Literature Review

College Station store hosts Hospice Brazos Valley’s benefit this Father’s Day KBTX, Bryan, TX; by Abigail Truman; 6/9/25This Father’s Day, Hospice Brazos Valley is partnering with Murdoch’s Ranch and Home to encourage families to spend their holiday with classic cars, barbecue, and supporting a good cause. Guys, Gears, and Grills is an event that gives you a chance to do all of dad’s favorites while raising money to support Brazos Valley Hospice. “We’re the only nonprofit hospice in the Brazos Valley, meaning we’ll never send you a bill... And we gave over $250,000 in complementary care last year,” Collen Broussaurd with Brazos Valley Hospice explained its mission.

Chapter 6: Medicare’s measurement of rural provider quality MedPAC; 6/12/25 ... Because of low patient volumes in many rural health care settings, there are practical challenges in measuring some individual rural providers’ quality of care and in holding these providers accountable in quality reporting programs. ... The Commission acknowledged these difficulties when it established specific principles to guide expectations about quality in rural areas. These principles were developed with hospitals in mind but could be applied to other providers. ... [On page 4 of 40] Rural skilled nursing facilities and dialysis facilities had lower shares of providers with publicly reported quality results compared with their urban counterparts; in contrast, rural home health agencies and hospices had higher shares of providers with publicly reported quality results compared with their urban counterparts.Editor's Note: For ranking of hospices by quality scores, examine the National Hospice Locator, provided to the public by Hospice Analytics (a sponsor of this newsletter). 

[Wales] 'Breaking point' as people in last 12 months of life occupy 'almost a fifth of Welsh hospital beds' Sky News; 6/3/25 People in the last 12 months of their life occupy "almost a fifth of Welsh hospital beds", according to a end of life care charity. Marie Curie Cymru says end of life care in Wales is "at breaking point" and is calling on the next Welsh government to ensure high-quality care. The charity says that, for many, support could be better provided at home or close to home, as it launched its manifesto for next year's Senedd election at Cardiff Bay's Norwegian Church on Tuesday. Gareth Miles died at home in Llanddarog, Carmarthenshire, in September 2023. Mr. Miles, who had Parkinson's disease, had spent 10 weeks in hospital before his last week.

Revolutionizing health in South Florida: The benefits of IV therapy and inclusive hospice care South Florida Reporter; by southfloridareporter.com; 6/8/25 ... South Florida is known for its multicultural population, making the expansion of hospice care to diverse groups particularly significant. Traditionally, certain cultural or community groups may have had hesitations or lacked access to hospice care due to language barriers, cultural misunderstandings, or lack of awareness. Increasingly, hospice organizations are focusing on outreach and education within these communities, breaking down barriers and encouraging patients and families to consider hospice as a valuable option for quality end-of-life care. 

Colorado exemplifies how to build upon paid leave progress to meet families’ evolving needs A Better Balance; 6/3/25 Colorado continues to pave the way for strong work-family protections by modeling how these policies can be expanded to meet families' needs. This spring, Colorado expanded the state’s paid family and medical leave program (the FAMLI Act, which our Colorado Office helped write and pass) to include an additional 12 weeks of paid leave for parents with a baby in the neonatal intensive care unit. Governor Polis signed the bill into law on Friday, May 30th, and Colorado workers with a child in the NICU will be able to take additional leave under the expansion beginning on or after January 1, 2026. ... For parents with children in the NICU, additional time off work to remain present can be a lifeline during a stressful time.Editor's note: As we know, the fragile and uncertain health of an infant in a neonatal intensive care unit can, heartbreakingly, lead to death. This—one of the most devastating forms of loss—often leaves parents to grieve in silence, their sorrow compounded by the experience of disenfranchised grief. While family and friends care deeply, they frequently falter in their efforts to provide meaningful support. Bravo to Colorado's FAMLI Act. May more states follow their lead.

Willamette Vital Health completes affiliation with Chapters Health System Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 6/6/25 Oregon-based Willamette Vital Health has completed its affiliation with Chapter Health System. Willamette now becomes part of Chapters Health West, an extension of Florida-based Chapters’ footprint into Nevada, California and Oregon. Chapters Health West came into being with the affiliation of four hospices with Chapters, including Nathan Adelson, California-based Hospice of Santa Cruz County and Hospice East Bay and Willamette. The organization is the second to complete an affiliation with Chapters. Las Vegas-headquartered Nathan Adelson was the first to complete in April. 

The Alliance champions community-based solutions at Senate palliative care briefing National Alliance for Care at Home, Alexandria, VA and Washington, DC; Press Release; 6/4/25 The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) played a lead role in [Wednesday's] Senate Comprehensive Care Caucus briefing, which focused on expanding access to palliative care services for patients with serious illness. The bipartisan event, hosted by Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV), John Barrasso (R-WY), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Deb Fischer (R-NE), underscored the need for innovative models that deliver person-centered care in the home and community. Hillary Loeffler, Vice President of Policy & Regulatory Affairs for the Alliance, moderated the panel discussion, guiding thoughtful conversation on access, workforce, and innovation in care delivery. 

Research study participation, 6/7/25

Celebrating Father’s Day after your Dad has passed Delaware Hospice, Milford, DE; retrieved from www.delawarehospice.org on 6/12/25 The days leading up to Father’s Day can be difficult for those who have lost a father. Father’s Day is surrounded by consumerism—and seeing all the commercials, greeting cards, and restaurant specials can be emotionally overwhelming. The holiday can be especially hard for those experiencing their first Father’s Day without their dad, and they may be tempted to avoid the holiday altogether. However, Father’s Day doesn’t have to be about gifts or grilling out with Dad. There are still many ways to celebrate, remember, and honor your father this Father’s Day, even if he is no longer physically with you.

Letter: Honoring hands that hold us in life’s final chapter Delaware Gazette, Delaware, OH; Letter by Jennifer Porter, Volunteer Coordinator, OhioHealth Hospice with Compassus; 6/11/25 As we recognize Certified Nursing Assistants Week, June 12–18, I want to speak directly to the hospice aides — those whose hands so often become the bridge between suffering and peace. In hospice, our work is sacred. It asks for clinical skill, yes — but also deep compassion, patience and emotional resilience. Hospice aides are at the center of this calling. They are the ones who bathe patients too weak to speak, who brush their hair, adjust their pillows and whisper comfort into quiet rooms. They walk into spaces heavy with emotion and bring calm ... Their care isn’t measured only in tasks, but in dignity restored, fears soothed and final moments honored. ... Whether they are called hospice aides, certified nursing assistants, nurse aides or simply “the ones who helped my loved one feel like themselves again,” they are the heart of this work. They deserve our respect, our thanks and our unwavering support. Take a moment to thank a hospice aide in your life. 

10 Signs death is near for dementia patients The Healthy; by Dr. Patricia Varacollo, DO; 6/2/25 For families and caregivers, recognizing the final stages of dementia can be difficult, but understanding the signs can help ensure comfort and dignity in a loved one's last days. Dr. Koncilja highlights these key indicators that may suggest the end of life is near:

Hope Hospice Center celebrates in Missoula ahead of July openingKPAX News; by Jill Valley; 6/3/25After an eight-year journey marked by community support, the Hope Hospice Center held a dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday ahead of its July opening. The state-of-the-art facility is only the second of its kind in Montana... The dream of the Hope Hospice Center began in 2017 as community leaders and healthcare professionals recognized the need for specialized end-of-life care in the region... The $15.4 million project was supported 100% by philanthropic giving.

MLN Fact Sheet: Creating an effective 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: