Literature Review

Celebrating National Volunteer Month: ways hospice organizations showed appreciation (April 2026) Hospice & Palliative Care Today; compilation by Joy Berger; 5/1/26 

Hospice of Davidson County Golf Tournament raises $21,000 The Dispatch, Lexington, NC; by Jill Doss-Raines; 4/29/26 More than 100 golfers filled the fairways at Sapona Golf, Swim and Tennis Club on April 16 as Hospice of Davidson County held its 17th annual Benefit Golf Tournament, raising more than $21,000 to support patient care and community programs.

Mercy film starts dialogue on end-of-life care and dignity in dying The News Mill; 4/21/26 Director Mitul Patel revealed that his film ‘Mercy’ draws inspiration from actor Paresh Rawal’s account of his mother’s prolonged illness and coma, shared during an interview. This real-life story shaped the film’s exploration of end-of-life decisions and moral conflict. Patel told ANI, “As a writer, I look for conflicts in stories. I couldn’t find a bigger conflict than this where a son has to face this choice of letting go of his mother. ... “It will be better when we talk about mortality openly. End of life care, dignity in dying. We will start a conversation about all this. This is the goal of the movie.”

[For the public] How to protect yourself from hospice fraud CalMatters; by Lynn La; 4/29/26 ... What does hospice fraud entail and how can you protect yourself? ... To avoid being scammed:

Iowa City Hospice hosts Walk for Dignity KCRG-9 ABC News, Iowa City, IA; by Lacey Reeves; 4/26/26 People in Iowa City walked through Willow Creek Park on Saturday in memory of loved ones who died after receiving hospice care. Iowa City Hospice hosts a Walk for Dignity every year to raise money to provide free end-of-life care to people who need it. ... “We give over $250,000 a year in unreimbursed hospice care to people in our community who don’t have insurance, because we believe that if you’re dying, you shouldn’t have to worry about how you’re going to pay for your health care,” said Sara Krieger, CEO of Iowa City Hospice. ... As the families walked, they passed by memory lane with yard signs with photos of people who have died.

A father's dying wish comes true at special graduation ceremony YouTube | ABC WNEP-16, by Michelle Charlesworth; 4/23/26 It's one of his last wishes, to see son Cooper Crawford graduate from Northwest area high school. It's one wish that came true Wednesday night. "I think it was really cool that we have a community that size that can come together to support my father and my family. ... I wish I could be half the man my dad is." ... The school district put together this ceremony for Cooper a little over a month before his graduation date. ...  Cooper's older sister gave a speech. His younger siblings were given honorary diplomas so that their dad could be there. Jess's mother, "I'm realizing the finality of what's happening." Editor's Note: Against the backdrop of hospice fraud headlines, this story reflects what hospice care can hold at its best—a father’s wish honored, a community leaning in, a moment this family will carry forward. May it inspire us all to create space for what matters, when it matters most.

Mary Chan legacy fuels record fundraising at hospice race The Standard Newspaper, Kingman, AZ; by Allen Scott; 4/22/26 The 21st annual Mary Chan “Race for Hospice” drew roughly 200 runners and walkers to downtown Kingman on Sunday, where participants once again faced the steep and unforgiving Andy Devine Avenue/Route 66 hill leading up to the El Trovatore Motel. The challenging climb has become a defining feature of both the 5K and 10K courses. The race honors Mary Chan, whose Chinese-American family has lived in the Kingman area for six generations, beginning with work on the railroad. Chan has been involved with the fundraiser since its inception in 2005.

Petaluma’s Sacks Hospice Thrift Shoppe to close in May The Ramsey Show, Petaluma, CA; by Jeff Woodworth; 4/17/26 The beloved Sacks Hospice Thrift Shoppe in Petaluma will permanently close its doors by May 15 after nearly 40 years of service. The Petaluma Argus-Courier reports store operator Providence Hospice Foundation cited the need for “significant capital improvements” and safety upgrades to the leased Liberty Street building as the reason for the shutdown. While liquidation proceeds will continue to fund local grief support, the news has sparked community heartbreak and an online petition with over 1,300 signatures. Volunteers call the shop a “critical resource” for both hospice families and eco-conscious shoppers. 

Sovereign Hospice: addressing late-stage renal condition care gaps in Fort Worth MyCarrollCountyNews.com, Dallas, TX; by Sovereign Hospice; 4/16/26 End-stage kidney disease affects hundreds of thousands of Americans each year. When kidneys can no longer sustain life without dialysis or a transplant, families are left to make decisions that few feel prepared for. Sovereign Hospice ... is drawing attention to a gap many families face: not knowing that hospice care services exist as a legitimate, fully supported option at this stage of illness. ... For patients with end-stage kidney disease, the shift away from aggressive treatment means that symptom management becomes the priority. Common symptoms at this stage include fatigue, pain, restlessness, and fluid retention. The interdisciplinary team is trained to address all of these through individualized care plans.

Strategies to promote the dissemination of psychosocial digital health resources for those affected by cancer: scoping review Supportive Care in Cancer; by Isabel Ronan and Olinda Santin; 4/15/26 Conclusion: This paper presents the first review consolidating research on psychosocial digital resource dissemination targeting those affected by cancer. ... When considering the dissemination of an online resource in the future, researchers should focus on creating co-designed digital interventions for caregivers and targeting more diverse populations using both traditional and digital dissemination materials.

Owner opened restaurant on day off to fulfill dying man's last wish to feed hospice nurses who cared for him People; by Erin Clack; 4/11/26 "To me, it means the world to see that kindness, that greatness spread," the dying man's brother said of the restaurant owner.  Tommy Milani didn't hesitate to step up and help when he received a request from a grieving family. Before his death, Frank Ozimek — who spent six weeks at Niagara Hospice in Lockport, N.Y., bonding with and being cared for by the dedicated staff there — asked his younger brother, Ken Ozimek, to make sure the nurses were treated to a meal on Easter Sunday, per local outlet WKBW.

Sunset Hospice Cottage sets fundraising record for endowment The Worthington Daily Globe, Worthington, MN; 4/14/26 From tie-dyed hair bands to hippie wigs, form-fitting attire to round-rimmed shades, attendees at the 24th annual Sunset Hospice Cottage Banquet went all out with the 1970s-themed "Peace, Love and Compassion" fundraising event Saturday evening at the Worthington Event Center. ... When it was over, this year's banquet raised a record-setting amount for the cottage's endowment. On Monday afternoon, Murphy said they were still adding up the numbers. Murphy said the more than 500 people in attendance were bonded during what was both a joyous and emotional evening. ... "It didn't matter about religion and politics and ages and status. Nothing mattered but being there for Sunset Hospice Cottage. I wish the world would find that peace." 

Puzzle competition raises money to build hospice house KBTX-3, Bryan, TX; by Tyler Hoskins; 4/12/26  The Acara Hospice Foundation announced the winners of its inaugural Puzzling with a Purpose speed puzzling competition, a community fundraiser supporting the Foundation’s mission to build a community hospice house in the Brazos Valley. The event challenged teams of four to complete a 500-piece puzzle as quickly as possible. All proceeds from Puzzling with a Purpose go towards Acara Hospice Foundation’s vision of establishing a dedicated hospice house in the Brazos Valley that they said would provide dignified, compassionate care for patients and families.