Literature Review

99-year-old World War II veteran in Sioux City attends Hospice of Siouxland Veterans Luncheon KTIV 4, Sioux City, IA; by Taylor Deckert; 11/12/24 Siouxland veterans were busy on Nov. 11 as many businesses and organizations celebrated their service to our country. Hospice of Siouxland hosted their luncheon the following day on Tuesday, Nov. 12. Each year, they host it around Veterans Day so these veterans can enjoy all the other events in the area. Veterans and their families were celebrated with a pinning ceremony by Veteran Volunteers with Hospice of Siouxland. “I enjoy them. I’ve been going to these for many years. ...” said WWII Veteran, Robert Irwin of Sioux City who got pinned on Tuesday. He continued, “There are only one or two of us left. I got drafted in 1943, sent me to Europe as a machine gunner. We got shot down, but, were able to make it back to England. We made the rest of our tour. From that, I came back and helped start the Air National Guard,” said Irwin. “I had my windshield shot out.” He also served in Korea as a pilot. “I spent 24 years in,” said Irwin.

Hospice organizations honor veterans for Veterans Day

Local veteran continues to serve by visiting hospice veterans Lundington Daily News, Lundington, MI; by Shanna Avery; 11/9/24 With love of service to their country, some veterans continue to find ways to serve and make a difference, and Ludington veteran Dick Gregaitis does just that when he visits other veterans as they approach the end of their lives. Gregaitis has been volunteering with Hospice of Michigan in the local area for eight years, where he visits veteran patients. Gregaitis served in the U.S. Navy from Aug. 1962 to 1965, then the U.S. Air Force until he retired in 1986 as senior master sergeant. Gregaitis said he has been around this area, and met his wife of 55 years at Round Lake. He traveled all over while in the military. It is through his own experiences, he shares a bond with other veterans. “To me, it is a way to give back to the community,” he said. “A lot of veterans don’t get people stopping by or talking. They like someone there that knows about the military. I even designed a badge that says, ‘military outreach.’ It is a win/win. I like to do it and I have the time to do it, and they like someone to say hi to.”

Veterans Day speaker will bring unique perspective to Emma Kelly Theater: Ogeechee Hospice chaplain Nick Spletstoser to offer keynote address at annual observance Monday Statesboro Herald, Statesboro, GA; by Jim Healy; 11/7/24 Chaplain (Lieutenant Colonel) Nick Spletstoser, the senior hospice chaplain at Ogeechee Area Hospice, will give the keynote remarks during the annual Veterans Day program Monday, Nov. 11 in the Emma Kelly Theater in downtown Statesboro. Hosted by American Legion Dexter Allen Post 90, the event is free, with the public encouraged to attend. In keeping with the origins of Veterans Day in the World War I armistice of 1918, when the guns were silenced at the “11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month,” the speaking program begins at 11 a.m. ... As an Army National Guardsman in Georgia and South Carolina over the past 32 years, Spletstoser said his keynote address will cover a variety of topics and observations from his long career. ... He said he will discuss the impact of caring for fellow veterans in the community, as well as helping veterans and their families when they come to Ogeechee Area Hospice. Editor's note: For those reading this the morning of 11/11, how might you honor the 11 a.m. marker? (I'm glad to learn this.) Thank you, Ogeechee Hospice and Chaplain Nick Spletstoser for your hospice leadership and support to your community on this Veterans Day.

[National Hospice and Palliative Month] “Light It Up Purple” set for November 14 Sand Mountain The Reporter, Albertville, AL; by Mary Bailey; 11/6/24 Shepherd’s Cove Hospice is encouraging the community to “light it up purple” in November to raise awareness for National Hospice and Palliative Month. On November 14, Shepherd’s Cove is asking the community to switch your regular light bulbs for their special purple bulbs to spread awareness. Shalon Steed, Marketing and Sales Director for Shepherd’s Cove, came up with the idea a few years back.

Specialized hospice care program honors and supports veterans facing terminal illness NBC 10 News - WSLS, Southwest and Centeral Virginia; by Kelly Marsh; updated 11/7/24 In Southwest Virginia, a quarter of people with a terminal illness is a veteran, a statistic that highlights the unique challenges many former service members face in their final days. In response to this, several specialized hospice programs in the region have been developed to offer care that specifically addresses the needs of veterans as they navigate the end-of-life journey. For many veterans, the experience of facing terminal illness is compounded by the physical and emotional toll of their military service, particularly conditions like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety. ... The We Honor Veterans program, created through a partnership between the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, encourages hospice centers to offer a heightened level of care for veterans. Across Southwest Virginia, multiple hospice programs have achieved the highest level of recognition—Level 5—demonstrating their commitment to providing veterans with the best possible care. One such program is based in Franklin County. Despite its size, Carilion Hospice in Franklin County has earned a five-star status for its exceptional veteran services ...Editor's note: We thank and recognize all hospice organizations that find meaningful ways to support and honor your veterans. Click here for more information about NHPCO/The Alliance for Care at Home's We Honor Veterans program.

It takes more than love to care for a loved one Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business; guest column by Jason Erskine, AARP; 11/5/24 Chances are, if you aren’t a family caregiver, you know someone who is. Every day, more than 820,000 Washingtonians help their parents, spouses, siblings, grandparents, neighbors and other loved ones to live independently at home – where they want to be. November is National Family Caregivers Month, a time to highlight the important work these folks do. But simply thanking them isn’t enough. ... AARP and United Way have teamed up to connect caregivers with trained, compassionate people in your community who can help you find AARP caregiving resources and more. It’s called 211, it’s a free service, and you can talk to specialists who can help you find local resources for caring for your loved one … and for yourself too. ... AARP Washington is here to help with information and resources to support and connect caregivers. Go to: aarp.org/caregiverswa.

Busting myths about hospice care: Dr. Laura Godinez Cleveland.com, Cleveland, OH; by guest columnist Dr. Laura Godinez, MD, an associate medical director fo  Hospice of the Western Reserve; 11/3/24 In an era in which misconceptions about hospice care persist, it’s crucial to set the record straight. Let’s address some common myths.

Governor proclaims Home Care, Hospice, Palliative Care Month 2024Governor.nc.gov - an official website of the State of North Carolina; by Governor Roy Cooper; 11/1/24A PROCLAMATIONWHEREAS, the State of North Carolina recognizes the importance and value of home care, home health, hospice, and palliative care in enhancing the well-being and quality of life for individuals and their families; andWHEREAS, home care, home health, hospice, and palliative care providers offer essential services and support to individuals of all ages, ensuring their ability to receive necessary care in the comfort and familiarity of their own homes; andWHEREAS, being able to receive care and support in the comfort of one's own home allows individuals to maintain a sense of dignity, independence, and quality of life; andWHEREAS, the dedicated professionals of the home care, home health, hospice, and palliative care industry work tirelessly to improve the lives of North Carolina residents, providing compassionate care, emotional support, and necessary medical assistance; and ...WHEREAS, North Carolina's home care, home health, hospice, and palliative care providers play a crucial role in promoting patient independence, reducing hospital readmissions, and minimizing the burden on our healthcare system; NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim November, 2024, as “HOME CARE, HOSPICE, PALLIATIVE CARE MONTH” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens. [Click here to read the full proclamation.]

Hawaii Care Choices kicks off talk show about health care Hawaii Tribune Herald; 11/1/24 Hawaii Care Choices has launched “Let’s Talk Healthcare Hawaii!” — a new TV talk show and podcast dedicated to palliative care education. [Access to the full story requires subscription.]

PositivelyJAX Award - The purple bench of compassionate St. AugustineNews4JAX; by Melanie Lawson; 11/1/24 This month’s PositivelyJAX Award goes to something unique: a bench. But it’s no ordinary bench—it’s The Purple Bench, powered by people and conversation. The concept was brought to life by a group called Compassionate St. Augustine, sparking empathy and understanding in anyone willing to sit down and listen. This purple bench, located just outside the gates of the Lincolnville Community Garden in St. Augustine, often sits empty, waiting for someone to take a seat and begin a conversation.  When I approached, Eileen Reid was happy to join me. In just a short 10-minute conversation, I got to know her—a retired hospice nurse ... “I’ve been around a lot of endings, and endings are beginnings, but now, now I’m beginning a whole different phase of my life, and it’s interesting. ...”Editor's note: Click on the title's link for the community news article. Click here for a photo and description of this Purple Bench Initiative: "The Purple Bench initiative was formed to challenge the community to engage in compassionate practices despite different backgrounds, religions, ethnicities, and views. In a world divided by polarizing opinions, it is increasingly important to find common ground to help those in need."

National Care at Home Month 2024: Celebrating Care at Home in November National Alliance for Care at Home (formerly NAHC and NHPCO); 10/31/24 National Care at Home Month celebrates and supports paid and unpaid caregivers and builds on the existing work of National Family Caregivers Month. Customizable templates are available now. ... The National Alliance for Care at Home brings together two legacy organizations – the National Association for Home Care & Hospice and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization – representing, advocating for, educating, and connecting providers of care in the home for millions of disabled, elderly, and dying Americans who depend on that care. ... To represent this strength in unity, the Alliance is introducing National Care at Home Month, an annual observance recognized each November to inspire outreach to communities, media, and policymakers, recognize the valuable contributions of provider staff and volunteers, and continue building awareness of the home care continuum. To this end, we are paying special attention to different types of care at different points throughout November.

Funding approved for homeless hospice program SacCountyNews, Sacramento, CA; by Janna Haynes; 10/22/24 The Board approved, at its Oct. 22nd meeting, up to $1,137,788 in funding to complete construction on Joshua House, a facility that provides end-of-life comfort care for homeless individuals with terminal illnesses, after being discharged from an acute care hospital. Joshua’s House specifically provides a location for homeless patients to receive home-like hospice services when they, by definition, do not have a home to receive such care and may otherwise be unsheltered at the time of passing. Joshua’s House provides shelter, food, clothing and certain volunteer comfort services. In addition, YoloCares will provide licensed expert/specialized end-of-life care for individuals and families facing a life-limiting illness. Yolo Cares has provided high-quality hospice care across the six-county region for nearly 50 years. YoloCares also recently became an enhanced Care Management and Community Supports provider through CalAIM.