Literature Review

Stitching love The Ironton Tribune, Ironton, OH; by Mark Shaffer Patriotic-themed quilts made by the Ohio Hospice Quilters are on display at the Lawrence County Courthouse. Some of the quilts are for sale to buy more quilting supplies and the others will be donated to veterans. Ohio Hospice Quilters has made hundreds of quilts to comfort. For years, the members of the Ohio Hospice Quilters have put their skills to use to bring comfort. ... Each quilt is catered to the recipient as much as possible, they are designed for men, women, veterans or to a person’s interest or hobby.

Pikes Peak Hospice honors veteran graves with flags for Memorial Day KXRM, Colorado Springs, CO; by Dara Korn; 5/23/26 Volunteers from Pikes Peak Hospice and Palliative Care placed flags at the headstones of fallen heroes at the Pikes Peak National Cemetery on Saturday, May 23, to honor the sacrifice of those who gave their lives. This is the third year that the hospice has placed flags at the graves of service members to prepare for Memorial Day. This year, volunteers placed about 4,500 flags, up from around 4,000 flags the previous year.

Veterans Day 2026: recent articles in the newsHospice & Palliative Care Today; compilation by Joy Berger; 5/22/26

New Windsor American Legion Post 1796 raised nearly $10,000 for Hospice of Orange and Sullivan Counties Westfair Business Journal; by Westfair Online; 5/8/26 Hospice of Orange and Sullivan Counties was the beneficiary of a dinner fundraiser hosted by New Windsor American Legion Post 1796 on March 28, raising nearly $10,000 to support patients and families receiving end-of-life care. More than 150 dinners were served during the evening, with proceeds generated through ticket sales, raffles, sponsorships and donations. ... “We are deeply appreciative of the New Windsor American Legion and everyone who contributed to this event,” said Eric Gatsik, president and CEO of Hospice of Orange and Sullivan Counties.  

Kansas veteran dies in hospice weeks after KWCH story on cancer fight, push for health benefits KWCH-12 News, Wichita, KS; by Matt Heilman and KWCH Staff; 4/28/26 A Kansas veteran whose story 12 News shared last month following the initial denial of her VA health benefits amid her cancer battle died Monday night in hospice care, her husband confirmed. Lorraina Robles, who served in the Air National Guard, most recently in Africa, fought stage 3 cervical cancer for over a year. Adding to the difficulty, her VA benefits for cancer treatment and other health benefits were denied following her return from deployment. 

TNMHPO Announcing Veteran Initiative Partnership (VIP)Texas ~ New Mexico Hospice & Palliative Care Organization; email; 4/1/26 If your organization supports veterans in hospice or palliative care, we’d love to invite you to be part of something meaningful. Introducing the Veterans Initiative Partnership (VIP) — a new, no-cost program designed to bring together providers, partners, and professionals committed to improving care for veterans. ...

Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties hosts Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day ceremony The Chronicle, Orange County and Sullivan County, NY; Press Release; 4/2/26 Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties hosted a Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day ceremony on March 30 at the Cornwall Yacht Club, bringing together veterans, community members and local leaders to recognize the service and sacrifice of Vietnam-era veterans and reaffirm its commitment to compassionate end-of-life care. ... The ceremony included the reading of the names of Vietnam veterans from Orange and Sullivan Counties who lost their lives in service, followed by a moment of silence. A Missing Man Table presentation honored those who never returned.

VA Pittsburgh chaplains: Providing hope, healing and spiritual support for Veterans U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; by Jordan Harris; 3/9/26 From suicide prevention to end-of-life care, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System (VAPHS) chaplains deliver compassionate, holistic support that strengthens the well-being of Veterans and staff. Chaplains provide more than spiritual guidance -- they offer hope, comfort and connection when Veterans need it most. Whether it’s supporting someone through a mental health crisis, walking alongside families during end-of-life care, or simply listening in moments of uncertainty, chaplains are a steady presence. Their work helps Veterans find meaning, resilience and peace as part of their healing journey.

"I don't get to feel this good very often:" Virtual reality intervention for veterans receiving end-of-life careJournal of Palliative Medicine; by Megan E Gately, Steven D Shirk, Anastasia Canell, Alexandra Laffer, Melanie Corle, Kristen Dillon; 2/26We explored the use of VR [virtual reality] with patients receiving inpatient HPC [hospice and palliative care]. Twenty-five veterans with complex medical and psychiatric comorbidities at a Veterans Affairs hospital participated. Data related to self-reported pain and well-being, as well as session feedback, were gathered. Despite some challenges with setup, 91% reported enjoyment, and 90% would participate again. Travel experiences were most popular, allowing reminiscence and touring of bucket-list destinations. Program feedback suggested improvements in anxiety, mood, and boredom.

Pikes Peak Hospice donation drive smashes goal; 150 new blankets collected for veteran patients The Gazette, Colorado Springs, CO; by O'Dell Isaac; 3/2/26 Pikes Peak Hospice and Palliative Care reached out the local community with an ambitious request in early January ... [asking] for donations of up to 100 new, handmade lap blankets for its veteran patients by March 2. ... The community has answered the call – and then some. More than 150 red, white and blue blankets have been donated, with more donations still arriving, ... "We've been overwhelmed by this incredible response," said Sonya Bergeron, veteran liaison with Pikes Peak Hospice.

El Paso's Veterans Cafe helps give community to those who served News*Talk 96.3 fm 1290 am; by Grizz; 2/12/26 On a quiet Saturday, something special is happening over coffee in El Paso. Hospice El Paso’s Veteran Café is proving that sometimes the most powerful form of support doesn’t come from a clinic or an office, but from a shared table, a familiar story, and the simple act of being welcomed. The pop-up café, sponsored by Hospice El Paso, is designed specifically for veterans from all branches of service. While it may look like a casual coffee gathering on the surface, its purpose runs much deeper. The café offers veterans a place to connect, talk, laugh, and support one another in a low-pressure environment where no one is expected to have the right words or any answers at all.

Camp Hero helps healthcare workers get to work during winter weather WKYT, Lexington, KY; by Alyssa Williams; 1/25/26 A Kentucky organization dedicated to helping wounded veterans and first responders is extending is lending a helping hand to healthcare workers during winter weather. Camp Hero founder Rocco Besednjak spent Saturday driving his power wagon around Lexington, with UK Hospital as his main destination. For the last five winters, he has picked up healthcare workers who need help getting to and from work during snow storms. The gesture was inspired by his wife, who worked in healthcare for nearly two decades. 

Veterans get free photography session, storytelling opportunities at Carolina Caring event Carolina Caring, Huntersville, NC; by Carolina Caring; 1/21/26 “People can never have too many family photos,” says Aaron Libby, the Charlotte-based photographer known for his stunning portraits captured across four continents and in his studio, Aaron Libby Photography. Libby’s passion for photography and his personal experiences as a U.S. Army veteran led to a recent collaboration with Carolina Caring, the nonprofit serious illness care provider serving 12 counties across Western North Carolina and the Mecklenburg region. ... Last Fall, he was approached by Cindy Stamey, Carolina Caring’s Director of Veteran Relations, who sought to create a meaningful experience—one that provided lasting keepsakes for veterans and their families. They decided to offer a free photography session during the organization’s Veterans Coffee Connection gathering in Huntersville. ... For these photographs, veterans were encouraged to hold an item or wear a badge that carries meaning from their time in service.