Literature Review

CMS Call for Nominations: 2025 CMS Health Equity Award U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; by CMS Health Equity; via CMS email 1/13/25Nominations for the 2025 CMS Health Equity Award are now open to organizations working to advance health equity, showing others how to reduce disparities in health care access, quality, and outcomes. Nominations are due February 18 at 11:59 pm PT.  ... Health equity is defined by CMS as the attainment of the highest level of health for all people, where everyone has a fair and just opportunity to attain their optimal health regardless of race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status, geography, preferred language, and other factors that affect access to care and health outcomes. 

Friday is final deadline for McKnight’s Women of Distinction award nominations McKnights Senior Living; by Lois A. Bowers; 1/13/25 The final nomination deadline for the 2025 McKnight’s Women of Distinction awards program is Friday [1/17]. The annual program is presented by McKnight’s Senior Living, McKnight’s Long-Term Care News and McKnight’s Home Care ... Eligible for recognition in 2025 are women working as direct care providers, managers, executives, corporate executives and owners in independent living, assisted living, memory care and life plan communities, as well as those working in those capacities in skilled nursing facilities and in home care, home health, hospice and palliative care. ... Nominators for the Rising Star, Veteran VIP and Hall of Honor categories should be prepared to share detailed qualitative and quantitative information about nominees’ work histories, exceptional achievements and contributions or service, and anything else the judging panel should consider. [Click on the title's link for more information.] 

An innovative take on transforming hospice spaces with Buildner for better well-being Arch Daily; 12/19/24 Buildner has announced the results of its Hospice - Home for the Terminally Ill competition, the third in a series of architectural idea challenges focused on creating compassionate spaces for individuals facing terminal illnesses. This competition encouraged architects to move beyond traditional medical models, designing environments that prioritize comfort, dignity, and community. Participants were tasked with envisioning a facility for up to 15 visitors and five staff members, incorporating essential spaces such as a library-equipped common area, gathering room, chapel, kitchen, dining area, nurse's station, and therapy room for psychological support. Designs were grounded in theoretical sites within participants' home countries, allowing for the integration of local cultural, social, and environmental contexts. The competition highlighted how innovative, thoughtful design can provide solace and strength during life's most difficult moments. ...

[New Zealand] Palliative care podcast’s win a ‘complete surprise’ Otago Daily Times, New Zealand; by Matthew Littlewood; 12/2/24 A Dunedin carer’s attempts to bring conversations about palliative care to a wider audience has been acknowledged at the New Zealand podcasting awards. Otago Hospice care nurse Denise van Aalst told the Otago Daily Times that winning the bronze medal in the Best Interview Podcast category for her podcast Ending Life Well came as a "complete surprise". The 29-episode series was launched about two years ago, and covered subjects such as self-care, legal matters, funeral planning and whānau manaaki (families who provide care to a kaumātua at end of life). "We knew that our podcast was helpful for people. "We don’t talk about death and dying in polite society, and people are often now going in and helping to care for somebody at the end of life with little experience or knowledge, and they don’t know where to go to get that."

Teen honored with Meritorious Civilian Award after rescuing grandparents in house fire [grandmother in hospice care] Chattanoogan.com, Chattanooga, TN; 11/12/24The Whitfield County Fire Department awarded the Meritorious Civilian Award for Bravery to 15-year-old José Fernando Espinoza on Monday in recognition of his exceptional courage during a house fire on Oct. 19. The award honors civilians who show extraordinary heroism in life-threatening situations, celebrating Fernando’s selfless actions that saved his grandparents. Shortly after midnight on Oct. 19, firefighters were dispatched to a fire on Ricky Drive, where flames had rapidly overtaken the home. Though most of the family managed to escape safely, Fernando’s grandparents remained trapped inside. His grandmother, bedridden and in hospice care, and his grandfather, who chose to stay with the grandmother, were unable to make it out on their own. In an extraordinary display of bravery, Fernando reentered the burning home through a window and, pushing through thick smoke and flames, managed to pull both grandparents to safety.