Literature Review

Federal government re-opens CHAP; Press Release; 11/13/25 On November 12, the U.S. House passed the Senate Amendment to H.R. 5371, ending the 43-day government shutdown. The continuing resolution (CR) provides funding for most agencies through January 30, 2026, at current levels, and grants full-year 2026 funding to select departments, including Agriculture, FDA, Legislative Branch, military construction, and Veterans Affairs. It also contains measures relevant to the home care community. 

“We See the Whole You”: NPHI celebrates National Hospice and Palliative Care Month National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI), Washington, DC; Press Release; 11/1/25 The National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI), the national voice for nonprofit hospice and advanced illness care, proudly celebrates National Hospice and Palliative Care Month this November by recognizing the impact of care delivered by nonprofit hospice and healthcare providers across the nation. This year’s national theme, “We See the Whole You,” honors the professionals and organizations who care for people as individuals — each with their own stories, values, and hopes — while supporting families through life’s most meaningful and challenging moments. The theme underscores NPHI’s commitment to care that puts people over profits, ensuring every person is treated with dignity, compassion, and respect.

Disney delivers Halloween magic to children’s hospitals The Walt Disney Company; Press Release; 10/31/25 ... For years, Disney has joined with the Starlight Children’s Foundation to deliver not-so-scary Halloween cheer to children’s hospitals. Since 2021, Disney’s donations have reached over 80,000 pediatric patients, according to Starlight. ... These visits are a part of Disney’s wider efforts this Halloween to bring joy to kids facing critical illnesses. Last weekend, for the first time ever, Disney, Make-A-Wish, MrBeast, and YouTube hosted some of the world’s top creators at Disneyland Resort to grant wishes for 40 Make-A-Wish kids at the ultimate Halloween experience. ... At Canuck Place Children’s Hospice in Vancouver, Canada, Disney paid a special visit to the kids there, bringing along costumes, stuffies, and books, and half of those items were shared with the Hospice center’s Abbotsford location.

Northwell celebrates newly endowed chairs and professorsBusinessWire.com, New Hyde Park, NY; Press Release; 11/3/25 Northwell Health announced recipients of nine endowments, including several inaugural chairs and professorships in specialty areas including biomedical sciences, nursing, geriatrics and palliative care, psychiatry research and cardiovascular and thoracic surgery. ... Generous donors gave more than $18 million this year in endowed gifts ... The inaugural recipients of newly endowed chairs and professorships [include]: ...

Living with dementia report emphasizes that even those with advanced disease have stories to share JAMA Medical News; by Rita Rubin, MA; 10/31/25 As the average age of the US population has risen, so has the number of people living with Alzheimer disease and related dementias. And yet, dementia is still a highly stigmatized condition, a new collection of essays published by the Hastings Center for Bioethics points out. Clinicians, caregivers, and loved ones could improve the lives of the more than 7 million people in the US who are living with dementia if they only recognized that such individuals still have their own stories to tell, even when they can’t express themselves the same way they did before their symptoms appeared. Editor's Note: Even in the last weeks and days of life, when dementia has advanced, the person’s life-story is still present—woven into photographs, cherished objects, and small details of their surroundings. In Memory Care Centers and long-term facilities, these clues invite us to listen differently. Board-certified music therapists—not performers or volunteer entertainers, but clinicians skilled in attunement—use music to enter a person’s story and give moments of faithful, sensitive companionship. Supporting family members in remembering and storytelling not only honors the person but also informs truly personalized care through those final, quiet hours.

Coming soon: VITAS Healthcare Hospice care in Pinellas County South Florida Hospital News and Healthcare Report; by cfelixcpa; 10/29/25 Beginning Nov. 3, residents of Pinellas County will have improved access to quality end-of-life care through VITAS Healthcare, ... VITAS will accept hospice-eligible referrals for patients in Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Tarpon Springs and surrounding communities. According to research, only 61% of Medicare decedents in Florida access the Medicare Hospice Benefit—meaning many patients and families miss out on the medical, emotional and spiritual support available near the end of life.

The Alliance celebrates National Care at Home Month 2025 National Alliance for Care at Home, Alexandria, VA and Washington, DC; Press Release; 10/31/25November marks the start of National Care at Home Month, an annual observance created to honor the valuable contributions of home care providers nationwide and inspire outreach to communities, media, and policymakers. ... The Alliance encourages individuals and organizations to participate in its annual Social Media Action Day on Friday, November 7, using the hashtags #CareatHomeMonth and #OneVoiceforCareatHome. Alliance members also have access to a range of other National Care at Home Month outreach resources. For more information on planning for and receiving care at home, visit the Alliance’s free consumer resource, CaringInfo.org. Editor's Note: For more information, visit "November 2025 Healthcare Observances" and our newsletter's ongoing "Healthcare Observances" (under the "Resources" tab on our website).

Hospice arranges wedding in 24 hours so dying mum could see her daughter get marriedYahoo News UK; by Rachael Davis, Gary Stewart; 10/26/25... The dedicated care team at St. Michael's Hospice in Hereford pulled together a beautiful wedding blessing in just 18 hours, enabling Chelle [mother] to see Jodie and Joe tie the knot – a feat Jodie describes as "amazing." Now Jodie is campaigning to encourage people to donate and fundraise for their local hospices, as only about a third of the vital care and support they provide is funded by the NHS [England]. Jodie is so glad to now have "all of my memories of that day with her there, being so happy and so content", she told PA Real Life.

Home-based care companies improve outcomes by training family caregivers Home Health Care News; by Joyce Famakinwa; 10/25/25 Home-based care companies are increasingly recognizing the importance of training family caregivers to improve patient outcomes. By engaging family caregivers through education and mobilization, these companies can keep patients out of hospitals longer and maintain them in their homes, contributing to their overall happiness and health. 

New Joint Commission Guidance on the use of Artificial Intelligence in healthcare The National Law Review; by  Paul R. DeMuro, PhD, Brandon K. von Kriegelstein, Taylor M. Stilwell Katten; 10/28/25 On September 17, 2025, the Joint Commission, in collaboration with the Coalition for Health AI (“CHAI”), issued its first high-level framework on the responsible use of artificial intelligence (“AI”) in healthcare.  The Guidance on the Responsible Use of AI in Healthcare (“Guidance”) is intended to help hospitals and health systems responsibly deploy, govern, and monitor AI tools across organizations.  The goal of the Guidance is to help “…the industry align elements that enhance patient safety by reducing risks associated with AI error and improving administrative, operational, and patient outcomes by leveraging AI’s potential.” ... The seven core elements articulated by the Guidance are:

Ensuring safe, effective transitions to hospice Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 10/22/25 Trust, coordination among staff and speedy processes are essential to hospice referral management. This is according to new research from Transcend Strategy Group. For the consulting firm’s most recent Insights Report it conducted in-depth interviews with hospice admissions and business development professionals to identify recurring themes, barriers and opportunities. ... “We have to remember that for the person calling this is probably one of the worst days of their life — if it’s a family member, or if they’re calling on behalf of themselves — and they need help urgently,” Tony Kudner, chief strategy officer for Transcend Strategy Group, told Hospice News.

Hospice & Palliative Care Network of Maryland calls for action on short hospice stays: New issue paper highlights urgent need for earlier access to careHospice & Palliative Care Network of Maryland press release; by Peggy Shimoda; 10/23/25The Hospice & Palliative Care Network of Maryland (HPCNM) has released a new issue paper, “Short Hospice Stays in Maryland: Ensuring Patient-Centered Care at End-of-Life,” revealing that Maryland ranks 46th nationally for hospice length of stay. With a median of just 18 days in 2024, patients and families miss the full benefit of hospice services that promote comfort, dignity, and peace at the end of life... “Short hospice stays are not just a clinical problem—they’re a systems challenge,” said Dr. Jennifer Kennedy, HPCNM Board Member and Chair of the Short Length of Stay Workgroup. “Earlier conversations, coordinated care, and improved discharge practices can help patients receive the care they deserve sooner.”

Mental health resources: Finding the help you need MSN News; by Lisa Rapaport; 10/23/25 Whether youre coping with anxiety, depression, a substance use disorder, grief, or something else, there are organizations that can help you often for free. Here are some to reach out to when you need mental health support. ...