Literature Review

United Way helps Hospice in the Pines bring care to all The Lufkin Daily News, Lufkin, TX; by Ruben Ibarra, Jr.; 11/15/25 For nearly four decades, Hospice in the Pines has offered end-of-life care with compassion to hundreds of families each year. Now approaching its 40th anniversary, the nonprofit continues to provide care to patients across 12 counties, with crucial support from the United Way of Angelina County helping fill the gaps for those who cannot afford care. ... Through the United Way, Hospice in the Pines receives funding that directly supports charity care for uninsured patients. Each year, the nonprofit provides more than $250,000 worth of medical services and equipment to individuals who have no Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance coverage, making sure patients receive the same level of care as any other.

Carolina Caring Foundation “Gift Back” grant provides cardio-pulmonary supplies at no cost to patients Carolina Caring, Newton, NC; Press Release; 11/10/25 In a powerful demonstration of its mission to support compassionate, whole-person care, Carolina Caring Foundation has awarded a $1,000 Gift Back grant to fund cardio-pulmonary equipment for patients served through Carolina Caring’s Palliative Care program. ... While hospice patients often receive these medical supplies at no cost, palliative patients do not qualify for those same benefits—causing barriers to care. The Gift Back grant closes that gap. Carolina Caring Foundation used the $1000 to fund numerous medical devices: 19 scales, 12 electronic blood pressure cuffs, and 10 pulse oximeters, all provided at no cost to the Palliative Care program or its patients. 

Atlantic Area Chamber Ambassadors visit with Hospice of the Midwest AARP - Atlantic News Telegraph; Jenn Nichols; 11/13/25 The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors met with staff from Hospice of the Midwest [based in Guthrie Center, Iowa] on Thursday, Nov. 6, to learn more about the compassionate services they provide, and the important role volunteers play in supporting patients and families. Editor's Note: What ongoing relationships do you continue to foster with leaders of your service areas? Hospice of the Midwest in Guthrie Center, Iowa provides this great example.

Bankrupt SLO County nonprofit paid for a house and cars. Were they for business? The Tribune; by Chloe Shrager; 11/12/25 Before it went bankrupt in August, a longtime San Luis Obispo County home health and hospice nonprofit paid for the rent on a house in Texas and bought three cars using company funds. Now, federal bankruptcy trustees are questioning whether the purchases — made by Wilshire Health and Community Services — were business related, or rather personal uses of company funds.

From good to better with Andrew Molosky Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN); podcast hosted by Chris Comeaux with Andrew Molosky; 11/12/25 In this week’s special joint episode of TCNtalks and Anatomy of Leadership, host Chris Comeaux welcomes Andrew Molosky, President and CEO of Chapters Health System.  Together, they explore what it means to lead with perseverance, authenticity, and vision in times of change. Andrew shares powerful insights on cultivating culture, navigating uncertainty, and the role of vulnerability in leadership. 

Avera Medical Minute: Hospice care provides support and compassion for patients and families Dakota News Now, Sioux Falls, SD; by Dakota News Now staff; 11/10/25 Hospice care can help patients and their families focus on comfort and quality of life when treatment for an illness is no longer effective. Support from staff can come in a variety of ways, including medical, emotional, and spiritual. In this Avera Medical Minute, one family explains how choosing hospice for their loved one turned their final days into cherished moments together. ...

Difference-making factors linked to higher reach of Specialist Palliative Care among people with heart failure across a national sample of VA Medical Centers American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine; by Yan Zhan, PhD, RN, MBA, Edward J. Miech, EdD, Erica A. Abel, PhD, MD, and Shelli L. Feder, PhD, APRN, FPCN, FAHA; 11/10/25 Conclusion:  High Specialist Palliative Care (SPC) reach among people with advanced heart failure (aHF) was linked to combinations of several modifiable factors related to staffing, cardiology involvement, and outpatient palliative care. These findings provide actionable insights into improving SPC delivery across VAMCs.Editor's Note: What education or other partnerships do you have with VA Medical Centers in your service areas? Or, what gaps for veterans exist because of a lack of VA Medical Centers? Use these "combinations of modifiable factors related to staffing, cardiology involvement, and outpatient palliative care" for your strategic planning to improve care for veterans struggling with advanced heart failure.

Hospice of Davidson County marks 40 years with podcast series The Dispatch, Lexington, NC; by Jill Doss-Raines; 11/10/25 Hospice of Davidson County will join organizations nationwide in recognizing National Hospice and Palliative Care Month and celebrating 40 years in the community with the creation of a podcast. The special podcast series will highlights stories from founders, stakeholders, staff and community members who have been part of its meaningful journey.

Hospice care recipients of calendar fundraiser The Grapevine, Martha's Vineyard, MA; by The Martha's Vineyard Times; 11/7/25 In honor of National Hospice and Palliative Care Month and as an ode to his family’s personal experience, Vineyard photographer Michael Blanchard donated $5,000 to Hospice & Palliative Care of Martha’s Vineyard (HPCMV). The proceeds come from Blanchard’s 2026 Inspirational Calendar for the Annual Appeal, which is a dedication to the memory of his parents, who both received hospice or palliative services at the end of their lives. “Hospice was there for my family,” Blanchard said. “This donation is simply a way to say thank you and encourage others to support the work they do for our Island.” 

New hospice provider opens in Corydon CorydonDemocrat.com, Corydon, IN; Press Release; 11/5/25 Heart to Heart Hospice, one of the country’s largest private providers of hospice care, is expanding its service area in Southern Indiana with the opening of a new location in Corydon to meet needs in six additional counties. The new site, located at 113 N. Oak St., will serve patients and families who reside in Harrison, Floyd, Washington, Clark, Scott and Jefferson counties.

Hospice executive highlights Medicare benefits during National Hospice and Palliative Care Month ABC-WWSB, Sarasota, FL; by Thad Randazzo and Summer Smith; 11/5/25 November is National Hospice and Palliative Care Month, a time to discuss the benefits of hospice care and its importance to communities. Casey Cuthbert, executive director of Affinity Care Hospice of Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, and DeSoto counties, said people often don’t understand that hospice care is a journey everyone faces. ... Many people don’t realize they have paid into Medicare hospice benefits throughout their working lives, Cuthbert said. Medicare covers hospice services at 100%, including the caregiving team of nurses, aides, social workers, and chaplains.

A wedding to remember: Piedmont Athens Regional staff create unforgettable moment for hospice patient and familyPiedmont [GA]; 11/6/25When Charlie Carnes was placed on hospice care at Piedmont Athens Regional, his daughter, Ivey, shared a heartbreaking sentiment with hospital staff: she was getting married soon, and her father wouldn’t be able to attend. What happened next was simply extraordinary. Moved by Ivey’s story, the compassionate team at Piedmont Athens Regional sprang into action to create a moment the Carnes family would never forget. Within hours, staff members came together to plan a wedding ceremony inside the hospital’s Sacred Space, ensuring Charlie could witness his daughter’s special day.

National Alliance CEO Steve Landers on hospices’ top policy priorities Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 11/6/25Medicare advantage and telehealth are key hospice policy priorities for the National Alliance for Care at Home. On the home health front, the organization is also embroiled in efforts to stave off proposed payment and Medicaid cuts. The Alliance came into being last year with the merger between the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and the National Association for Home Care & Hospice. Hospice News spoke with Alliance CEO Dr. Steven Landers about how the two legacy organizations are integrating, the hospice public policy landscape and how providers can get involved at a grass roots level.