Literature Review

Seasons Hospice hosts commemoration as it closes hospice house, forges ahead with in-home care KTTC, Rochester, MN; by Caitlin Alexander; 10/10/25 Local nonprofit organization Seasons Hospice hosted a somber but significant moment on Friday as it commemorated its hospice house. After more than 25 years, Seasons Hospice is closing the doors of the hospice house, as it now shifts its focus to serving patients and families with in-home hospice care. “I had a hard time at first accepting that and getting beyond it, but I did,” one of the founders, Sarah Oehlke, said. “I’m very grateful that you have sustained our quality-of-care standards for all of the years.” “We have together provided comfort, dignity and compassion to countless families during life’s most poignant moments,” Board President Dawn Beck said. ... Seasons Hospice previously spoke about a declining census at the hospice house, especially in recent years, noting the shift toward people wishing to spend their final days in their homes with loved ones.Editor's Note: This Seasons Hospice is in Rochester, Minnesota; not to be confused with other hospice organizations throughout the nation with "seasons" in its name. They gave their hospice house both a "good life" and "a good death." We draw attention to the shift they described "toward people wishing to spend their final days in their homes with loved ones," and will continue to be on the lookout for similar trends. To quote from an ancient poet, "To everything there is a season ..." We wish Seasons Hospice well through its continued transitions.

Elite Hospice observes official grand opening The Light and Champion, Center, TX; by News Staff; 10/9/25 On Tuesday, Sep. 30, Elite Hospice and Palliative Care were officially welcomed to the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce with a ribbon-cutting event hosted at A Pineywoods Home Health Care located in Center at 919 Nacogdoches Highway. Elite Hospice and Palliative Care is a sister company of the A Pineywoods group and provides end-of-life care for patients in East Texas.

Conspiracy of verticals:  Rethinking healthcare models with Peter Benjamin Teleios collaborative Network (TCN); video/podcast hosted by Chris Comeaux with Peter Benjamin; 10/8/25 In this conversation, Peter Benjamin and Chris Comeaux discuss the impact of COVID-19 on mortality rates, particularly the concept of 'death pull forward' and its implications for Hospice Care. Peter highlights the significant role of assisted living facilities in Hospice days and explores macro trends in healthcare, emphasizing the shift from vertical to horizontal care models. The discussion also covers the evolution of Palliative Care, frail elderly practices, and institutional special needs plans (iSNPs), while stressing the importance of measuring quality of care, particularly in pain management. 

[Canada] Hot Rods for Hospice raises $34,744.59 Penticton Herald, British Columbia, Canada; by Michael Bennett; 10/6/25 The third annual East Kent Hot Rods for Hospice, unofficially, set records for vehicles, donations, and attendees as well. More than 330 classic cars and trucks were parked on the grounds of the University of Guelph Ridgetown Campus, and an estimated 4,000 people enjoyed the attractions at the Saturday, Sept. 20, event, which was put on by the Ridge Runners East Kent Car Club. ... But most importantly, participants, attendees and sponsors raised  $34,744.59 for the Chatham-Kent Hospice Foundation. ... The total donation to the Hospice over the three years is $96,524.15.

Dallas nonprofit plans first hospice house for people experiencing homelessness NBC DFW-5, Dallas, TX; by David Goins; 10/7/25 ... Tucked along a quiet, tree-lined street just east of downtown Dallas sits a historic property that will soon house a new concept for North Texas — a hospice house designed to provide end-of-life care in a safe, supportive environment for those living unsheltered. Chris Culack, CEO of the Visiting Nurse Association of Texas, said the organization’s mission has long centered on supporting vulnerable populations. The group currently provides meals for homebound neighbors in Dallas, Denton and Rockwall counties, as well as in-home hospice care in 16 counties statewide. 

Pine Tree Hospice celebrates 40th anniversary at Peaks Kenny State Park The Piscataquis Observer, Bangor, ME; by Staff, Piscataquis Observer; 10/6/25 Sixty-plus volunteers and their family members gathered on Saturday, Sept. 20 to celebrate Pine Tree Hospice’s 40 years of providing free care and comfort to families in the greater Piscataquis County community. ... Executive Director Kristen Wortman credits the group’s longevity to the devotion of its volunteers to serving isolated and often house-bound neighbors in their communities, caregivers and those grieving the loss of a loved one. Pine Tree Hospice continues to focus on neighbors helping neighbors. Services are free and provided to clients without medical referral.Editor's Note: Congratulations to this out-of-the-box, rural, "non-medical" hospice that saw end-of-life care needs and found creative "neighbors-helping-neighbors" ways to meet them. Put this into context of 1985, in an ongoing rural environment at the uppermost northeast corner of the U.S., long before Medicare became the norm. 

St. Croix Hospice expands access to care with new locations Investors Hangout; by Evelyn Baker; 10/6/25 St. Croix Hospice is dedicated to enhancing the quality of end-of-life care, and they have taken a significant step forward by opening four new branches across the Midwest. This initiative not only increases their reach but also improves access to compassionate care and support for families during challenging times. The four new locations are strategically placed in communities that can greatly benefit from additional hospice services. Each new branch is situated in:

Honoring the lives and legacies of hospice leaders - September 2025

'I spent 36 years holding dying patients' hands' BBC News, Ireland; by Grace Shaw; 10/5/25 For hospice nurse Trish Carling, holding a dying patient's hand through the dark hours of the night was a privilege to share. The 66-year-old has just retired after 36 years working in palliative care at St Michael's Hospice in Harrogate. Her first shift was in November 1989, and she has worked almost every Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve since. Despite the demands of the job, she originally chose the pathway because it worked around family life when her children were young. "At first I found the night shifts practical - they then became my preferred hours," she said. ... [Continue reading]Editor's Note: In what ways do you honor your longtime employees? How do you tell their stories of passionate compassion? Of loyalty to your core mission through changing times and operational practices? So many of these valued employees began in a pre-digital era. Imagine: before cell phones, the internet, websites, electronic employee files, EMR systems, and so much more. Crucial employee data can get lost especially during organizational name changes, Mergers & Acquistions, or a short-term leave of absence. Let this article be a catalyst for you to research and honor your employees with long tenures. Without their faithful foundations, your work today would not be the same.

Chico nurses at Enloe Health to hold rally to protest closure of home health and hospice units National Nurses United; Press Release by the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United; 10/1/25 ... Nurses are calling on the hospital to protect the health of some of Chico’s most vulnerable patients and maintain the essential services and end-of-life care provided by these units.  “For years, Enloe hospice stood alone in providing care for underserved Medi-Cal patients and for our youngest, most fragile patients—children at the end of life,” said Ruby Khoury, registered nurse in the hospice unit. “A vital, compassionate service is being taken away, and a hospital that once led with dignity and inclusivity in hospice care now faces a painful void. We nurses demand that the home health and hospice units remain open. Otherwise, the most vulnerable will suffer first: children, Medi-Cal patients, families without resources.”

Danbury hospice gets $2 million to expand care for children with life-limiting illnesses Shelton Herald, Bridgeport, CT; by Cris Villalonga-Vivoni; 9/30/25 A Danbury-based nonprofit hospice center is receiving $2 million in state funding to expand its pediatric care services and help more families access specialized end-of-life care. Founded in 1983, Regional Hospice and Home Care of Western Connecticut is the only nonprofit hospice in the state providing hospice care to children under 21 with life-threatening conditions. However, its capacity remains limited amid rising demand. In 2020, there were an estimated 7,800 children in Connecticut with complex medical conditions that limit their life expectancy and could benefit from palliative and hospice care, according to the National Survey of Children’s Health.

End-of-life outcomes and staff visits for hospice recipients residing in assisted living Journal of the American Medical Directors Association; by Wenhan Guo, Shubing Cai, Yue Li, Brian E McGarry, Thomas V Caprio, Helena Temkin-Greener; 9/26/25 Objectives: ... We hypothesized that more frequent staff visits and specific regulatory provisions would be associated with improved EOL outcomes. ... Conclusions and implications: Hospice staffing intensity, especially clinical visits, appears to be associated with EOL outcomes for AL residents. AL state regulations are also associated with hospice quality. These findings underscore the role of both organizational practices and regulatory policy in shaping hospice experiences in AL settings.

Hospice of the Chesapeake’s popular Golf Tournament raises more than $210K Hospice of the Chesapeake; Press Release; 9/29/25 Thanks to an impressive lineup of sponsors, the dedication of volunteers and the hundreds of golfers who came out to play, Hospice of the Chesapeake’s annual Golf Tournament was another great success. The event raised more than $210,000 in support of the nonprofit’s mission to care for families in Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles and Prince George’s counties. Held Sept. 25 at Queenstown Harbor Golf Course, the day was filled with good cheer, delicious food and generous hospitality ... This success would not have been possible without the businesses, organizations and individuals in the community who stepped up as sponsors, ... This event helps families experience moments of joy, dignity and connection at one of life’s hardest times.