Literature Review

New data reveals the hidden costs of workplace violence in healthcare Perceptyx; by Ellen Lovell, PhD and Stephanie Schloemer, PhD; 1/17/25 Workplace violence has become an impossible-to-ignore crisis in healthcare, threatening the safety of medical professionals, patients, and institutions. The severity and frequency of these incidents have reached alarming levels, demanding immediate attention and action. ... The human cost is staggering.  ... While our research confirms the widespread nature of safety concerns in healthcare, a deeper analysis reveals significant variations across different healthcare environments and roles. This granular view helps us understand where intervention is most urgently needed. Editor's note: Although "hospice settings reported the lowest agreement at 54%," this statistic should be considered too high for comfort. Actions need to be taken to reduce it. From your professional leadership role, examine the importance of protecting hospice professionals' safety--typically in home settings--and through moments such vulnerable, emotional, conflicted times within families. What can your agency improve?

Quilting for a cause: Sterling sewing group donates quilts to Rock River Hospice & HomeShaw Local News Network, Sterline, IL; by Brandon Clark; 1/12/25The ladies of New Life Lutheran Church’s sewing group know what it means to sew love into every stitch. The group meets at the church from 9 a.m. to noon every Wednesday to sew, quilt, knit and crochet for fun, fellowship and a good cause. Group member Karen Lofgren said they donate the quilts they make to Rock River Hospice & Home of Sterling, which gives one to each new client. ... Lofgren said the sewing group has been donating quilts since Rock River Hospice opened in 2017. The sewing group donates an estimated 120 to 150 large quilts to the hospice home each year and recently presented its 1,000th quilt.

Hospice volunteering isn't for everyone but a rewarding way to give back News Talk 830 WCCO; by Susie Jones; 12/27/24 Volunteering is big part of the holiday season for some, with people wanting to help others even in difficult times. Being a hospice volunteer isn't for everyone.  It can certainly be scary to sit with someone who is dying. "It's not just a job, it's not just a volunteer gig, and I can always, always welcome new volunteers," says Allina Health hospice program administrator Erika Schuld. However, Schuld says it can be very rewarding. "You're in these really intimate, vulnerable settings, and you just form bonds really quickly, and it really is our honor in hospice to walk along with patients and families," explains Schuld. Doctor Glen Varns is the medical director of the program and he says volunteers do not administer medication. Instead they do other things to support families. Editor's note: The CMS standard 42 CFR §418.78(e) requires hospices to use volunteers for at least 5% of patient care hours. This was waived during the COVID-19 pandemic, and then reinstated May 11, 2023 when the Public Health Emergency (PHE) officially expired. CMS's volunteer requirement is unique to hospice care. Ensure that your hospice provides appropriate selection, background checks, required TB tests, job descriptions for different volunteer roles, matching of the volunteer to the best role, training, supervision, and tracking of hours for CMS's requirement. Additionally, your hospice must adhere to applicable state laws and internal HR Policies and Procedures regarding volunteers. Click here for the CMS standard.

Springside Knitting Club helps Friends of Hospice Oswego County News Now, Oswego, NY; 12/18/24 The Springside at Seneca Hill Knitting Club recently donated a bin of handmade Afghans to Friends of Hospice in Oswego County (FOHOC), said Elena Twiss, FOHOC executive director. “The Afghans they made will give warmth and comfort to individuals at the end of life in Oswego County and we are very grateful for their support.” FOHOC is a volunteer organization that provides financial and non-medical support to individuals, caregivers, friends and families during the end-of-life journey and supports them following their loss.

Hospice artisans combine talent and heart to raise $750k for Hospice of the Calumet Area over the years GreatNews.Life; by Hospice of the Calumet Area; 12/9/24 For years, Hospice of the Calumet Area has been blessed by angels in its corner, including a group with a passion for art and philanthropy. The Hospice Artisans, a dedicated team of volunteers, host their annual Holiday Market to showcase elevated, carefully curated gift items, all handmade with love. This year’s event, held on Nov. 9 at St. Maria Goretti Church in Dyer, attracted more than 700 shoppers, a testament to the community’s support for the mission. Since its inception, this initiative has raised over $750,000 to support Hospice of the Calumet Area in Munster, assisting patients and families during life’s most delicate moments. ... Volunteers range in age from as young as eight to their 70s and beyond, each contributing unique skills.

A call to action for business leaders in health care: Prioritizing employees’ mental health is a necessity Las Vegas Sun - Veagas Inc; Guest column by Karen Rubel; 12/9/24 As mental health continues to be recognized as a vital component of overall well-being, businesses—especially those in health care—must stay vigilant and proactive in addressing mental health challenges within the workplace. The importance of this issue has never been greater,  ... In a hospice setting, the emotional toll on caregivers is significant. Health care workers often form close bonds with their patients and their families, and the loss of a patient can be deeply affecting. At Nathan Adelson Hospice, our teams regularly come together to review patient care plans, but they also take time to discuss their personal experiences and challenges. These discussions provide an opportunity for our staff to offer mutual support and care. This peer-to-peer connection fosters a sense of community and helps staff process their emotions in a healthy way. ...

Non-profits join forces to help homeless in Texoma TexomasHomepage.com, Wichita Falls, TX; by Mariana Vela LEon; 12/4/24 This holiday season, you can give warmth as a gift to someone in need in Texoma. If you have extra winter clothing that you need to get rid of, consider donating it to two non-profits that make a difference in the lives of the less fortunate. Homeless Lives Matter and Complete TX Hospice Care are joining forces to help those who may be struggling to keep warm during the cold winter season. ... Editor's note: This simple, meaningful community outreach can make a significant difference. How might you replicate this--with fast turnaround--at your organization? Perhaps a drive among your employees and volunteers? Read this article for more of their logistics.

Liberty Hospice provides Thanksgiving for 7 families Lake Gaston Gazette-Observer, Gaston, NC; by Mark Mathews; 11/27/24 Liberty Hospice volunteers recently traveled to the Pleasant Hill Christian Church kitchen in Gasburg to prepare Thanksgiving meals for seven families. “The families were selected as those who would benefit the most by our wonderful Liberty Hospice Health Care team,” Liberty Hospice Regional Volunteer Coordinator Esther Harris said. “As it turned out, two of the families preferred to have us bring all the fixings to them and they were going to the cooking themselves for Thanksgiving.” ...  Harris approached DrugCo Discount Pharmacy Chief Financial Officer Neal White about helping her group with the Thanksgiving meals. She received a better-than-expected response. “I was looking for help to buy some turkey and maybe some ham,” Harris said. “Mr. White asked me how much I thought it would cost to do the entire meal for each of the seven families. I gave him a number and they donated the entire amount. So we thank DrugCo who is just a wonderful community partner.”

Holiday tradition: Hospice of Health First volunteers deliver Thanksgiving meals to patients and families Space Coast Daily, Brevard County, FL; 11/27/24  A Brevard County holiday tradition dating back to 2004 continued this week as Hospice of Health First volunteers gathered to box and deliver Thanksgiving holiday meals to hospice patients and their families. Nearly three dozen Health First volunteers met at the Hospice of Health First office in West Melbourne to sort and load more than 100 Publix Thanksgiving meal boxes for delivery. Juanita Yarber of Melbourne was one of the first recipients of the holiday meal. She said the Thanksgiving meal delivery was special but just one of the many special touches she receives from the Hospice team and Sharon Berrier, a hospice volunteer. 

No One Dies Alone: new Parker hospital program offers companionship to those at the end of life Parker Chronicle; by Haley Lena; 11/27/24 Katherine Wiley, a volunteer at AdventHealth Parker, was in the hospital’s emergency department when she saw first-hand how being alongside a stranger during their final moments of life can have a profound impact on those around them. Wiley sat with an elderly woman who was dying with no one around. The patient’s sons were trying to get to the hospital from Colorado Springs but didn’t make it in time. “When they got there, I told them that I had been with their mom so she was not alone and they were very grateful,” said Wiley. Wiley shared this story with the CEO of the hospital, Michael Goebel, at the annual volunteer luncheon last year, and the following week, the No One Dies Alone program was being set up. “We can provide companionship to patients in the dying process who are truly alone,” said Wiley. “In doing so, (it) provides a gift of respect and dignity to another human being at the end of life.” The volunteers of the program are called “compassionate companions.” They do not provide medical care, but they assist with comfort care measures – they sit beside the patient, hold their hands, play soothing music or read to the patients. For as many circumstances there are that lead a person to be hospitalized, there are also as many reasons why a patient is alone. The patient could have outlived other family members and friends, said Wiley, or are estranged from their family. It could be because the patients themselves don’t want to have their family see them die, but don’t want to be alone. Or they could be a John/Jane Doe who was in an accident. “We want to be there for them, whatever those reasons are,” said Wiley. “This sort of thing feeds my soul.”

South Jersey organization helps families caring for ailing loved ones by delivering Thanksgiving meals Fox 29 Philadelphia; by Marcus Espinoza; 11/23/24 Haddonfield, N.J. - The holiday season and stress go hand-in-hand for many, but for some, like the Esposito family, holidays like Thanksgiving can be especially challenging. Thankfully, organizations like Samaritan step up with efforts like a food drive in South Jersey. "Samaritan for years has been delivering meals to hospice, palliative and bereaved families all around our five-county area," explained Volunteer Coordinator Lisa DiCerto. DiCerto is a long-time Volunteer Coordinator and says give back days really highlight their mission as an organization to provide not just a hot meal during Thanksgiving, but a chance for families to worry about one less thing. ... It’s a large operation full of volunteers committed to helping their neighbors. "We are delivering to about 140 different locations today," DiCerto said. Editor's note: Giving thanks year-round, Samaritan Hospice (and its other services) provides a beautiful, simple way to thank their staff: click here to view. "Fill out the form to send us a message. We welcome your thoughts about the care you and your loved one received. We’ll make sure to share it with the hospice team, palliative care professionals, or grief counselors who took care of you, your family member, or friend." 

Need to boost your spirits? Here are 7 ways to volunteer on Thanksgiving. HuffPost; by Anna Rahmanan; 11/19/24 This Thanksgiving, instead of spending all day stuffing yourself with food and sitting around, there’s another option that may feel a whole lot better: You can carve out at least part of your day to give back to people who might need some extra attention. After all, the season is about giving thanks and showing that we’ve got everyone’s back. Need some ideas to get started? We talked to folks who’ve done it before to get their recommendations for soul-feeding ways to spend your holiday.

Local veteran continues to serve by visiting hospice veterans Lundington Daily News, Lundington, MI; by Shanna Avery; 11/9/24 With love of service to their country, some veterans continue to find ways to serve and make a difference, and Ludington veteran Dick Gregaitis does just that when he visits other veterans as they approach the end of their lives. Gregaitis has been volunteering with Hospice of Michigan in the local area for eight years, where he visits veteran patients. Gregaitis served in the U.S. Navy from Aug. 1962 to 1965, then the U.S. Air Force until he retired in 1986 as senior master sergeant. Gregaitis said he has been around this area, and met his wife of 55 years at Round Lake. He traveled all over while in the military. It is through his own experiences, he shares a bond with other veterans. “To me, it is a way to give back to the community,” he said. “A lot of veterans don’t get people stopping by or talking. They like someone there that knows about the military. I even designed a badge that says, ‘military outreach.’ It is a win/win. I like to do it and I have the time to do it, and they like someone to say hi to.”