Literature Review

Food drive will aid hospice patients The County, Presque Isle, ME; by Contributed; 9/3/25 Northern Light Home Care and Hospice is holding a patient food drive now through Sept. 22 to support patients experiencing food insecurity. Home Care and Hospice clinicians and home health aides make more than 169,500 in-home visits each year caring for patients across the state. They see first-hand the food insecurity patients are experiencing. “We know that nutrition helps patients have better healing outcomes from a recent surgery or a chronic condition. Worrying about where their next meal is coming from should not be one of their concerns,” said LeighAnn Howard, vice president of clinical operations at Northern Light Home Care and Hospice. Editor's Note: The autumn season is an excellent time to hold your own patient food drive to "support patients experiencing food insecurity." Read this learn from Northern Light Home Care and Hospice innovative outreach and support.

Hospice care co. can't duck claims it covered up death Law360; by Mike Curley; 8/27/25 A Texas appeals court has thrown out wrongful death and negligence claims against a hospice care provider in a suit alleging its employees are liable for a man's death from fentanyl overdose, but allowed claims that they covered up the cause of death by falsifying patient records to proceed.

Seasons Hospice closing Hospice House in Rochester to focus on in-home care ABC News KAALTV-6, Rochester, MN; by KAALTV; 9/4/25 On September 4, Seasons Hospice announced it will be closing the Hospice House after more than 25 years of service. Seasons Hospice cited an exclusive focus on in-home hospice care as the reason for the closure. Seasons Hospice said it will remain fully operational in providing home-based hospice services without interruption. “This is not an end to our mission. It is a continuation of our mission in a new way,” said Dawn Beck, Seasons Hospice Board of Directors President, via a press release. ... The closure will go into effect on Friday, October 10. 

Exploring hospice care innovations - Top news stories, August 2025 Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN); podcast by Chris Comeaux with Cordt Kassner; 9/3/25 Hospice and palliative care face significant challenges amid broader failures in the healthcare system, with experts anticipating a critical opportunity for reform by 2026-2027 as Medicare faces potential bankruptcy and employers confront double-digit premium increases. Join Chris Comeaux and Cordt Kassner as they delve into the latest trends and challenges in hospice care.  From the impact of AI to the importance of research and innovation, this episode covers it all.

Amarillo VA expands end-of-life care with new hospice unit CBS KFDA-10, Amarillo, TX; by Canion Cvazos; 8/28/25 After years of planning, the Amarillo VA has opened a new chapter in veteran care. The VA held a ribbon-cutting ceremony today to celebrate the opening for its new hospice unit. VA leaders say the goal is to create a home-like environment, where families can gather with comfort and dignity during their loved one’s final days. The hospice unit will provide 10 private rooms, each designed for a single patient, with its own bathroom and shower. 

Conversational AI in hospice care: risks and benefits Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 8/29/25 Numerous types of artificial intelligence (AI) have gained a substantial foothold in health care, including hospices, with conversational AI among them. Conversational AI uses natural language processing and machine learning to develop virtual assistants and chatbots that can automate certain functions. ... The use of conversational AI in health care for the most part falls into two categories — delivery of remote health services and administrative assistance to health care providers, according to 2024 research published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research. ... However, the technology has limitations, the study found. These include ethical challenges, legal and safety concerns, technical difficulties, user experience issues and societal and economic impacts.

Hospices nationwide pursue organic growth with new sites Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 8/28/25 Hospices from across the country have sought organic growth with the recent launches of new facilities.

New hospice house playground dedicated to A.B.A.T.E 18 motorcycle group The Hawk Eye - Iowa's Oldest Newspaper; by Tracey Lamm; 8/26/25 ABATE District 18 Motorcycle Club presented checks Friday to the Lee County and Home and Health Hospice House programs. An ongoing relationship between the motorcycle group and the hospice programs has resulted in an honor that will be a permanent part of the Home and Health Hospice House in West Burlington. ... [A] planned playground at the Hospice House will be dedicated to ABATE District 18 motorcycle organization. Jordan Price, Fort Madison, handles public relations for ABATE 18 and he said the motorcycle group has worked with the hospice programs for many years. ... "The proceeds are raised through motorcycle poker runs, donations, and lunches at Heartland Harley Davidson." The two hospice programs each received a check Friday night of $29,250, half for each of the total $58,500 that was raised during the annual Hospice Ride on July 20. Price said the amount far exceeded a goal to raise $40,000.

Hospice provider’s coast-to-coast expansion receives green light from California AGMcKnight's Home Care; by Adam Healy; 8/26/25Chapters Health System, a Florida-based hospice and palliative care organization, received conditional approval for its expansion into California via affiliation agreements with Hospice East Bay and Hospice of Santa Cruz County. To finalize the two affiliations, Chapters agreed to: ensure that Hospice East Bay and Hospice of Santa Cruz County maintain certification with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services; honor employment agreements with existing staff members; establish quality advisory committees for both East Bay and Hospice of Santa Cruz County; make a reasonable effort to continue providing specialized care services that are currently offered by both newly affiliated providers; and provide annual reports on its compliance with these conditions, according to the California Office of the Attorney General.

Home care workers are more likely to live with older, sicker adults, new study findsMcKnight's Home Care; by Adam Healy; 8/21/25Compared to the average adult, home care workers are more likely to live with older seniors or those with long-term services and supports (LTSS) needs, according to a new study published in Health Affairs Scholar... Approximately 15% of these home care workers lived with those who needed LTSS, the study found. This compared to about 4% of nonhome care workers... This tendency among home care workers to live with older, sicker adults could be linked with their on-the-job duties, according to the study. “Household caregiving responsibilities may serve as an on-ramp into the home care workforce — both through employment within the home and through employment outside of it,” the study said. It added, “The flexible work schedules and high labor demand in the home care workforce may be particularly appealing to workers who must balance their employment with unpaid household caregiving responsibilities.” Another possibility is that home care workers are more capable of assisting older, sicker seniors with aging in place, and therefore have a higher likelihood of living with those who could use their care.Publisher's note: Perhaps this is important information regarding employee flexibility and retention.

Redefining hospice: Living life to the fullest is not about giving upForbes; by Wes Kilgore; 8/25/25Discussions about end-of-life care in America are often met with silence, confusion or fear. Yet millions of families face it every year, often without the support, clarity, or resources they need. Tom Koutsoumpas, CEO and founder of the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI), argues that it’s time we redefine hospice not as a last resort, but as a profound opportunity for quality, dignified living until the end. [Discussion includes:]

By the Bay Health launches new scholarship in memoriam of Marin County healthcare visionary Pat KendallBy the Bay Health press release; by Caroline Kawashima; 8/21/25By the Bay Health, the largest independent nonprofit hospice, palliative care, and home health provider in Northern California, today announced a new scholarship in memoriam of Marin County healthcare advocate and visionary Pat Kendall. The By the Bay Health Pat Kendall Memorial Nursing Scholarship provides financial assistance to Bachelor of Science Nursing students who demonstrate financial need and have an interest in pursuing a career in home-based care in the Bay Area... Through the generosity of By the Bay Health donors, a $50,000 scholarship will be awarded this year to two Dominican University of California students in the B.S. Nursing program enrolled in the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 academic years. Each scholarship awardee will receive $12,500 per year for the 3rd and 4th years of the B.S. in Nursing program and an exclusive recruitment opportunity with By the Bay Health in the Spring semester of their fourth year. [Press release here.]