Literature Review

All posts tagged with “Clinical News | Grief & Bereavement News.”



MLN Fact Sheet: Creating an effective hospice Plan of Care

05/30/25 at 03:00 AM

MLN Fact Sheet: Creating an efffective Hospice Plan of CareCenters for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Medicare Learning Network (MLN); 5/10/25 The hospice plan of care (POC) maps out needs and services given to a Medicare patient facing a terminal illness, as well as the patient’s family or caregiver. CMS data shows that some hospice POCs are incomplete or not followed correctly. This fact sheet educates on creating and coordinating successful hospice POCs. The primary goal of hospice care is to meet the holistic needs of an individual and their caregiver and family when curative care is no longer an option. To support this goal:

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Lanterns light up the sky in east Wichita to remember lost loved ones on Memorial Day

05/28/25 at 03:00 AM

Lanterns light up the sky in east Wichita to remember lost loved ones on Memorial Day ABC KAKE, Wichita, KS; by Jocelyn Schifferdecker; 5/26/25 About a hundred lanterns lit up the sky Monday night at the Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice memory garden in East Wichita. Each lantern floating on the water told its own special story. [Candace] Dudley says [her husband] Ricky died about a year and a half ago from colon cancer. ... She says she misses him every day and she's thankful for Lanterns of Life because it gave her an opportunity to remember him. "My heart is full tonight. Making his lanyard, I made it very special ... I did all four sides with a lot of thought and put a lot of love into it because he was the love of my life," she said while holding back tears.The event is arranged by Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice. Organizers say they hope lighting a lantern for their lost loved one will bring them peace in some way. ... The event also featured food trucks, music, and more. This was the first year the hospice held it but it says it doesn't plan for it to be the last.

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When patients die: A myeloma specialist grieves

05/27/25 at 03:00 AM

When patients die: A myeloma specialist grieves Medscape; by Manni Mohyuddin, MD; 5/28/25 ... We form such beautiful bonds with patients as we guide them through the highs and lows of treatment. And that is why I struggled so profoundly with the abrupt separation created by a transition of a patient to hospice. How can it be okay for me to be seeing a patient weekly (and sometimes more often) for such a long time and then suddenly never see them again after they transition to hospice? How can we just disappear from their lives at such a critical juncture? I understand that I may not have more chemotherapy to offer, but I at least can offer emotional support, validation, and my friendship. ...Editor's note: Continue reading this powerful commentary. Taking this further, do you have HIPAA compliant systems in place to notify the patient's oncologist or pre-hospice primary physician of the death? 

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Mom takes first picture with new baby, not knowing in weeks he'll be gone

05/27/25 at 02:15 AM

Mom takes first picture with new baby, not knowing in weeks he'll be gone Newsweek; by Daniella  Gray; 5/24/25 A grieving mom has shared the first picture of herself with her newborn baby, not knowing she'd lose him just weeks later. Wunmi Babalola from the West Midlands in the UK, shared photos on TikTok looking at her baby in his hospital crib. In the same carousel on TikTok, Babalola also included the last photo the two of them would have together, just six and a half weeks later. ...  

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"Taps" Bugle Call: USMC Drum & Bugle Corps [YouTube]

05/26/25 at 03:00 AM

"Taps" Bugle Call: USMC Drum & Bugle Corps [YouTube]YouTube, filmed at the National Mall, Washington DC, retrieved from the internet 5/22/25Editor's note: We invite you to start this Memorial Day with this reflective playing of "Taps," with backdrops of the Washington Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, and more. Ongoing, we share with you these resources below for the veterans and their families whom you serve.

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Memorial Day Remembrance event

05/26/25 at 03:00 AM

Memorial Day Remembrance event Sand Mountain Reporter, Albertville, AL; by Mary Bailey; 5/23/25 The skies parted just enough to give Shepherd's Cove Hospice in Albertville perfect weather for their annual Memorial Day Remembrance event held on the front grounds. This yearly event is a time of solemn reflection and gratitude as they honor the lives of the veterans they had the privilege to serve over the pastt year. Stacy Johnson, Bereavement Director with Shepherd's Cove Hospice welcomed those in attendance to the event. ... The free event honored 73 veterans who were served in Hospice care at the facility. Along with the roll call of veterans, there was also a presentation of colors. Across the front lawn is also 73 white crosses bearing the names of each veteran. 

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Inaugural walk raises awareness for pancreatic cancer

05/23/25 at 03:00 AM

Inaugural walk raises awareness for pancreatic cancer Columbus Jewish News, Beachwood, OH; by Becky Raspe; 5/21/25 On April 30, Wexner Heritage Village held its inaugural Zusman Hospice & Pancreatic Cancer Walkathon fundraiser. Held at Bexley’s Schneider Park, the event was held in memory of Rob Cohen, brother of Wexner Heritage Village and Zusman Hospice’s volunteer coordinator Judi Koval. Cohen died three years ago from pancreatic cancer ... under the care of Wexner Heritage Village’s Zusman Hospice “at the end of his days.” Organizing the walk to honor her brother, the event date also would’ve been her brother’s birthday, she said. 

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New law will fast-track completion of hospice death certificates

05/23/25 at 03:00 AM

New law will fast-track completion of hospice death certificatesFlorida Politics; by Drew Wilson; 5/21/25 Grieving families will spend less time waiting on paperwork come July 1.Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed legislation that would take some stress off palliative care physicians who guide patients through their final hours, as well as the grieving families they leave behind. Sponsored by Republican Rep. Dana Trabulsy, HB 647 would allow Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) to complete and file death certificates for hospice care patients. Valid death certificates must record both time of death and cause of death before the deceased’s remains can be turned over to a funeral director. Under current law, a doctor must determine the cause of death and sign the certificate. That will remain the case after Trabulsy’s bill goes into effect July 1 for non-hospice deaths.

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Good grief: Personal stories show hope still exists after loss

05/21/25 at 03:00 AM

Good grief: Personal stories show hope still exists after loss ABC KTRK-13; by Brittaney Willmore; 5/19/25 Stories are at the heart of the memorial garden at Bo's Place. The building, with its red brick entryway, tall trees, basketball court, and patio, was intentionally designed on the outside to look almost like two arms, reaching out and welcoming in those who find themselves there as guests, but leave feeling like it's home. Carmichael Khan is familiar with the garden, which isn't made up of plants in this particular case, but of rocks that serve a very distinct purpose. Resting in the palm of his hand is his daughter's rock, which says, "Just bee." "That's why you see bees there. You just want to become. You also want to sit with your grief and just be," Khan explains. Rocks represent, but don't replace late loved ones, and painting them with personality just one of the many ways meant to help grieving children, adults, and families at Bo's Place cope with one of the most difficult parts of life -- death. 

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Yes, you can die from a broken heart

05/21/25 at 02:00 AM

Yes, you can die from a broken heartMedscape; by F. Perry Wilson, MD, MSCE; 5/14/25 A patient comes crashing into the emergency room with severe chest pain. The EKG looks like this: A patient comes crashing into the emergency room with severe chest pain. The EKG looks like this: [graphic]. As a doctor, if you see this, you’re calling the cardiac cath lab. This is an ST-elevation myocardial infarction — the big one — indicative of a blood clot blocking blood flow to a large section of the heart. The sooner you get that blood clot out, the better chance the patient has to survive. So the patient is rushed to the cath lab, and they find… nothing. Clear coronaries. No blood clot. Further questioning reveals that the patient, an older woman, lost her husband recently. This is stress-induced cardiomyopathy, medically known as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC). It’s the pathophysiologic manifestation of a broken heart. First described in 1991, Takotsubo syndrome occurs in the setting of deep psychological, emotional, or physical stress.

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[Philippines] Virtual mourning: How Filipinos utilize Facebook to express grief and seek support – A hermeneutic phenomenological study

05/17/25 at 03:05 AM

[Philippines] Virtual mourning: How Filipinos utilize Facebook to express grief and seek support – A hermeneutic phenomenological studyMarc Kenneth F. Cabañero, Ma. Teresa Tricia Guison-Bautista; 4/25This study explores how grieving Filipinos use Facebook to cope with loss and seek support, integrating traditional mourning practices with digital expressions of grief. Using a hermeneutic phenomenological approach, in-depth interviews were conducted with ten bereaved Filipinos to examine their online grieving experiences. Thematic analysis identified three key themes: the blending of traditional mourning rituals with Facebook for emotional support, the validation and relief provided by online interactions, and the role of digital mourning in fostering healing. Findings suggest that social media enhances Filipino bereavement practices by strengthening community connections and preserving cultural traditions. The study emphasizes the need for culturally sensitive digital spaces and grief support services that integrate both online and offline mourning.

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How grief transformed a psychiatrist’s approach to patient care

05/15/25 at 03:00 AM

How grief transformed a psychiatrist’s approach to patient care MedPageToday's KevinMD.com [reposted in AAHPM's newsletter]; by Devina Maya Wadhawa, MD; 5/12/25It is a routine Saturday morning—I am sitting in my office, looking at the snowflakes dropping outside my window. As I sip on my cup of Earl Grey tea preparing my psyche for a busy day of managing an on-call shift on an acute care psychiatry floor, I am suddenly washed over by grief. A very similar Saturday a year ago, I was saying goodbye to my father as he was being taken off life support in the intensive care unit after suffering a massive posterior myocardial infarction and ending up with a cardiac arrest at the very young age of 62. The year has been nothing short of trying, a year of firsts. ...

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Living with grief caused by your child’s death

05/15/25 at 03:00 AM

Living with grief caused by your child’s death Bonner County Daily Bee, Sandpoint, ID; by Kathy Hubbard; 5/14/25 “The challenge for many people is to speak about their feelings after the death of a child,” Tami Feyen, RN, manager of Bonner Community Hospice said. “If you haven’t gone through it, you can’t imagine what it’s like.” We were talking about the “tree” with the heart-shaped “leaves” that “grows” in the Children’s Healing Garden. This memorial, designed by artist Betty Gardner was installed in 2019 with the idea that people who had lost a child would have a comforting place to come to remember their loved one(s).

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I held my wife's hand as she died. It was the most painful moment in my life, but also the greatest gift.

05/14/25 at 02:00 AM

I held my wife's hand as she died. It was the most painful moment in my life, but also the greatest gift.Yahoo!Life; by Juan Cruz, Jr.; 4/13/25

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‘Losing a part of yourself’: How women grieve their close friend’s death

05/10/25 at 03:50 AM

‘Losing a part of yourself’: How women grieve their close friend’s deathOmega-Journal of Death and Dying; Elizabeth W. Sauber, Karen M. O’Brien; 4/25Friendship provides women with a plethora of benefits, including reduced physiological and psychological distress. Thus, this study qualitatively described the bereavement of seven women who experienced the death of a close woman friend and tested an integrative model predicting prolonged grief and posttraumatic growth with 148 women grieving the death of a close woman friend. Findings from directed content analysis highlighted grief reactions, disenfranchising interactions related to social support, ways of coping, growth after loss, and ongoing challenges. Results from a path analysis indicated that avoidant emotional coping was a key mediator and predictor of prolonged grief, while problem-focused coping served as a key mediator and predictor of posttraumatic growth. The findings can be used to advance research, clinical practice and intervention efforts for women who are grieving the death of a woman friend.

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Theories and concepts about society, dying, and bereavement commonly discussed in education about death, dying, and bereavement

05/10/25 at 03:30 AM

Theories and concepts about society, dying, and bereavement commonly discussed in education about death, dying, and bereavementDeath Studies; Charles A Corr, Kenneth J Doka; 4/25This article describes and offers some evaluations of fifteen prominent theories and concepts in the field of death, dying, and bereavement. These theories and concepts range from claims about "death-denying societies" and the concept of "societal death systems" to theories about coping with dying and coping with loss, grief, and bereavement. Also examined are the concept of disenfranchised grief and theories about contrasting grief styles. Because each of these theories and concepts is often discussed in education about death, dying, and bereavement, it is important that instructors and students understand both their strengths and limitations. The goal of this analysis is twofold: (1) To help guide educators as they explain these theories and concepts to their students and readers, and (2) To assist educators in commenting on the soundness and usefulness of these theoretical frameworks.

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GRIEF VIDEO: Holes and Wholeness - Mother's Day 2025, Finding peace in the pieces, wholeness in the holes

05/09/25 at 03:50 AM

Video: Holes and Wholeness - Mother's Day 2025, Finding peace in the pieces, Wholeness in the holes Composing Life Out of Loss; by Joy Berger; 2018, updated 5/8/25Holidays, birthdays and anniversaries. They’re supposed to bring celebration, fun, food, gifts, rituals, and rich meanings. But, when our loved one is seriously ill, or has died, these same days of joy can become … holes of grief. It's already hard enough, but with the holidays,  we fear that emotions will flood us, that memories will trigger us, like ...                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

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GRIEF: How to survive Mother’s Day when your mom is gone

05/09/25 at 03:05 AM

How to survive Mother’s Day when your mom is gone Psychology Today - Dementia; by Deborah Carr, PhD; 5/8/25 ... By age 50, about half of us have mourned the death of our mother. More than 4 million older women in the U.S. have dementia, and most have children who are witnessing their cognitive declines. Whether your mother has died or slipped into the grip of late-stage dementia, Mother's Day can be hard, although the sharp pangs of sadness tend to fade with time after a mom's death. So, how do you survive Mother’s Day when your mom isn't here to celebrate with you?

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'The Grief Lady:' NC woman uses mother's funeral flowers to create art, help others heal

05/09/25 at 03:00 AM

'The Grief Lady:' NC woman uses mother's funeral flowers to create art, help others heal WRAL TV News, Raleigh, NC; by Heather Leah; 4/18/24, posted in our newsletter 4/29/24  Grief is a journey--and you never know for sure where it'll take you. When Janet Willis' mom passed away from small cell lung cancer in her 70s, Willis said she felt like she lost more than a mother; she lost a piece of herself. The loss launched her on a 100 day journey, creating art with the dried flower petals saved from her mother's funeral and sharing her grief experience with her followers. Each day she created a new piece of art – and each day it's as much a surprise for her as it is for her viewers. [See photos.]

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What grieving moms want for Mother's Day

05/09/25 at 03:00 AM

What grieving moms want for Mother's Day The Compassionate Friends - Supporting Family After a Child Dies; posted on 5/10/17, retrieved from the internet 5/8/25 Acknowledgement is what grieving mother’s want most for Mother’s Day, suggests a survey by wwwthecomfortcompany.net a website that specializes in meaningful sympathy gifts. The online survey asked, “What can others do to ease your pain on Mother’s Day?” Over 80 percent of the 200 respondents answered, “Recognize that I am a mother.” ... In response to the survey result, The Comfort Company has issued a list of ten simple ways to reach out to a grieving mother on this difficult holiday. 

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Hospice of Southern West Virginia to host grief support session ahead of Mother’s Day

05/09/25 at 03:00 AM

Hospice of Southern West Virginia to host grief support session ahead of Mother’s Day ABC WOAY-4, Oak Hill, WV; by Brandy Lawrence; 5/6/25 [posted for their community before the event] As Mother’s Day approaches, many individuals face a renewed sense of loss and sorrow. To provide comfort and support during this emotionally challenging time, Hospice of Southern West Virginia (HSWV) will hold a special grief support session focused on coping with the loss of a mother or maternal figure. The session is scheduled for Thursday, May 8, 2025, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Bowers Hospice House. The event is open to anyone in the community navigating the grief of losing their mother. The session aims to offer a safe, compassionate space for attendees to honor loved ones, share cherished memories, and find solace in the presence of others who understand their pain.

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Wings of remembrance: NorthBay butterfly release memorial focuses on healing hearts

04/29/25 at 03:00 AM

Wings of remembrance: NorthBay butterfly release memorial focuses on healing hearts The Reporter, Fairfield, CA; by Robin Miller; 4/26/25Under a sky painted in soft gray, the air a cool 60-degres, families and friends gathered quietly Saturday morning for a moment both tender and powerful. They had come to NorthBay Health Hospice & Bereavement memorial butterfly release — an event born from love, loss, and the enduring process of healing. ... Before the release, Darren Paulson, a hospice chaplain with Kaiser Permanente, stepped forward to speak. ... “Each of you came here with someone,” he said, “a companion you didn’t ask for and didn’t want: grief.” He spoke of a culture uncomfortable with sorrow, one that urges us to hide our tears and move on too quickly. But grief, he reminded them, doesn’t follow a schedule.

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[United Kingdom] New UK Centre hopes to change public attitudes towards grief

04/29/25 at 03:00 AM

[United Kingdom] New UK Centre hopes to change public attitudes towards grief University of Bristol, Bristol, UK; Press Release; 4/24/25 Grief affects everyone but is still very much a taboo subject in the UK. A new Centre - the first of its kind in the UK - hopes to shift public attitudes towards grief and create communities that are compassionate and connected in their support of people who are bereaved. The Centre for Grief Research and Community Engagement (Grief Centre) at the University of Bristol is launched today [24 April]. The Grief Centre will focus on interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research into grief, death and loss, aiming to increase understanding of these fundamental aspects of being human and provide the space for new thinking, ideas and approaches.

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How cultural shifts surrounding death reflect our evolving health priorities

04/29/25 at 02:00 AM

How cultural shifts surrounding death reflect our evolving health priorities WorldHealth.net; 4/28/25 The culture of thinking about death is evolving in profound and lasting ways. ... Modern society is seeing an unprecedented change in the way we approach mortality since health consciousness, sustainability, and personal well-being now dictate end-of-life discussions. These cultural shifts and changing attitudes about death are indicative of our overall health interests, demonstrating how much our ways of living have crossed with our ways of dying.

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Turning grief into art: Ringling College student brings legacy to life for hospice patients

04/25/25 at 03:00 AM

Turning grief into art: Ringling College student brings legacy to life for hospice patients SRQ Media, Sarasota, FL; 4/23/25 At just 19 years old, Ringling College of Art and Design student Leo Motherway is using his talent to help others preserve the stories that matter most. Through the Lazarus Engaged Learning Assistantship, this second-year Illustration major discovered legacy books—deeply personal keepsakes that capture the lives of hospice patients through words and art. Inspired by the loss of his grandmother and father, he's now a passionate volunteer with Empath Tidewell Hospice, illustrating legacy books and organizing creative campus events to engage fellow students. His latest endeavor, Colorful Conversations, is a 20-page illustrated book designed to spark memory and connection for dementia patients through conversation prompts. For Leo, this work is more than volunteering—it’s a way to honor the past, uplift the present, and ensure no story goes untold.

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