke Miller's passion is teaching. Two and a half years ago, he faced the biggest test of his life. "I went into the doctor with a pain on my side," Miller said. An MRI showed tumors in his liver that spread from his colon. "I was told I might have a year to live and I would never have surgery," Miller said. He beat those odds but the battle continues. Through it all, nothing stopped him from doing what he loved. ... This fall, Miller stepped away from the classroom. Even as he goes through a hospice at EveryStep's Kavanagh House, the students are still with Mr. Miller. His room is filled with handwritten notes, pictures and reminders of hope. ... At Westridge Elementary School, starting from the outside as people are driving to school to the inside, there are signs of support for Miller including the digital message board and posters in the hallway. "We want to support the Millers, not only now but in the future as well. We want them to know we'll always be here for them because Luke was always here for us," Troy Ellerbroek, Westridge Elementary School teacher, said. 

Family matriarch crosses ocean swim off bucket list Star News Group, Manasquan, NJ; by Alex Dyer; 10/3/24 Dorothy Jean “Dot” Temple ventured into the rough surf, her arms supported by loved ones, her feet tickled by sea foam and soft sand. Wading in the ocean is an ordinary pleasure. But on this day, it was special for Temple and for everyone who came to watch her enjoy the water. At age 93, it’s no longer an easy task for Temple to indulge in her love of ocean swimming, an activity in which she had excelled for a majority of her life. ... Dot was recently admitted to the hospital, where the family was not “sure if she would survive the night.” Afterwards, she was put on hospice, where she was advised to cease her medication. “We were heartbroken at the prospect of possibly losing her, but in typical Nanny fashion…she is holding her own and is still doing great — all things considered,” said Gasetel. “A strong-headed woman, she has been very vocal that before she passes, she absolutely must go swimming in the ocean one more time; so that’s exactly what we did.”