Literature Review
All posts tagged with “Hospice Provider News | Community Outreach.”
The project: This is hospice care
03/05/25 at 03:00 AMThe project: This is hospice care PA Mediapoint, United Kingdom; 3/1/25 Hospice UK approached us to support the launch of their national “This is Hospice Care” campaign. The campaign aimed to raise awareness about hospice care and encourage people to leave a gift in their will to their local hospice. ... To further strengthen the campaign’s storytelling, we encouraged hospice nurses to bring objects representing the diverse services offered by hospices. Some of props included a pug to represent pet therapy, a potted plant symbolising hospice gardens and outdoor spaces, a birthday cake reflecting the sense of community and celebration within hospices, and a gift box to emphasise the theme of leaving a legacy. Bringing together nurses from twelve hospices, the shoot successfully blended visual storytelling with the core campaign messages. The imagery not only highlighted the importance of hospice care but also created compelling content for national and regional media.Editor's note: This creative initiative can be adapted easily for hospice teams (clinical and non-clinical), volunteers, and more. Click on the title's link to read more about this project's meaningful design, implementation, and outcoms.
Galleria Dallas partners with Visiting Nurse Association of Texas for March gallery wall exhibit
03/05/25 at 03:00 AMGalleria Dallas partners with Visiting Nurse Association of Texas for March gallery wall exhibit Addison - The Magazine of the North Dallas Corridor; by Erin Uhl; 3/4/25 Each month, Galleria Dallas spotlights an important organization or cause on a Gallery Wall in the center through its Galleria Gives program. During March, the partner organization is the Visiting Nurse Association of Texas. The exhibit, which will be on display beginning Monday, March 3, will feature information on the Visiting Nurse Association’s Meals on Wheels, Hospice Care and Palliative Care programs. ... “Partnering with Galleria Dallas and its Galleria Gives program gives us the opportunity to connect with thousands of North Texans, sharing our call to action to Give, Learn, Serve,” said Katherine Krause, president and CEO of the Visiting Nurse Association of Texas. ... During the exhibit, the VNA will host several events at Galleria Dallas. The first, Make Cards & Spread Joy, will allow guests to create colorful, one-of-a-kind handmade cards for Meals on Wheels recipients ...
How much does end-of-life care generally cost?
03/04/25 at 03:00 AMHow much does end-of-life care generally cost? 50 Plus Finance; by David Leto; 3/3/25 [For the public] ... Knowing how much end-of-life care generally costs can help you manage and prepare your finances appropriately to ease the burden on you and loved ones when the time comes. ... The cost of end-of-life care can vary widely depending on the services required. On average, however, Americans spend between $10,000 and $70,000 on such care, with the majority of expenses often occurring in the last year or month of life. These costs can stem from hospital stays, at-home care, or nursing facility care. Hospice, which focuses on comfort and pain management, typically costs less than intensive medical treatments but still averages several thousand dollars each month, or around $150 a day with insurance. Understanding these figures helps you set realistic financial expectations and prepare for them. ...
Charges dismissed against chef accused of trying to kill his Monterey county mother
03/04/25 at 03:00 AMCharges dismissed against chef accused of trying to kill his Monterey county mother KSBW Action News-8, Monterey, CA; by Felix Cortez; 2/28/25 A popular San Francisco area chef who was arrested along with his sister and charged with trying to kill their mother more than two years ago has had attempted murder charges dismissed against him. “In over 30 years of practice, this was one of the saddest cases I have ever seen and one of the most incompetent investigations by the Monterey County Sheriff’s Department that I have ever seen,” said Juliet Peck, the attorney for James Stolich. ... The mother was terminally ill and lived on a ranch off Highway 68 outside Salinas. “James’ mother’s only wish was to die at home without pain, surrounded by her daughter, son, and pets,” Peck said. But that never happened; Tinker died about a week later in a hospice facility, never to see her children again, because an emergency protective order obtained by the sheriff’s office prevented the children from visiting their dying mother. ... According to court documents, the daughter, Whitney, was the “agent designated to make all health care decisions for her mother,” which included administering medication to help alleviate her mother’s pain. ...The original criminal complaint alleging attempted murder charges said Whitney or a co-conspirator “crushed up pills with a mallet.” A close friend of Tinker was willing to testify that Whitney had no intent to kill her mother but was simply following her mother’s “directive to provide effective and sufficient palliative care even if it hastened her death.”Editor's note: This case raises numerous issues, including but not limited to community education (including law enforcement), Advance Directives, patient and caregiver education and support, MAiD (Medical Aid in Dying) or the End Of Life Option Act (EOLOA) in California, ethics, and the dying process (note that "the mother died about a week later in a hospice facility).
Here's how the federal funding freeze is impacting Kodiak organizations
03/04/25 at 03:00 AMHere's how the federal funding freeze is impacting Kodiak organizations KMXT, Kodiak, AL; by Davis Hovey; 2/28/25 Billions of dollars in federal funding going to Alaska nonprofits and other entities are in jeopardy after a funding freeze implemented by the Trump administration. The fallout in Kodiak is impacting domestic violence shelters, agriculture programs and many other organizations. ... And then there are indirect impacts. For example, Hospice & Palliative Care of Kodiak relies partially on money from entities who have had their funding frozen. Hospice is a non-medical entity and the only one providing end-of-life services for those experiencing serious illness, death and bereavement in Kodiak. Executive director Diane Ibarra explained the organization’s funding structure during a local public affairs show, ... "So although we’re not directly reliant on federal funds, the people that often donate to us are. So if federal funding goes out the window, there goes our funding," Ibarra explained.
45% of end-of-life cancer patients potentially overtreated: 5 study notes
03/04/25 at 03:00 AM45% of end-of-life cancer patients potentially overtreated: 5 study notes Becker's Hospital Review; by Elizabeth Gregerson; 2/28/25 Almost half of all Medicare enrollees with cancer nearing end of life receive aggressive overtreatment as opposed to supportive palliative or hospice care, according to a study published Feb. 21 in JAMA Health Forum. Here are five things to know from the study:
World Hospice and Palliative Care Day Theme 2025
03/03/25 at 03:00 AMWorld Hospice and Palliative Care Day Theme 2025 ehospice; by the Worldwide Hospice and Palliative Care Alliance (WHPCA) team; 2/18/25 Every year the second Saturday of October marks World Hospice and Palliative Care Day (WHPCD). This year WHPCD will be on Saturday 11 October 2025. Each year the WHPCD campaign has a theme that is carefully thought through and selected by the Worldwide Hospice and Palliative Care Alliance (WHPCA) team. The theme for 2025 is Achieving the Promise: Universal Access to Palliative Care.... More than 60 million people both adults and children need palliative care services every year with over 80% living in low-middle-income countries (LMIC’s) countries. WHPCA has estimated that over half of the need for palliative care is being met in high-income countries while only 4% of the bigger need is met in LMICs, a continuing and shocking disparity.Editor's note: What can you do to help "Achieve the Promise" in your corner of our world? Click here for more information from ehospice/WHPCA.
19-year-old says home hospice is a gift, not doom and gloom
03/03/25 at 03:00 AM19-year-old says home hospice is a gift, not doom and gloom Keloland Media Group, Sioux Fall, SD; by Tom Hanson; 2/27/25 ... Cheyenne may be 19, but she is wise beyond her years, especially when it comes to something doctors discovered when she was 11. “I have stage 4 Metastatic Osteosarcoma, which is bone cancer in my lungs and It hasn’t responded very well to treatment, so that’s so I’m on hospice, but not because, I’m not on hospice because its the end right now, I’m on hospice because just so I have that extra support,” she said. Cheyenne knows people often misunderstand what hospice is all about. “It’s like doom and gloom and it’s like the end, there’s nothing they can do and that’s just not the case, she said. She was able to go on her road trip because Sanford’s Home Hospice team, including Becky Jibben, helped plan the trip and organize support teams along the way if Cheyenne needed help.
WVU nursing faculty aim to enhance rural home care for chronically ill through NIH award
03/03/25 at 02:00 AMWVU nursing faculty aim to enhance rural home care for chronically ill through NIH award WVU Today - West Virginia University, Morgantown, WC; Press Release; 2/26/25 Three West Virginia University nursing faculty know firsthand the difficulties faced by family caregivers and their chronically ill loved ones. With a $2.7 million award from the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Nursing Research that is one of the largest ever for the WVU School of Nursing, the faculty researchers aim to support these families while increasing access to care in the rural reaches of the Mountain State by testing an integrated, nurse-led intervention for family home care management of end-stage heart failure and palliative care. ... Through their lived experiences, as well as their previous studies using nursing science to develop and test nurse-led interventions, the three said they hope to improve family caregivers’ and their loved ones’ overall health and well-being, including reducing depression and anxiety, and monitoring and managing end-of-life symptoms.
Hospice of the Piedmont offers discount book, conversation starters for family and friends
03/03/25 at 02:00 AMHospice of the Piedmont offers discount book, conversation starters for family and friends Augusta Free Press, Waynesboro, VA; by Crystal Graham; 2/26/25 Hospice of the Piedmont has your ticket to discounts at restaurants, theaters, wineries and breweries as well as advice for starting a meaningful conversation with loved ones. ... The printed coupon book offers buy-one-get-one-free entrees, free theater tickets and half price wine tastings. It also includes thoughtful conversation starters designed to spark meaningful discussions with family and friends about life and its final journey. “So much of life happens around the dinner table, at a winery with friends or on a night out at the theater,” said Jenn Downs, chief marketing and development officer at HOP. “We wanted to give people a way to enjoy those experiences while encouraging people to have the kinds of conversations that truly matter.” Editor's note: Applause to Hospice of the Piedmont for this creative, engaging integration of community partnerships (with restaurants, theaters, etc.), hospice fund-raising, and catalyst for meaningful, potentially life-changing dialogues.
These Portland-area hospice patients need goods. Do you know how to knit or sew?
02/28/25 at 03:00 AMThese Portland-area hospice patients need goods. Do you know how to knit or sew? Portland Tribune, West Linn, OR; by Hannah Seibold; 2/26/25 Dust off those sewing machines or grab a knitting needle because Positive Charge! PDX is inviting Portland-area folks to help those in hospice. The Stitches for Hospice project calls on Portland metro-area crafters — from beginner to expert — to sew or knit adult clothing protectors (bibs) and catheter bag covers for terminally ill neighbors and folks being served by hospice programs. “As a retired hospice social worker, I’ve seen firsthand over many years how fragile dignity can be in the final months and weeks of a person’s life. I wanted to do something that would enhance that dignity and brought the idea to Positive Charge! PDX. With a history of amplifying kindness with ‘crafting for causes’ projects—they ran with it,” said Maggie Alberton, a donor to the program.
Local veterans to be honored at pinning ceremonies
02/28/25 at 03:00 AMLocal veterans to be honored at pinning ceremonies Call & Times, East Providence, RI; by John Baker, Pawtucket Times; 2/26/25 It never gets old for Christine Miller. Whenever she places a commemorative pin on a Vietnam War veteran and sees their reaction to it, it warms her heart, sometimes even bringing her to tears. That’s one of the best parts of her job as Beacon Hospice Care Community Engagement Coordinator, which later filtered into her becoming the president of the Rhode Island Hospice Veterans Partnership, which she herself founded. Miller, a Pawtucket resident, announced recently that, with Vietnam War Veterans Day coming up on Saturday, March 29, she will conduct a few [pinning ceremonies] ... Editor's note: Access to the full article may be limited. Pair this with today's post, National Vietnam War Veterans Day, March 29, 2025.
National Vietnam War Veterans Day, March 29, 2025
02/28/25 at 02:00 AMNational Vietnam War Veterans Day, March 29, 2025U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; by Crystal Peruski; 2/18/25 The Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act of 2017 designates March 29 as National Vietnam War Veterans Day. The United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration honors all Veterans who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces at any time from November 1, 1955, to May 15, 1975, regardless of location. To learn more about the Vietnam War Commemoration, visit 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War Commemoration | Vietnam War Commemoration. Editor's note: Mark your calendars. Engage your volunteers who serve veterans. How might this intersect with your intergenerational employees and volunteers? Note that 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the end of the war. For support specific to hospice and grief care:
Valentine’s Day Raffle results show love in action
02/27/25 at 03:30 AMValentine’s Day Raffle results show love in action myMotherLode.com, Jackson, CA; by Tracey Peterson; 2/25/25 Hospice of Amador and Calaveras took advantage of the Valentine’s Day holiday to raise money to support its mission of compassionate end-of-life care. The non-profit charity held a “Take a Chance on Love” Valentine’s Day raffle and hauled in more than $13,000 due to the generosity of community members and organizations, which has ensured that everyone, regardless of their ability to pay, can access vital hospice services, shared hospice officials. “We are incredibly grateful for the overwhelming support we received for our Valentine’s Day raffle,” said Samantha Lukow, Executive Director. “The funds raised will directly impact our ability to provide free, high-quality end-of-life care to those in need within our community. This remarkable achievement truly reflects the compassionate spirit of Amador and Calaveras counties.”
[UK Hospice Fundraiser] Over 5,000 Christmas trees recycled to help local parks
02/27/25 at 03:10 AM[UK Hospice Fundraiser] Over 5,000 Christmas trees recycled to help local parks Manchester News, United Kingdom; by Manchester City Council; 2/26/25... In partnership with local charity Just Helping, who fundraise for Francis House hospice, the We Love Manchester charity and St Ann’s hospice, we raised £117, 675 for local hospices and charities as well as saved a an estimated 84, 944kg on CO2 emissions. Editor's note: This recycling Christmas trees fundraiser is a popular community engagement fundraiser for many hospices. The work is done mainly by volunteers. Articles we posted this past season include the following:
Patients without family or health care proxies face overtreatment or limbo in hospitals
02/25/25 at 03:00 AMPatients without family or health care proxies face overtreatment or limbo in hospitals WHYY - PBS; by Maiken Scott; 2/24/25 A program matches unrepresented patients with volunteers who can make care decisions for them during health care crises. ... [Intensive care physician David] Oxman says unrepresented patients are a small, but growing group. Some have outlived their family members, or are estranged from them. Maybe they’ve moved a lot, sometimes substance use or homelessness plays a role. The situation is especially complicated with patients who have dementia, or who can’t communicate their wishes for other reasons. ... Most states have provisions where medical guardians and medical decision makers can be appointed by a court, but that takes a long time. In the meantime, a search for relatives begins. David Sontag, director of ethics for Beth Israel Lahey Health in Massachusetts, ... created a matching program where health care professionals volunteer to represent patients, not within their own hospital systems because that could cross ethical boundaries, but at other hospitals. “This is an opportunity for us to help some of the most vulnerable members of our communities, those who have nobody to speak for them when they can no longer speak for themselves. And that allows us to respect their autonomy throughout their lives,” he said.
What is death positivity?
02/25/25 at 03:00 AMWhat is death positivity? Phaneuf Funeral Homes & Crematorium, New Hampshire & Vermont; by Phaneuf; 2/19/25 Death positivity is a growing movement that challenges the long-held taboos surrounding death. Rather than shying away from the subject, death positivity encourages individuals and communities to discuss mortality openly. It’s about accepting death as a natural part of life, reducing the fear and stigma often associated with it, and using that acceptance as a foundation for better end-of-life planning and living more fully. Historically, many cultures—including those in the New England region—often treated death as a private, somber affair. Today, however, a new narrative is emerging: one that celebrates the life lived, honors the memories left behind, and helps families make informed, compassionate decisions about the future.
Hospice workers in Tampa experience what it feels like to live with dementia
02/24/25 at 03:00 AMHospice workers in Tampa experience what it feels like to live with dementiaFox 13 Tampa Bay, FL; by Kailey Tracy; 2/19/25 Keosha Simmons says her father, who died in 2018, was a hard worker and an amazing man. ... "He did live with dementia. It was an early onset of dementia. He ended up with cancer, and it was a later stage when we found out about it, and that's when he came under the care of Empath Health Suncoast Hospice," Simmons said. Simmons is now the Director of Empath’s Community Engagement team. On Wednesday, Simmons and her team did a different kind of training. It was a hands-on simulation to experience what someone with dementia feels. [From this article's "The Brief" Summary.]
Hospice of the Chesapeake Advanced Cardiac Care Program seeks to reduce hospital visits
02/24/25 at 02:30 AMHospice of the Chesapeake Advanced Cardiac Care Program seeks to reduce hospital visits Southern Maryland News Net; Press Release; 2/20/25Hospice of the Chesapeake, in collaboration with the American Heart Association (AHA) and the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI) announces the Advanced Cardiac Care Program to address one of the nation’s largest killers of Americans – heart disease. Each year, more Americans die from heart disease than any other condition, including cancer. Heart disease is also a leading cause of hospitalization: patients with congestive heart failure alone account for more than one million inpatient admissions annually. By offering heart disease patients the right educational resources, we empower them to take control of their health,” Hospice of the Chesapeake Vice President of Medical Affairs & Hospice Medical Director Dr. Sonja Richmond said. “The resources available through the Advanced Cardiac Care Program can help patients and caregivers better manage their condition, reducing the likelihood of hospital visits and improving their quality of life.” ... Carole Fisher, President of NPHI [said,] “Far too many die alone in a hospital or nursing facility, when instead our hospice teams could care for them wherever they reside and they could enjoy a far higher quality of life surrounded by loved ones.”Editor's note: Links to Hospice of the Chesapeake; AHA'sHospice Care" webpage; NPHI's Advanced Cardiac Care.rogram.
Partnership grows to help more clinicians of color find community in Vermont
02/21/25 at 03:10 AMPartnership grows to help more clinicians of color find community in Vermont Vermont Business Magazine - Vermont Biz (VB), South Burlington, VT; by Tim, The University of Vermont Medical Center; 2/18/25 A growing partnership between University of Vermont Medical Center and the Vermont Professionals of Color Network (VT PoC) aims to help people of color adjust to life in Vermont and build the personal and professional relationships community leaders say are crucial to both individual wellbeing and keeping residency students in the state after they complete their clinical training. “During my 20 plus years here, I have heard from so many black and brown people about how difficult it can be to adjust to life in Vermont – and this goes for medical residents too,” said Tino Rutanhira, co-founder and co-executive director of VT PoC. "... Without support, many of these professionals decide to leave Vermont at a time when our state desperately needs young, skilled and diverse people to help it grow.” Editor's note: Parteners listed include The University of Vermont Health Network - Home Health & Hospice.
Heritage Hospice’s “Scatter Hearts” project honors veterans and patients
02/21/25 at 03:00 AMHeritage Hospice’s “Scatter Hearts” project honors veterans and patients The Advocate-Messenger, Danville, KY; by Josely Labarrere; 2/19/25 Heritage Hospice volunteers are spreading love and appreciation this Valentine’s season with the “Scatter Hearts” project, a heartfelt initiative designed to bring joy to hospice patients, particularly veterans. ... “The volunteers thought it would be a good time to honor our veterans, acknowledge the sacrifices they have made for us, and bring a smile to our hospice patients,” said Wendy Hellard, Director of Volunteer Services at Heritage Hospice. ... The wooden hearts, designed to be displayed on doors, were individually painted by Heritage Hospice volunteers and community members in bright and cheerful colors. Special hearts featuring patriotic red, white, and blue designs were created for veteran patients."
[UK] Campaign focuses on hospice's work: [This Is Hospice Care]
02/21/25 at 03:00 AM[UK] Campaign focuses on hospice's work: [This is Hospice Care] The Free Library; by Sam Volpe; 2/17/25 Tyneside Hospice is taking part in a new national campaign highlighting their "vital role" - while one son has paid tribute to the care his mother received in her final days. St Oswald's Hospice in Newcastle is one of more than 140 hospices taking part in a new campaign called "This is Hospice Care" which is designed to demystify the role hospices play in our communities. [England, Scotland and Wales] Click here for "This is Hospice Care | UK," on the St. Oswald's Hospice website.
Andy Isaac, beloved Detroit sports fan and internet star, says he's entering hospice care
02/21/25 at 03:00 AMAndy Isaac, beloved Detroit sports fan and internet star, says he's entering hospice care Detroit Free Press; by Jared Ramsey; 2/20/25 One of the more prominent faces in the Detroit sports fan online community announced Tuesday he's leaving social media due to his ongoing battle with cancer. Andy Isaac, known from his X (formerly Twitter) account @WorldofIsaac, said he's chosen to enter hospice care. He's been battling Hodgkin's lymphoma since he was first diagnosed in 2006. Isaac, with more than 89,000 followers, became a beloved figure as he cheered on the Detroit Lions, Tigers, Red Wings, and Pistons with his followers and cracked jokes at other teams' expense, namely the Chicago Bears. ... "I don't know when my first tweet or post was but I can tell you, sadly, this is probably one of my last. Having cancer since 2006 has finally taken its toll on me, it has stripped me of my quality of life. I have decided on hospice care." ... He signed off by saying, "Be kind to each other. I love you all. Truly, I do."
Harley Owners Group & Community make splash for JRMC Hospice
02/21/25 at 02:00 AMHarley Owners Group & Community make splash for JRMC Hospice NewsDakota.com, Jamestown, ND; by Steve Urness; 2/18/25 The spirit of generosity and adventure was alive and well at the 19th annual Polar Pig Walk the Plank & Chili Cook-off, held Feb. 1 at Stutsman Harley-Davidson. ... This year, Polar Pig reached an incredible milestone—surpassing $300,000 raised for JRMC Hospice since its inception. ... This year alone, $19,405 was raised, directly benefiting the care provided by the JRMC Hospice team. Braving the winter air, dozens of participants in a wide variety of costumes took the plunge, leaping into the water in the name of hospice care. Spectators cheered as JRMC team members, community members and families joined in the fun, embracing the cold for a cause. The event also featured a chili cook-off and silent auction.Editor's note: We don't know the temperature for this North Dakota polar plunge on Feb 1. However, the weather on Thu 2/20 in Jamestown, ND is -8°. Bravo to these brave souls!
Mayo Clinic Hospice to present improv show on end-of-life care at Marion Ross theater
02/20/25 at 03:00 AMMayo Clinic Hospice to present improv show on end-of-life care at Marion Ross theater Albert Lea Tribune; 2/18/25 In honor of Mayo Clinic Hospice celebrating 45 years of service to Southeast Minnesota, in collaboration with Danger Boat Productions, the Naeve Health Care Foundation, and the Mayo Clinic Dolores Jean Lavins Center for Humanities in Medicine, invites the community to attend “End-of-Life: Live and Unscripted.” The event will be held at the Marion Ross Theatre from 6 to 7 p.m. March 27, with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. This unique improv show aims to bring the community together for an evening of laughter and learning. Attendees will gain insights into advanced care planning, important end-of-life care considerations and ways to support the community during end-of-life stages.Editor's note: Though readers surely will not be able to attend, we post this to spark your collaborations for community engagement and education through the arts.