Literature Review

The work of hospicing Stanford Social Innovation Review; by Vanessa Andreotti and Habib Nabatu; Winter 2025 issue, 11/20/24As we stand at the precipice of endings—of species, ecosystems, organizations, and systems themselves—the work of hospicing is to move beyond fear and embrace the deep transitions ahead with wisdom. To be stewards of this time, we must develop the practices and capacities to tend to these endings, not with urgency or control, but with a kind of stillness that invites the birth of new ways of being. Endings are not failures; they are part of a cycle that requires presence, reverence, and humility. Our hyperfocus on growth and expansion has left us ill-prepared to sit with death—whether it be the death of industries or the biosphere—and this discomfort with grief prevents us from being fully alive in the present. How might we allow the crumbling of outdated structures without rushing to rebuild too quickly? How might we hold space for what is irreversibly changing, without rushing to save or fix it? ...

Hospice of the Panhandle veteran volunteers reflect on their service to veteran patients The Journal, journal-news.net, Martinsburg, WV; by Hospice of the Panhandle; 11/17/24 In recognition of Veterans Day, we asked our veteran volunteers at Hospice of the Panhandle to talk about why they perform this service for their fellow veterans. Hospice performs Veteran Recognition ceremonies to all veteran patients and families who wish to take part.  ... Leroy James — Being a Veteran who served during the Vietnam era, I can appreciate the importance of the work that Hospice does when recognizing a veteran’s service to our country. Several of the veterans who I have had the honor of recognizing served during the Vietnam War years. They were grateful that we took the time to show our appreciation when the country did not do so upon their return from serving overseas. [Click on the title's link to continue reading volunteers' stories.]

Signs and symptoms of end-of-life kidney failure Health; by Lindsay Curtis; 11/8/24 Kidney failure, or end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), occurs when the kidneys lose their ability to filter waste and excess fluids from the blood. As toxins and fluid build up in the body, other health problems can develop, increasing the risk of life-threatening complications. ...

Finding purpose and joy through the gift of volunteering SMA News Today - Bionews, Inc., Pensacola, FL; by Jasmine Ramos; 10/24/24 My physical limitations don't define my ability to give back to others. Volunteering has given me more joy and meaning than I ever imagined possible. Living with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) means I can’t move my own body, but that hasn’t stopped me from finding ways to move others. Whether supporting disaster relief efforts or creating meaningful moments for hospice patients, my work gives me a sense of freedom and fulfillment that transcends physical limitations. Every task, no matter how small, reminds me that we all have the power to make an impact. My body may not move independently, but through volunteering, my heart and spirit are constantly in motion, reaching out to touch the lives of others. ... Working with the hospice center brought a different set of rewards. I help create monthly newsletters that inform, comfort, and connect patients and their families.

Meet the Maytown woman whose 'Apple Dumpling Gang' makes 700+ treats for people needing a pick-me-up LNP and Lancaster Online, Lancaster, PA; by Laura Knowles; 10/22/24 ... “One day my father-in-law — we called him Poppy — came home with six apples, and asked if I would make apple dumplings for him,” Goodhart said. “It was such a simple request.” Paul Goodhart loved his apple dumplings so much that it gave his daughter-in-law an idea. She began making apple dumplings for others who needed a sweet pick-me-up. That was 15 years ago. Since then, Goodhart has enlisted help from others, dubbing the group the Apple Dumpling Gang. Just last week, the group of nearly 40 women made 775 apple dumplings for seniors, hospice patients, retirement home residents, shut-ins, cancer patients and anyone who could use the heartfelt blessing of an apple dumpling handmade with love. 

Couple who volunteers together, shares the same joy Envision - Greater Fond du Lac, WI; contact Betty Wallerser; 10/7/24 For the past nine years, Matthew Davis, a Green Lake resident, has been spending a good amount of his days volunteering with SSM Health at Home Hospice – Green Lake. “A friend of mine mentioned volunteering for hospice telling me that it was the most rewarding thing he had ever done, so I thought I’d give it a try,” according to Matthew. A handful of stories and memories later, Matthew is still volunteering for SSM Health at Home Hospice – Green Lake. ... In 2023, Matthew’s wife, Becky, also started volunteering for SSM Hospice at Home Hospice in Green Lake.  “I always wanted to be a hospice volunteer,” Becky shares. “I worked in physical therapy for 25 years and had a comfort level with patients I knew some people didn’t have. When a close friend of mine passed away on hospice, I knew it was my time to sign up.” Matthew and Becky are one of several couples who volunteer in hospice and are a great asset to the Volunteer Services team, as they both visit with several hospice patients a week.

Longview hospice adds handmade quilt donations under new management The Daily News; by Minka Atkinson; 9/27/24 At PeaceHealth Ray Hickey Hospice House in Vancouver, patients receive handmade quilts to drape their beds that are then donated to their family as a memento after their passing. PeaceHealth is now looking to bring this tradition to Richard Nau Hospice House, which it took over in November. “It gives the home, cozy feeling to those patients,” Hospice Volunteer Program supervisor Jennifer Linde said. The quilts are sourced through donations from local community groups, like the Kalama Quilters and Calvary Community Church, Linde said. Individual quilters are also welcome to contribute. ...

A dying wish: Longtime hospice volunteer has a challenge for GV Green Valley News, Green Valley, AZ; by Dan Shearer; 9/10/24 ... The woman who walked alongside dying patients as a hospice volunteer for more than 20 years is now herself in hospice. She smiles but says the glistening in her eyes are sad tears. But cancer hasn't taken her joy, and she’s emotionally strong enough to meet with a reporter in her final weeks to make a request of Green Valley: Please consider taking up just the kind of work she’s been doing for two decades. It’s tough, but it comes with lessons and blessings that last a lifetime. ...

Dogs helping hospice patients WFMY News 2 - YouTube; Mountain Valley Hospice, Dobson, NC; 9/3/24 Mountain Valley Hospice in Surrey County has been using therapy dogs and with some really great results, the dogs provided in boost at a time when families and their loved ones are going through extremely tough times patients. If they're having a hard day and all they're seeing is these clinical teams coming in and doing things to them and then they just see a pet and they're missing their pet or they had pets in the past and they can just go to the bedside. If they're big dogs they can pet them, or if they're small dogs they can put a towel over on top of them and then put the little pet on top of the bed and they can pet it and just lay there.

Hospice workers help patients with last wishes St. Joseph News-Press, MO; by Charles Christian; 9/1/24 While expressing last wishes is not always the first priority for hospice patients, caregivers say it can be a helpful and meaningful step in the grief process. Registered nurse Kathy Lewis, a hospice care manager at Freudenthal Home-Based Healthcare, said that although asking about last wishes is part of the intake process for many hospice organizations, it is not always something that patients and families share right away. "I typically don't ask about last wishes during an admission," Lewis said. "But once I get to know them, and they feel comfortable with me ... that's when they tend to disclose things like that, because it is a very personal thing." Once disclosed, social workers, nurses, chaplains and other members of a treatment team do what they can to fulfill these wishes. Licensed social worker Jenny Dryburgh said that for bigger wishes, creativity becomes a key factor. ...

A friend until the end: The impact of hospice volunteers Parkview Health, Fort Wayne, IN; 8/16/24 The presence of a hospice volunteer offers a unique form of support that complements the effots of a care team consisting of physicians, nurses, social workers and chaplains. While these specialists focus on a patient's physical, logistical and spiritual needs, volunteers contribute the element companionship during an emotionally difficult time. Jane Sandor, retired schoolteacher and principal, and Sally Stuckway, former executive director of a medical practice in Lafayette, IN, share how their personal experiences with hospice care shaped their desire to give back.

Amid trauma and burnout, it ‘takes courage’ to reflect on mental, emotional well-being Healio; by Jennifer Byrne; 7/31/24 ... [William E. Rosa, PhD, MBE, MS] began to realize that in the stressful, devastating situations he and his colleagues faced daily, there was much to be learned from the principles of trauma-informed care. ... “This is the idea that cultivating an awareness can prevent us from re-traumatizing ourselves and others,” he said. “I think it starts with reflecting on — and telling the truth about — our mental and emotional well-being. That takes courage.” In acknowledging the emotional scars, brokenness and vulnerability that comes from tragedy and loss, individuals can begin to heal a lifetime of stored and unresolved trauma, Rosa said. “As a workforce, you and I see unacceptable rates of suicide, burnout, moral distress and attrition,” he said. “It’s time that we come to safe and supported terms with our trauma — not just as individuals, but as a collective, not only for the patients and families we serve, but for us to survive.”Editor's Note: In this article, Dr. Rosa identified "the emotional impact of taking yet another patient off the ventilator at the end of life." Recent articles we've posted in this newsletter about trauma-informed care been in our "Top Reads." While those articles focused on trauma-informed care of the persons you serve, this focuses on the persons who serve, your all-important direct patient care clinicians.

Proactive fall prevention: Elevating patient safety and healthcare excellenceHealthCare Business News; by Amy Hester; 7/26/24... The significance of fall prevention cannot be overstated, as it directly impacts patient outcomes and overall healthcare quality. With the patient safety solutions market growing at an expected rate of 11.2%, the importance of proactive fall prevention strategies becomes even more evident. ... In the United States, preventable medical errors, including falls, are the third leading cause of death. The impact of falls on patient health and recovery is profound, often leading to longer hospital stays, delayed recovery and increased risk of subsequent falls.Editor's Note: Proactive fall prevention is especially important for persons needing palliative or hospice care. As the person's health and mobility declines, they have to adjust to these changes mentally, emotionally, physically, and relationally. Recognizing decline can feel like defeat. Asking for help can be tough. Family members can expect the person to move more independently more than possible, leading to falls.