Literature Review

Community gathers to strike out cancer and honor loved ones during awareness event WUFT | PBS/NPR, Gainesville, FL; by Curan Ahern; 7/12/26 Just over one year ago, Corey Williams received the news everyone dreads: a loved one being diagnosed with cancer. A local artist, poet, videographer and father of four, Williams found out in May 2025 his fiancée, Iya Burkett, had cancer. Within a month, Williams saw the disease rapidly progress. ... Williams faced one of the worst realities a man can experience: Burkett died, and he was not prepared. ... Williams also lost his mother to cancer three years prior, leaving him to face the world without the two most important women in his life. After wrestling with the losses, he planned community events to commemorate his loved ones, raise awareness and start uncomfortable conversations about preparedness — conversations that often need to be had but are avoided. ... Along with friends and family, members of Haven Hospice’s bereavement program, Healing Hearts, showed up to support Williams and his family. Burkett worked for Haven Hospice for 13 years, and the organization helped Williams transition into life without his fiancée. 

Relationships between advance care planning engagement, patients’ religious practices, and spirituality American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine; by Robyn M. Axel-Adams, MS, MDiv, BCC, HEC-C, Emily Fox Ludden, MDiv, MGS, and Alexia M. Torke, MD; 7/2/26Background: Research has shown that people who consider themselves religious have a lower advance directive (AD) completion rate. However, advance care planning (ACP) includes a broader range of activities that are important in determining medical treatments. ... Conclusions: In contrast to prior findings of lower AD completion in more religious individuals, this study found that higher religiosity and spirituality are associated with higher ACP engagement. These results suggest ACP opportunities offered for religious congregations or spirituality focused communities may be especially successful.

N.J.’s hospice problem is also an equity problem | opinion NJ.com; by Christopher Rinn; 7/5/26 Again and again, families tell me the same thing after a loved one enters hospice care: “We wish we had called sooner.” By the time many New Jersey families reach hospice, they are physically exhausted, emotionally overwhelmed and navigating a medical crisis that has already taken a heavy toll. In our state, the median length of stay in hospice is just 13 days. That means many patients are receiving only days, not months, of the support, comfort and guidance hospice was designed to provide. The biggest reason is not denial or a lack of compassion from families. It is misunderstanding. ...

Hospice pinning ceremony honors Margate veteran The Press of Atlantic City; by Haram Shahid; 7/1/26 After celebrating 87 Fourths of July, Vietnam War veteran Tom Misner knows the simple pleasures that make America home: Homemade Italian gravy filled with meatballs and sausage, dairy-free ice cream packed with thick chunks of pecans, and “God Bless America” sung by his music therapist. On Wednesday, days before Independence Day, Misner’s front yard was filled with neighbors, family, hospice staff and even his mail carrier for a pinning ceremony honoring his service in the Navy from 1956 to 1962 and the Army Reserves from 1976 to 1985. The ceremony, organized by NJ Health Hospice, is part of a veteran recognition program that brings end-of-life care into moments of memory, identity and community, focusing not just on medical support but on honoring the lives patients lived before hospice.

Mt. Hood Hospice gets $41K after largest-ever fundraising month Sandy Post, Sandy, OR; by Christopher Keizur; 7/1/26 The 2026 Support Mt. Hood Hospice Month is an annual effort that involves businesses, organizations, and community members across the greater Sandy area. It is in support of Mt. Hood Hospice, which provides care to terminally ill patients regardless of their ability to pay. “This year we tried a lot of new things and had better numbers and donations,” said Brian York, marketing specialist for Clackamas County Bank. On Wednesday, July 1, at Mt. Hood Hospice, 39085 Pioneer Boulevard, a check for $41,877.99 was presented (leave it to a bank to be so precise). That is the highest donation yet.

Carolina Caring Community Counseling Program expands services to anyone who has experienced loss Carolina Caring, Newton, NC; Press Release; 7/1/26 For many individuals, addressing the mental health concerns tied to grief and loss can feel overwhelming, complicated, or out of reach. Recognizing the profound impact that loss can have on one’s wellbeing, Carolina Caring has expanded a Community Counseling Program to support individuals who have experienced a major loss of any kind. ... Traditionally, organizations like Carolina Caring provide bereavement services to families of hospice patients for up to 13 months. But the Community Counseling Program is different from this traditional model. Through the expansion, the Community Counseling Program redefines what it means to provide compassionate care to the whole person, both physically and emotionally.

Remembrance Walk brings grieving families together The Alamosa Citizen, Alamosa, CO; by The Citizen; 6/29/26 A Friday morning breeze came in handy at San Luis Valley’s inaugural Remembrance Walk at Blanca Vista Park. A quiet 1.5-mile Pelican Trail became a place for shared memories, tears, and community healing. Organized by Hospice del Valle, the June 26 event brought together community members from across the Valley, each taking a lap around the lake for someone no longer able to walk beside them. ... Lori Taylor and her family were at the park to celebrate her mother, Judy, who passed away in December. Even though her mother was in hospice care for a single day, Taylor said the nonprofit’s grief support groups made a massive difference for her family.

At Hospice Austin’s summer camp, kids find joy together after experiencing loss KUT 90.5, Austin, TX; by Olivia Aldridge; 6/29/26 On a Friday in mid-June, middle school-aged kids lined up for their shot at a summer camp rite of passage: the infamous high ropes course at John Knox Ranch in Fischer, Texas. The ranch hosts Camp Brave Heart, Hospice Austin’s annual camp for kids and teens who have experienced loss. 13-year-old Alisa bravely stepped up to the challenge first. Soon enough, she was strapped into a harness, inching along ropes strung 30 feet in the air. “You are rocking this!” the counselor belaying her from the ground yelled as Alisa neared the end of the course. “Take a second — you want to look at the view?”

Big Bend Hospice announces grand opening of second Oak Tree Treasures location in Tallahassee Big Bend Hospice, Tallahassee, FL; Press Release; 6/29/26 Big Bend Hospice celebrated the grand opening of its second Oak Tree Treasures resale shop on Friday, June 26, welcoming a crowd of supporters, volunteers, donors and community leaders to mark the milestone. The celebration drew such an enthusiastic response ... Located at 3802 N. Monroe St., the new store expands Oak Tree Treasures’ mission of turning everyday shopping and donations into meaningful support for hospice patients and families across the Big Bend.

Ahwatukee vet helps seniors stay in their homes Ahwatukee Foothills News, Tempe, AZ; by AFN Staff; 6/23/26  For Alexander Mock, helping seniors remain safely in their homes isn’t just a business model. It’s a mission shaped by military service, years spent working alongside hospice nurses and families, and a belief that caring for people often means caring for the homes they live in. ... [As a hospice volunteer for veterans, he noticed a pattern.] As people’s health declined, the condition of their homes often declined as well. Many families struggled with maintenance issues, accessibility concerns and repairs that made it increasingly difficult for older adults to continue living independently. Mock began to see an opportunity to combine his experience helping people with practical home services.

Haven Hospice Attic Resale Store celebrates grand opening in Chiefland Levy Citizen, Chiefland, FL; by Antoinette Meyer; 6/22/26 The new Haven Hospice Attic Resale Store in Chiefland welcomed hundreds of visitors during its grand opening celebration June 19 and 20, marking the beginning of a new community-focused retail location that supports Haven Hospice programs and services. The two-day event kicked off Friday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony held in partnership with the Chiefland Area Chamber of Commerce ... Saturday’s grand opening celebration continued with local retail and food vendors ... According to Haven Hospice Director of Retail Operations Clay Dzioba, the event drew strong support from across the tri-county area.

Leading with care WilmingtonBiz, Wilmington, NC; by Beth A. Klahre; 6/22/26 Following a nationwide search, Karen Brubaker Miller was named president and CEO of Lower Cape Fear LifeCare this spring, becoming just the fourth CEO in the organization’s 46-year history. ... Miller said she plans to continue to grow palliative care services. In addition, with $5 million from the New Hanover Community Endowment, LifeCare will also administer The Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) Program, a Medicare initiative launched in July 2024. Looking further ahead, Miller hopes to expand LifeCare’s geographic reach while building on the services in place.

Somerset hospice opening delayed by Medicare move The Tribune-Democrat, Somerset, PA; by Kelly Urban; 6/20/26 Following a ribbon-cutting in May for the reopening of the Somerset inpatient hospice facility, Windber Hospice at Chan Soon-Shiong Medical Center at Windber has provided an update regarding the facility’s opening timeline. While the facility remains on track to reopen, the opening has been delayed by a recently announced nationwide Medicare enrollment moratorium affecting new hospice enrollments and hospice locations. ... “We know many families have been eagerly anticipating the return of inpatient hospice care in Somerset County, and we share their disappointment in this unexpected delay,” said Richard Sukenik, CEO of Chan Soon-Shiong Medical Center at Windber. “We are actively working with local, state and federal legislators to seek assistance and ensure they understand the importance of bringing this service back to Somerset County. We will continue pursuing every available avenue to move this project forward while preparing to welcome patients as soon as approval is granted.” [Access to the full article may be limited by a paywall.]