Literature Review

Finding a voice for the terminally illHealth Affairs, by Richey Piiparinen, 1/9/24A patient with terminal illness reflects on the reluctance in health care to discuss death. Access to the full-text article requires either an online subscription or purchase of 24-hour access to this article.

Lamar Hospice receives large donationsThe Prowers Journal, by Russ Baldwin; 1/8/24The Lamar Area Hospice Association was recently the beneficiary of two large and generous donations, totaling $66,000; presented to them by the Lamar Hospice Fundraising Committee.

The importance of emotional support services in mental healthYonkers Times, 1/8/24... ROLE IN HOSPCE CARE: In hospice settings, emotional support is crucial for helping both patients and their families manage the complex emotions associated with terminal illness. This support includes providing a safe space for expressing feelings like fear, grief, and anxiety and offering coping strategies. It aims to ease the emotional burden and improve the quality of life ..., recognizing the profound impact that a terminal diagnosis can have on both patients and their loved ones.

Local experts say number of people using hospices has decreased despite benefits Virginia News, by Emaryi Williams; 1/8/24According to a recent report by American Health Rankings, Virginia placed 30th nationally in deceased medicare patients who used hospice care, even though it was 17th nationally for senior health care. Local experts say they are seeing fewer opting for hospice care and are concerned about what it means for members of our community and their families who may need it.

How hospice, behavioral health can team up for caregiver supportHospice News, by Holly Vossel; 1/6/24“We are officially living in that sandwich generation where so many of us actually are caregivers, taking care of our children, sometimes even the parent is now taking care of two generations, ..."

To affiliate or acquire: Trends in nonprofit hospice consolidationHospice News, by Jim Parker; 1/5/24Recent years have seen an uptick in consolidation activity among nonprofits in the hospice space. Increasingly, nonprofit s are pursuing acquisitions and affiliations, as well as forming regional collaboratives. To achieve these kinds of growth, hospices must consider whether they should affiliate or buy another company outright. Each approach comes with benefits and risks.

NY healthcare orgs collab to deliver value-based hospice, palliative careTechTarget, by Victoria Bailey; 1/3/24Bassett Healthcare Network, a New York-based health system, has partnered with Helios Care to provide patients with value-based hospice and palliative care. ... Together, the two organizations will create an electronically driven referral process that will promote value-based contracting for hospice and palliative care services and establish a comprehensive palliative care and hospice service to treat patients in the hospital, in outpatient settings, and at home. In addition, the partnership will prioritize developing a transitional care program to provide in-home care for patients with serious illnesses, chronic diseases, and end-of-life needs.

Medscape: Long COVID has caused thousands of US deaths: New CDC dataMedscape Medical News, by Lisa Rapaport; 1/3/24While COVID has now claimed more than 1 million lives in the United States alone, these aren't the only fatalities caused at least in part by the virus. A small but growing number of Americans are surviving acute infections only to succumb months later to the lingering health problems caused by long COVID. ... At least 4600 Americans have died from long COVID since the start of the pandemic, according to new estimates from the CDC.

How to live: What the dying tell usPsychology Today, by Tasha Seiter; 1/2/24Subtitle: The top regrets of the dying and how we can use them to better our lives.Bronnie Ware, a hospice nurse, asked the dying what they regretted most. While it may have been too late for her patients, their answers can tell us about how we should be living while we still have the chance. Here are the top five regrets of the dying, according to her research (both qualitative and quantitative):

Niagara Hospice CEO John Lomeo stepping down after 24 yearsBuffalo News, by Jon Harris; 1/3/24Niagara Hospice President and CEO John Lomeo will be stepping down July 31 after 24 years with the nonprofit organization, the Hospice and Palliative Care Group board of directors announced Wednesday. The board also announced that Carlo Figliomeni, chief financial officer and chief operating officer, will become president and CEO on Aug. 1. Figliomeni has been with the organization for 18 years.

Marin hospice merges with 2 others in Bay AreaMarin Independent Journal, by Kari Brenner; 1/2/24 The Marin hospice organization By the Bay Health is merging with two other Bay Area hospices to create the largest independent not-for-profit network in Northern California. ... The other parties in the merger are Mission Hospice and Home Care in San Mateo and Hope Hospice in Dublin.

Hospice of Michigan receives $11,750 grantThe Oakland Press, by Kathy Blake; 12/31/23Hospice of Michigan was recently awarded a $11,750 grant for pediatric hospice services. Oakland Hills Country Club donated $4,000, and Orchard Lake Country Club donated $7,750 towards the grant through Eagles for Children, a fund of the Local Impact Alliance, in support of Jo Elyn Nyman Anchors Programs for Children, according to a press release.