Literature Review

Be on the lookout for this new Medicare scam Las Vegas Review-Journal; by Toni King; 7/24/25 Dear Toni: A hospice agent recently came knocking on the doors in my neighborhood saying he represented Medicare. He was giving away hospice gifts and told me that I could receive these Medicare services at no charge for me and my husband. I told him that I did not give out personal information to anyone that I do not know. Now, I’m concerned that I could have made a mistake. Should I call and ask if this Medicare service is still available? —Deidre, Katy, Texas Dear Deidre: Medicare is not giving away anything free! This is a new scam that is targeting America’s Medicare population.  ...Editor's Note: Though we’ve addressed this topic repeatedly in recent months, ongoing awareness and community education remain essential. Please continue seeking opportunities to collaborate with media outlets in your service areas to help inform and protect vulnerable populations. Use the following articles—previously featured in our newsletter—as reference points:

'A long, beautiful time together': Photo exhibit 'Til Death Do Us Part'KUT 90.5, Austin, TX; by Michael Lee; 7/21/25“Well, we have to go back five years to the beginning of the pandemic,” says photographer Becky Wilkes, recalling how she came to create the exhibit Til Death Do Us Part. ... Wilkes and her siblings found themselves making frequent trips to Waco to care for their almost-90-year-old parents, and then the looming threat of a global pandemic made an already-difficult situation worse. ... She’d already started snapping some cell phone photos to share with her siblings, but seeing her parents together again, with what seemed like a renewed sense of love and togetherness, Wilkes decided to capture more and better photos. “And then I did have a conversation with them very quickly and I requested permission to photograph them,” she says. The resulting photography exhibit, Til Death Do Us Part, chronicles that last year of her parents’ lives.  ... The story ultimately ends in their death and our understanding of their death. But the story is really about their living. And, that's really… that's really beautiful.” Editor's Note: Click here for Becky Wilkes' website page with her descriptions and photos. 

Cyclist to ride coast-to-coast for hospice care MyMotherLode.com, Calaveras, CA; by Nic Peterson; 7/27/25 John Silva, a 66-year-old retired Amador County Sheriff’s deputy and longtime Calaveras-area resident, is preparing to bike 4,700 miles across the United States to raise money for Hospice of Amador & Calaveras. The journey begins Aug. 1 at Cape Flattery, Washington — the northwesternmost point in the contiguous U.S. — and will end at West Quoddy Head in Lubec, Maine, the nation’s easternmost point. ... The trip is entirely self-funded and performed alone. Silva’s route will take him through Washington, Idaho, Montana, a stretch of Canada, North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Indiana, New York, and Maine. More than a test of physical endurance, Silva says the ride is a personal mission. Each week of the ride will honor a community member who received hospice care, transforming every mile into a tribute to those who faced death with dignity.

With new facility, Mourning Dove Grief Care expands help for survivors of loss Oil City News, Casper, WY; by Dan Cepe; 7/16/25 Death can be natural, or it can be cruel and unexpected. It is, however, an inevitable part of the human experience that can affect survivors in countless ways possibly for the remainder of their lives. ... Mourning Dove Grief Care, a service by Central Wyoming Hospice & Transitions, aims to provide that help to members of the community.  ... The [new] facility will allow anyone in the community suffering from loss to walk in and schedule appointments or join a support group, whether they’ve gone through Hospice or not. The program itself started when Hospice noted the need for grief care in the community, particularly for people suffering from sudden losses. “Interestingly enough, we found that even therapists and counselors were referring to us when they had clients dealing with loss,” she said. 

‘Little Golf’ and Grill brings community together for hospice The Monroe Times, Monroe, WI; 7/11/25 The Monroe Clinic & Hospital Foundation’s annual “Little Golf” and Grill event, held on June 17, once again brought together community members for an evening filled with laughter, camaraderie, and purpose. The event began with an afternoon of mini golf at Swissland Miniature Golf in New Glarus. Hospice volunteers and staff provided games and fun facts about hospice throughout the course until the Alp Horns signaled the transition to a festive dinner and program under the tent at Chalet Landhaus Inn. During the program, the Colden Family shared their hospice story and gratitude for their loved one’s care so that “they could be family, not caretakers”. Thanks to the generous support of local businesses, donors, and attendees, the event raised $78,853 in support of local hospice care. This brings the total raised over the event’s 33-year history to more than $1,084,000.

Community turned-out for 7th annual Hoedown for Hospice in Dickinson The Dickinson Press, Dickinson, ND; by Press Staff; 7/11/25 The spirit of community and compassion was on full display June 19 as families, friends and neighbors gathered at Veterans Memorial Park for the 7th Annual Hoedown for Hospice. This beloved fundraising event benefits the Dickinson hospice program offered through CHI Health at Home.A crowd of all ages turned out, making the event a resounding success. Attendees enjoyed a lunchtime filled with activities and entertainment. Children laughed and played in colorful bouncy houses, met furry new friends at the petting zoo, and everyone enjoyed delicious food and ice cream.

Hospice and palliative care experiences as expressed on the r/hospice and r/palliative subredditsAmerican Journal of Hospice & Palliative Medicine; Riley Shin, BSA; Ashley Shin, MD; Elizabeth K. Nugent, MD, MS; 6/25 Reddit, an anonymous online community forum, provides space for sharing medical information, seeking emotional support, and facilitating open communication. This qualitative study examined the most popular questions on the r/hospice and r/palliative communities on Reddit. Seven primary themes emerged from question and advice-seeking r/hospice comments: (1) the dying process (24%), (2) coping and emotional support for patients and caregivers (22%), (3) logistics of hospice and palliative care (22%), (4) medication treatments and side effects (13%), (5) negative hospice experiences (10%), (6) support for hospice providers (7%), and (7) other less related material (2%). Assessment of posts on the r/hospice and r/palliative subreddits revealed gaps in communication between patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers in several important areas, most importantly in demystifying the dying process and providing patient and caregiver support.

Prospect Home Care & Hospice begins dispersing funds Pikes Peak Courier, Pikes Peak, CO; by Pat Hill; 7/9/25 A $200,000 gift from Prospect Home Care & Hospice Foundation, the new brush truck fills gaps for Four Mile Fire Protection District. “The problem we run into is that 20 to 26 volunteers typically show up for a fire, but I only had enough trucks to get 20 out,” said Chief Chris Hawkins. “It’s crucial; with another crew on a fire, it’s another 400 gallons of water.” The foundation funds were left from when the hospice organization was active. Mary Barrowman served the organization as president and chief executive officer from 2003 to 2018. That year, Barrowman closed the hospice/home care side but continued to offer grief counseling and individual family assistance for those suffering the loss of a loved one. After dissolving the nonprofit in 2018, Barrowman initiated Prospect’s philanthropy with small grants to organizations and agencies that helped families in need. The donation to Four Mile and an earlier one to the Florissant fire department fulfills Barrowman’s wish to establish a legacy in the name of the Prospect Home Care & Hospice.

Hospice of Redmond to host special presentation by Project Recover: Bringing missing military home The Source, Redmond, OR; 7/1/25 Hospice of Redmond is honored to announce a special presentation featuring Project Recover, an organization dedicated to finding and bringing home military personnel missing in action (MIA). The event will take place on Thursday, July 9, 2025, from 1:30-3:00 PM ... The presentation will feature Adrian De La Rosa, Chief Operating Officer of Project Recover, who will share insights into the organization's critical work. ... "At Hospice of Redmond, Veterans are near and dear to our hearts," said Jody Logsdon, Volunteer Coordinator at Hospice of Redmond. "We believe every veteran deserves to be honored, thanked for their sacrifice, and returned home with the dignity they’ve earned. ..."

Community Hospice & Palliative Care launches “Mail Call” program to honor veteran patients ehospice - USA edition, Jacksonville, FL; 6/24/25 Community Hospice & Palliative Care® is proud to announce the launch of its new “Mail Call” program, designed to honor and appreciate our veteran patients in a deeply personal way. This initiative expands upon our existing veteran recognition ceremonies, enriching the end-of-life care experience for those who have served our country. The “Mail Call” program invites volunteers, students, and community members to write heartfelt letters to our veteran patients. These letters, reminiscent of the cherished mail from home during their service years, offer messages of gratitude, encouragement, and personal reflections. Participants can choose to include their name or school, allowing students to share their appreciation directly with our veterans.

Students organize death café to discuss the inevitable Fairfield University, Fairfield, CT; by Brad Thomas; 6/27/25 The annual event gathered more than 50 students and faculty from assorted disciplines for meaningful conversations about death and dying. ... [Student Jillian O'Brien '25] helped organize the second annual Death Café during her final semester at Fairfield. She and her classmates in “End-of-Life Communication,” an interdisciplinary course taught by Michael Pagano, PhD, wished to build on the success of last year’s event by continuing to create a space for meaningful conversation about death and dying. At the event, they led thoughtful table discussions about how their perspectives and ways of communicating about death have evolved.

Snowline rethinks donation policy Mountain Democrat, Placerville, CA; News Release; 6/18/25 ... Operated in support of Snowline’s nonprofit mission, its thrift stores raise crucial funds to provide palliative care, hospice services, bereavement and veteran support to individuals and families throughout our region. Recently, in response to feedback from the community about donation limitations, Snowline opened its doors to accept a broader range of donated items. The goal was simple: to be more accommodating and say “yes” more often to those wanting to give. ... While the outpouring of donations was generous and deeply appreciated, this well-intentioned shift led to a significant rise in items that simply could be resold, things that were broken, torn, incomplete or nonfunctional. As a result, waste removal costs have skyrocketed in the thousands due to an increased number of trash runs and landfill fees. These unexpected expenses threaten Snowline’s ability to direct maximum funds toward the care programs that are at the heart of its mission. “We want to be a resource for our community and also remain good stewards of the donations we receive,” said Director of Thrift Operations Daron Hairabedian. “But we also have a responsibility to ensure the dollars raised through our thrift operations go where they matter most, supporting patients and families in the most vulnerable times of their lives.” To preserve the long-term sustainability of Snowline’s vital programs, including palliative care and grief support services, Snowline Thrift Stores will return to a more selective donation process. 

Omaha man on hospice gets wish to see College World Series game CBS KMTV-3, Omaha, NE; by Katrina Markel; 6/17/25 Lifelong baseball fan, Thomas Coker, is on hospice and lives at a skilled nursing facility in Central Omaha. His wish for his 75th birthday: attending a baseball game at the College World Series. His care team made that happen through the Dreamweaver Foundation.