Literature Review

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. 

Compassion: a key to leadership people want to follow Forbes; by Rodger Dean Duncan; 5/26/26 When Graeme Cowan was 42, ... he survived a suicide attempt and what his psychiatrist described as the worst depression he had ever treated. A quarter-century later, Cowan is a founding director of R U OK?, host of “The Caring CEO” podcast, a LinkedIn Top Voice, and author of Great Leaders Care: Developing Safe, Resilient and Successful Teams, his fifth book. His argument, built on 4,000 interviews with people who had navigated serious personal challenges and on his own long climb back, is that most organizations are measuring the wrong things, managing from the wrong instincts, and losing their best people to problems that never enter the system at all.

7 dog breeds that can sense when their owner is about to die Doggodigest; by Gargi Chakravorty; 5/20/26 ... Stories of dogs refusing to leave their owner’s side during their final days or acting strangely before a loved one passes away have fueled curiosity about whether dogs truly possess a sixth sense about death, and scientific research has begun to explore this phenomenon, revealing that dogs’ extraordinary senses may allow them to detect subtle biological and behavioral changes in humans. Science suggests dogs may sense approaching death not through psychic ability but through scent. What follows isn’t mythology. It’s a look at seven dog breeds whose sensitivity, emotional intelligence, and extraordinary olfactory wiring make them especially attuned to the moments most of us can’t yet perceive.

Edmond police grant hospice patient’s dream ride-along News9.com, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; by Micah Wilson; 5/21/26 Olivia Snyder, a 23-year-old Edmond woman receiving hospice care, fulfilled her longtime dream of joining an Edmond police ride-along after years of battling rare medical conditions. ... Snyder said she has admired law enforcement since childhood and even trained to become a private investigator. [Descriptions of her illness ...] Now receiving hospice care through Heart to Heart Hospice, Snyder said she has finally begun to feel seen as a person rather than a patient.

"Taps" Bugle Call: USMC Drum & Bugle Corps [YouTube]YouTube, filmed at the National Mall, Washington DC, retrieved from the internet 5/22/25Editor's note: We invite you to start this Memorial Day with this reflective playing of "Taps," with backdrops of the Washington Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, and more. Ongoing, we share with you these resources below for the veterans and their families whom you serve.

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.

Each May, Kennedy students raise money against cancer KELO Pierre, SD; by Bob Mercer; 5/18/26 Students at Kennedy Elementary School in Pierre are learning a valuable lesson. Giving can be the greatest gift of all. There was a friendly competition again during the first two weeks of May between the school’s 19 classrooms to see which one could raise the most money for a life-saving cause. It’s called Kennedy versus Cancer. Their goal was to raise $7,500 — and they’ve reached it once again. ... The money goes to Countryside Hospice. ... Kennedy Elementary students have been raising money to help the fight against cancer since their school opened in 2015. ... So far, more than $60,000 has been brought in.

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.

Week of Kindness: Beautifying Hospice of Lansing's courtyard Fox 47 News, Lansing, MI; by Larry Wallace; 5/15/26 ... Hospice of Lansing is one of the organizations taking part in this year's week of kindness. ... To celebrate, Hospice of Lansing volunteers beautified the facility's courtyard, planting flowers and cleaning windows. [From the reporter,] I got to take part in the effort, filling up bird feeders alongside volunteers — including Chad Beckett, who came out to give back to the facility that supported him and his mother. 

Big Bend Hospice launches Nutrition Shake Drive to support Jefferson County Patients WTXL-27 ABC, Tallahassee, FL; by Crystal Whitman; 5/8/26 Big Bend Hospice in Jefferson County is calling on the community to help provide vital nutrition for local hospice patients through a month-long Nutrition Shake Drive. For many in hospice care, eating full meals can be difficult or impossible. Meal replacements like Ensure, Boost, and Glucerna offer comfort and essential nutrients, but they are often not covered by health insurance, leaving families — especially in rural areas — to shoulder the cost themselves.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care recognized by Newsweek as one of America’s Greatest Midsize Workplaces in Health Care 2026 ehospice - USA, Jacksonville, FL; 5/7/26 Community Hospice & Palliative Care has been named one of America’s Greatest Midsize Workplaces in Health Care 2026 by Newsweek, a national recognition that highlights organizations committed to fostering exceptional workplace environments in the health care sector. ... “Our people are at the heart of everything we do,” said Phillip Ward, President and CEO of Community Hospice & Palliative Care. ... America’s Greatest Midsize Workplaces in Health Care 2026 recognizes organizations across the country that excel in employee experience, workplace culture, and overall performance within the health care industry. Editor's Note: From Newsweek, "Ultimately, 350 companies emerged as the gold standard." Examine Newsweek's full list of "America’s Greatest Midsize Workplaces in Health Care 2026." 

Revisiting stories about mothersHospice & Palliative Care Today; compilation by Joy Berger, Editor in Chief; 5/6/26As we move into this Mother's Day weekend, we revisit memorable stories from our newsletter about mothers. Relationships can be unconditional love, broken, and every nuance in between. May these be a catalyst inspirations for your own relationships with the women in your lives - mothers, grandmothers, wives, daughters, aunts, grands, sisters, in-laws, "steps," and more.