Literature Review

Kamloops Hospice's Messages of Love Campaign runs all month long Castanet - Kamloops.net, Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada; by Eagle Anderson, 2/9/25 Kamloops residents are being invited to stop by a cafe, grab a cup of coffee and share some positive words as part of Kamloops Hospice’s Messages of Love Campaign, which is running all month. Four local eateries — 5 Bean Brew Bar (Sahali), The Vic, Cafe Motivo, Yew Street — and the Kamloops Hospice will each provide sticky notes, pens and a board for posting. “It’s essentially an awareness campaign,” Kamloops Hospice’s Fund Development Lead Sarah Irvine said. ... Participants are encouraged to write a positive message on each note. They can then keep the note, stick it to a board or give it away. Messages can be written to friends, family, community groups, lost loved ones and even to themselves.

Rock legend reveals he can’t walk, is grateful to be alive ahead of farewell show Penn-Live Patriot News; by Brian Linder; 2/7/25 Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath revealed this week that they are reuniting for one final show, and there’s no doubt it will be a special occasion. And, while it seems a lot of bands announce farewells only to make a comeback years down the line, this really does appear to be it for Osbourne and Black Sabbath. And that’s because Osbourne, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease back in 2020, is struggling health wise. "I have made it to 2025,” Osbourne said ...  “I can’t walk, but you know what I was thinking over the holidays? For all my complaining, I’m still alive. I may be moaning that I can’t walk, but I look down the road and there’s people that didn’t do half as much as me and didn’t make it.”

3 lessons for living well, from the dying DNYUZ; 1/31/25 What if you knew that you were at the end of your life? Would you have done anything differently? A friend of mine volunteers at a hospice, and she hears one regret over and over from patients: letting relationships wither. They wish that they had made more plans with good friends, or they thought about getting back in touch with an old buddy, and talked themselves out of it. ... Dr. Vicki Jackson, president of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine Board of Directors, said that for the same reason, she doesn’t hesitate to tell people that she loves them. “I am not Pollyanna; I’m a big academic,” said Dr. Jackson, who has treated dying patients for a quarter century. “But I tell people I appreciate them a lot. I have a lot of deep gratitude, because I know it is dumb luck that it’s not me in that bed. And I know tomorrow it could be.” I asked Dr. Jackson and other palliative and hospice care experts about what they’ve learned from patients. They offered advice that you can apply to your life, from those at the end of theirs.

Saint Peter the Apostle Catholic School gives back to community ABC WJCL 22 - Savannah, GA; by Dave Williams; 1/30/25 A Wilmington Island Catholic school continued its tradition of giving back to the community. ... It’s part of the school’s annual SOCCKS Day, or Serving Our Community Catholic Kids Style. “It makes you want to help out others more because you like the feeling of makes you feel good when you can help other people," said Parker Ditommaso, a Saint Peter the Apostle Catholic School eighth grader. ... Each grade level at the school chose a certain charity to help. Among those charities, Ronald McDonald House, the Humane Society and Hospice of Savannah.

Valentine’s snacks show love to Hospice supporters The Morgan Messenger, Berkeley Springs, WV; by Hospice of the Panhandle; 1/29/25 Hospice of the Panhandle’s Education Center once again this year will turn into a Valentine snack center. And the result will be that thousands of snacks, ranging from granola bars to raisins to potato chips to candy, will be distributed to Hospice providers and supporters as a thank you during Valentine’s season this year. A project that began more than 30 years ago, Valentine Treat Week is a big hit in the local community. 

Bettis Academy instills leadership skills with Eagles L.E.A.D. Program The Post and Courier, North Augusta, SC; by Bianca Moorman; 1/27/25 Bettis Preparatory Leadership Academy is helping to build the next generation of leaders with its new Eagle's L.E.A.D. Initiative. Eagle's L.E.A.D. – which stands for Learn through Experience, Excel in Academics, Aspire to Inspire and Drive for Change – aims to teach students the skills needed to become leaders through hands-on service projects. The school officially launched the program on Oct. 28, 2024. ... Each grade level has selected a unique service project for the program. ... First-graders are partnering with Gentiva Hospice to learn about the work of first responders. Second-graders are collaborating with heart doctors to raise awareness about childhood heart disease. Third-graders are creating "little libraries" to place in various locations throughout the community. [Click on the title's link for grades 4-8.]

[Hospice of the Western Reserve Volunteer] WWII veteran celebrates 100th birthday, years of service Fox 8 WJW-TV Cleveland, OH; 1/24/25 What were you doing on this day 100 years ago? Well, if you were World War II Veteran Bob Zonneville, you were saying “hello” to the world! On Thursday, many of his friends and family got together at David Simpson Hospice House to celebrate this incredible accomplishment. Hospice of the Western Reserve hosted the event, which had a very special meaning to both the organization and Zonneville.  Over the years, not only has this World War II veteran offered tireless support to the Hospice program, but he’s also responsible for raising nearly $100,000. Zonneville has been a passionate Hospice volunteer for decades. According to Hospice of the Western Reserve, Zonneville received the prestigious Chair’s Award for his extraordinary contributions to the hospice community in 2008. ...

Hospice of Savannah awarded grant for safety improvements NBC WSAV Savannah News, Savannah, GA; by Eric Dorsch; 1/27/25 Hospice of Savannah Inc. (HSI) has announced it has been awarded a grant for repairs and home modifications. HSI will receive $1,999,111 in Older Adults Home Modification Program grant funding to complete safety and functional home modifications and limited repairs in the primary residences of two hundred eligible homeowners and renters over age 62 with low income. The work aims to improve general safety, increase accessibility, reduce falls, and improve residents’ functional abilities in the home for their safe and successful aging in place. 

D.C. is America’s loneliest city. Can 1,000 robotic pets help? The Washington Post; by Olivia George; 1/27/25 Rose Watkins, 67, says she doesn’t really have anyone to talk to, not since her mother passed away. Brenda Jacobs, 70, doesn’t drive anymore ... Yvonne Gathers, 74, wishes she had something ... to keep her mind from drifting back to the day she learned her son — who lived with her — was shot and killed. All three seniors live in D.C. and are now part of a new program distributing robotic pets to residents 60 and older who live in Wards 1, 7 and 8. The initiative, spearheaded by three local nonprofits, is part of a broader push nationwide to use battery-powered pets to ease the loneliness and isolation that often accompanies older age and help lessen associated health risks. The pets nuzzle, stretch and roll on their tummies for scratches. You can feel their heartbeat through their soft fur. The dogs bark and wag. The cats purr and meow. “I’ve been lonely, I’ve been depressed,” Watkins said recently, stroking a beige dog with a red bandanna that turns its head when she talks. “I think this will help.” The robotic pets — Joy for All Companion Pets from parent company Ageless Innovation — “really do provide companionship and need nothing in return,” said Steve Cone, chief communications officer at nonprofit provider Capital Caring Health, one of the organizations involved in the D.C. program. “There is no upkeep, no cleanup.” [Click on the title's link to continue reading.]

Abigail E. Keller Foundation's Teddy bear drive brings Valentine's cheer to young patients CBS Austin, TX; by We Are Austin; 1/23/25 Valentine's Day is getting a little sweeter for children spending the holiday in the hospital, thanks to the Abigail E. Keller Foundation's annual teddy bear drive. Now in its sixth year, the initiative aims to spread love and comfort through cuddly companions. Melissa Keller, co-founder and president of the foundation, said the drive [describes,] "Abby passed away in February of 2019, ... Abby was full of life and joy, and she brought so much life and joy to everyone that she met. We decided on that first anniversary, we were going to collect teddy bears and take them to the hospital. And we did." ... Keller says "We support medically fragile children and their families throughout their journey and at end of life, we, support our foundation, supports them in, a couple of ways. We we help them through financial assistance. We do care baskets for families going into hospice. We do birthday boxes for children in hospice."

Residents share video of Spring Grove Area guidance counselor, now in hospice after Jan. 1 collapse York Dispatch, York, PA; by Meredith Willse; 1/14/25 As news spread of a Spring Grove Area High School guidance counselor’s collapse after a run on Jan. 1, friends and former students shared a video she made — dancing in her office. Carrie Schmoyer collapsed Jan. 1 after a run. After being hospitalized for nearly two weeks, her family moved Schmoyer to a hospice center. The video, from the 2014-2015 school year, shows high schoolers and staff dancing in the hallways, offices, the auditorium and outside the school to “Happy” by Pharrell Williams. Among other school staff members, Schmoyer is seen dancing in her office. ... While sharing the video, the residents shared their memories of Schmoyer, how they loved her, how she helped them and the GoFundMe account, which has raised close to $50,000 since it started Jan. 6. Editor's note: This touching tribute reminds us that each person receiving hospice is connected to a much larger community of people who are impacted by this person's living and dying. 

DeKalb library to host memorial pillow workshops Jan. 25 Shaw Local News Network, Dekalb, IL; by Kate Santillan; 1/19/25 The DeKalb Public Library will partner with Northern Illinois Hospice to host two workshop sessions for patrons to create pillows out of a loved one’s shirt. ... Participants can create up to two pillows out of a T-shirt or button-down shirt. Seamsters will be available to assist. Attendees should not bring jackets, thick fabrics or denim. Bereavement support and information will be provided.Editor's note: Do you know that healing grief actually begins with "accepting realities" and its later, ongoing "Task of Mourning" is to develop "enduring connections" or "continuing bonds" with the person or thing that has been lost? [J. William Worden, Grief Counseling & Grief Therapy; 5 editions since 1982] Similar memorials have been created by other hospices using the deceased person's clothing (ie., teddy bears, etc.). This simple, practical method can be adapted easily, with years of meaningful connection and generations of storytelling ahead.

‘No One Dies Alone': How KMOX's Dave Glover turned personal loss into a mission of hope NBC 5, St. Louis, MO; by Mike Bush; 1/19/25 For 25 years, Dave Glover's voice has been a familiar presence on KMOX radio, but it was a personal tragedy that led him to his most meaningful role yet – as a volunteer bringing comfort to those in their final hours. ... While spending countless hours at his mother's bedside, Glover discovered something remarkable – an organization called NODA (No One Dies Alone). When his family was exhausted from their bedside vigil, the nursing staff told them, "You need to go home. And we have this organization of volunteers, called NODA." Julie Strassman, manager of Support Services with Bethesda Hospice Care, explains NODA's mission: ...