Literature Review

Lewiston community honors shooting and hospice victims with butterfly release celebration CBS WGME TV13, Lewston, Maine; by Aysia Reed; 7/13/24 Hundreds of butterflies took flight in Lewiston on Saturday for the 15th annual Butterfly Release Celebration hosted by Andwell Health Partners.  Hundreds of names were read off Saturday at the Geiger Elementary School in Lewiston to honor those who have died in hospice. And this year the names of Lewiston mass shooting victims were honored too. The event is put on by Andwell Health Partners, a Maine healthcare nonprofit providing services for hospice patients and their families. Once names were read, one thousand monarch butterflies were released- a symbol of transformation and hope.Editor's Note: On October 25, 2023 in Lewiston, Maine, 18 individuals died and and 13 others were injured by a shooter at a bowling alley and restaurant.   

CMS: GUIDE Model Participants and Infographic CMS.gov and various press releases; retrieved from the internet 7/10/24 The Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) Model is a voluntary nationwide model test that aims to support people with dementia and their unpaid caregivers. The model began on July 1, 2024, and will run for eight years. Editor's Note: Multiple press releases are populating across the internet. We share this list of links to information, participants, and sample press releases from well-known participants. 

'I'm as happy as I've been in my life,' says aid worker Simon Boas as he faces deathBBC News; 7/4/24 In September 2023, Simon Boas was diagnosed with throat cancer. Aged just 46, he was told the disease was terminal, and that it would ultimately take his life. Over the following year, he knitted together his reflections on life into a book - A Beginner's Guide to Dying. The book is set to hit the shelves in October. It will be a posthumous publication. In what he expects to be one of his final interviews, Simon spoke to Emma Barnett on the Today Programme, offering his reflections on life and death as he moved into hospice care. "My pain is under control and I'm terribly happy - it sounds weird to say, but I'm as happy as I've ever been in my life.I used to think I'd rather be hit by the proverbial bus, but having a couple of months knowing this is coming has really helped me both do the boring 'death-min', but also get my thoughts and prepare myself, and feel so accepting of what's to come.It's been such a great bonus, actually. The book is called A Beginner's Guide to Dying, but really what I'm trying to convey is how enjoying life to the full kind of prepares you for this. ... I spent my life as an aid worker - quite a lot with the UN - and I've lived in places where death is something that not just exists in the background, but is imminently possible."Editor's Note: Click on the title's link to continue reading this inspirational story. Simon's book--to be published posthumously--is available for pre-orders on Amazon.com in Audible formats with Simon as the narrator.

Pasadena Hindu Temple offers health planning series for seniors: Interactive session to cover advance care, palliative care, and hospice services Pasadena Now; 7/2/24 The Pasadena Hindu Temple is hosting a health and wellbeing series for seniors, focusing on future healthcare planning. ... Doctors Alka and Pradeep Kapoor, both board-certified in internal medicine, hospice, and palliative medicine, will present on topics including advance care planning, palliative care, and hospice care. The doctors, who have over 45 years of medical experience, are also certified in Post Acute and Long-term care medicine. ... Established in 2002, the Pasadena Hindu Temple has evolved into a hub for Indian heritage and Hindu worship in Southern California. Now operating as the Hindu Temple and Heritage Foundation (HTHF), the nonprofit organization offers various community services. Editor's Note: What cultures and faith communities are in your service areas? Do you reach out to all? Does your staffing reflect your community? Click here for U.S. Census information and search for your geographical areas. 

A guide to making end-of-life decisions easier for your loved ones The Detroit Jewish News; by Shari Cohen; 7/1/24 It’s not a pleasant prospect, but each of us will eventually die. For family members, the death of a loved one brings sadness and a sense of loss but also a need to deal with practical matters. ... A new guidebook, Two Envelopes: What You Want Your Loved Ones To Know When You Die, by Rusty Rosman offers practical advice to help families with the death of a relative. ... While Rosman’s book is written from a Jewish perspective, as part of her research, she spoke with funeral directors and clergy from many religious and ethnic groups. ... Rabbi Joseph Krakoff, CEO of Jewish Hospice and Chaplaincy Network (JHCN), who wrote a preface for the book, describes it as “a great motivation to help people to think about these things. I encourage everyone to talk about it when they’re healthy,” he adds.

NPHI Statement: Hospital notifications to patients of hospice referral optionsNPHI press release; 6/17/24Many hospitals are providing discharged patients with a list of all Medicare-certified hospices in the geographic area in which the patient resides, in the mistaken belief that this is a requirement under the Medicare Conditions of Participation (COPs). Hospitals may be understandably confused by existing hospital CoPs that require such lists to be provided for HH, SNF, IRF and LTCHs. Section 482.43(c)(2) clearly states these provider types and excludes hospices. There is no such requirement in the hospice regulations or law that requires a hospital to provide patients with a list of all hospices in a particular geographic area. [See statement for additional information.]

Our Hospice collects food in employee-led drive The Republic; by Staff Reports; 6/20/24 Our Hospice (OHSCI) and Palliative Care collected 500 pounds of food for patients and families in need in an employee-led food drive. “The efforts, enthusiasm, and passion displayed by everyone at Our Hospice is truly astonishing!” said Chealsy Parr, a social worker who led the food drive. “Thanks to the participation of teammates from Greensburg, Columbus, the Hospice Center, Palliative Care, and North Vernon, we’ve significantly impacted those facing food insecurity.” “The employee – led food donations will go a long way to support those in our care who are in need,” said Steph Cain, president, Our Hospice and Palliative Care. [Located in Indiana] Editor's Note: Hospice leaders, how might you replicate this with your employees and volunteers, for the patients you serve? Forward this to the right person who can take this great initiative and make it happen.

Mt. Hood Hospice honors women veterans with event NewsBreak; by Brit Allen; 6/15/24 On Wednesday, June 12, Jolie Phanton, community outreach director for the organization took Mt. Hood’s veterans services a step further with a National Women Veterans Recognition Day celebration at Clackamas County Bank. The event featured a presentation on the history of women’s involvement in American-involved conflicts, as far back as the Revolutionary War up to current day. She spoke about how women have for a long time served as nurses, supply distributers, informants, and before they were allowed to fight alongside men, some disguised themselves as men and risked their lives on the battlefield. Women have also played many other roles in the military over the past 200 years. [Click on the title's link to read more.]Editor's Note: While we have highlighted various hospice veterans' stories, this brings fresh insights, information, and ideas. Thank you, Mt. Hood Hospice!

President and CEO of Baxter Health System issues note of thanks to publicOzark Radio News (AR); by Daniel Williams; 5/29/24The president and CEO of Baxter Health in Mountain Home recently issued a word of thanks to the public, addressing those who provided help during the emergency situations in Arkansas on the morning of Sunday, May 26th."I would like to personally thank everyone who was involved in the Code Yellow Disaster event on Sunday morning at Baxter Health. ... Whether it was our ambulance crews who were first on the scene, our physicians, nurses, or ancillary staff at the hospital, or our staff checking on Home Health and Hospice patients for oxygen and other needs, everyone played a crucial role. Additionally, others like Air Evac assisted us in setting up a triage area ... Thank you all very much. I know that there is still a lot to deal with in the aftermath of the storms. Your continued commitment to help is still present and obvious."Editor's Note: Thank you, Ron Peterson (president and CEO) for exemplifying community collaboration, leadership, and humanity. News of natural disasters throughout our nation has become normal: tornados, hurricanes, floods, wildfires, blizzards, and more. Behind each incident are hospice patients, caregivers/families, professionals, volunteers, and community services who rally together to provide safety and support. (For readers, whom might you reach out and thank, for their crucial support through a past crisis?)

[NHPCO] Memorial Day Resources and Social Media Graphics NHPCO; We Honor Veterans webpage; retrieved from the internet 5/23/24 The National Hospice & Palliative Care Organization provides various "Memorial Day Resources and Social Media Graphics" on this page of its "We Honor Veterans" program.

OSF launches new tools to help make end-of-life planning easier News25, Peoria, IL; by Liz Lape; 4/26/24 OSF Healthcare reports that thousands of patients are dying in medical facilities without end-of-life care plans. ... Sarah Overton, Chief Officer of Nursing, describes that studies show that over 70% of patients would prefer a setting other than a hospital to spend their last moments, like at home hospice or palliative care. OSF has launched self-service resources such as an Advanced Careplanning page and Patient Questionnaire on their app MyChart. Overton says the goal is to make end-of-life care planning more available to the public.

'Why we need to talk about dying': Thames Hospice and the reality of palliative careMaidenhead Advertiser; by Sam Leech; 4/27/24What is your understanding of what a hospice does?Many would suggest it is a place where people go to die – but there is much, much more to the journey of patients and loved ones at Thames Hospice [United Kingdom]. ... Catherine McLaughlin, the hospice’s chief executive, said: “This is a place where – yes, death is a big part – but it’s about how do you make memories? How do you give hope at a time when there might not be much of that? Those final days in somebody’s life is a very important time and the lasting memories are important to those who are left behind.”Editor's Note: Too often--in order to make hospice palatable to another's "sign-on-the-dotted-line-so-we-can-admit-you"--marketing professionals overtly deny that hospice is about "dying," "death," or "grief." Take note from this CEO who sensitively weaves in death, dying and bereavement for not only hospice, but also for "palliative care" with gentle, authentic conversation and questions to the public.

Village Hospice hosts Vietnam Veteran’s Breakfast CBS KCTV 5, Kansas City, MO; 4/10/24 Village Hospice provides many services to support their residents, including ways to honor their residents that are veterans. Jillian hears about a recent Vietnam Veterans’ Breakfast and how it celebrated Veterans living at John Knox Village.