Literature Review

Nearly one in five Medicare hospice patients now leaves the program alive rather than through death Medical Daily; by Dorothy Brooks; 8/17/26 Almost one in five people who leave Medicare hospice care each year leaves alive rather than through death, and the share has climbed every year since 2021. Federal data released this spring put the live discharge rate at 19.1 percent in fiscal year 2025, up from 16.9 percent four years earlier. For families, this is the rule almost nobody explains at enrollment. Hospice is not a permanent placement. It is a benefit tied to a prognosis, and when that prognosis changes, the benefit can end while the patient is still living, still ill, and still needing care. Understanding it before it happens is the difference between a planned transition and a phone call that lands like an eviction.

‘Light Up a Life’: Rice County approves courthouse trees for Faribault Area Hospice initiative LeSeur County News, Faribault. MN; by Lauren Viska; 8/19/26 For 40 years, Faribault Area Hospice has turned the glow of hundreds of white lights into a celebration of lives well lived. Each light on its traditional “Light Up a Life” tree represents a person remembered, honored and celebrated by those who loved them. Since 1985, Faribault Area Hospice has placed thousands of white lights on a memory tree, with individuals sponsoring a light in memory of someone special. Proceeds from the lights go directly toward helping hospice patients in the Faribault area who are experiencing financial hardship. ... Now, after more than four decades of the tradition, Hospice is looking to bring that familiar glow to a new set of evergreens.

Metal forget-me-nots display remembers hospice patients BBC News, West Midlands, United Kingdom; by Susie Rack; 8/17/26 Nine hundred handcrafted forget-me-nots have been planted in Worcestershire to remember hospice patients and raise essential funds. The display, planted by St Richard's Hospice in the gardens of St Andrew's Spire, Worcester, was created by artist Ed Alvis, from Metal Art UK, whose father was cared for by the charity at home. Sue Fletcher, from Droitwich, had dedicated one of the Celebration Garden flowers to her son Paul, who spent his last weeks in the hospice before he died, aged 34. ... The metal blooms can be purchased by supporters to be brought home at the end of the installation on 31 August. Fletcher said the campaign helped her "cherish memories of a wonderful son" as well as showing appreciation for the compassion of staff.Editor's Note: Go to the photo. See how one simple, accessible idea creates a meaningful, collective, visible way to remember loved ones, raise funds, and give donors a lasting, tangible connection to the hospice. 

Victoria Hospice Services, Inc. files Chapter 11 bankruptcy BankruptcyObserver.com, Central District of California; Judge Barry Russell; 8/17/26 Victoria Hospice Services, Inc. is a Whittier, California-based hospice care provider. The company operates a licensed hospice facility, maintains Medicare-certified provider status, and delivers end-of-life and palliative care services to patients throughout Los Angeles and Orange counties. Regulatory records indicate the organization remained  compliant with the fiscal year 2026 Medicare annual payment update. Victoria Hospice Services, Inc. sought relief under Chapter 11 Small Business of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code (Bankr. C.D. Cal. Case No. 26-16812) on July 8, 2026.

Columbus Hospice purse party raises $16,000 at Bibb Mill Event Center WTVM-9, Columbus, GA; by Jason Williams; 8/15/26 Columbus Hospice hosted its 11th annual Purse Party at the Bibb Mill Event Center, raising $16,000 — surpassing its $10,000 fundraising goal. ... More than 400 purses were available at the event. Attendees could visit a bargain table, make a donation in exchange for a purse, bid in a silent auction, or participate in a live auction that featured male models displaying purses. ... Terri Roberts, vice president of business development at Columbus Hospice, said all funds raised go back into the organization’s mission. “And we do not turn anybody away regardless of their ability to pay. ..."

Grane Hospice Care rebrands as Adoration amid national expansion Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 8/14/26 Pennsylvania-based Grane Hospice Care recently rebranded as Adoration Hospice as the organization focuses on growing its continuum of care. The provider also has five new locations in its home state and is part of Adoration Health. The hospice’s name change is part of the health system’s national rescaling campaign, said Rhonda Sanders-Allamon, chief hospice growth officer of Adoration Health. The health system is rebranding other locations across its coast-to-coast geographic footprint, she stated. “We are doing a national branding and rescaling campaign so that all of our hospice locations will be under Adoration Health, our parent brand,” Sanders-Allamon told Hospice News.

The healthcare partnership nobody is talking about: hospice + FQHCs | part one Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN); podcast hosted by Chris Comeaux with Kyle Ahlenstorf; 8/12/26 What if one of hospice’s most valuable community partners has been hiding in plain sight? In Part One of The Healthcare Partnership Nobody Is Talking About: Hospice + FQHCs, Chris Comeaux sits down with Kyle Ahlenstorf, CEO of Infinity Health, to explore the largely untapped opportunity for hospice and palliative care organizations to build meaningful partnerships with Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs).  Kyle brings more than a decade of clinical and executive healthcare experience, with a particular focus on rural healthcare, access, and sustainable patient-centered care. Kyle breaks down what FQHCs actually are, whom they serve, and why their mission aligns so naturally with hospice and palliative care.

Women Swimmin’ for Hospicare celebrates 23 years ithaca.com, Ithaca, NY; by Grant Terwilliger; 8/11/26 On the morning of Aug. 8, 330 women swam 1.2 miles from Camp Comstock to Myers Park to support Hospicare services. The swimmers participated in groups and were accompanied by paddlers in kayaks. Go the Distance fundraisers, swimmers, volunteers and spectators raised $663, 940 for Hospicare through 6,000 donations, according to the Women Swimmin’ for Hospicare website. ... “Twenty three years ago, two powerful, determined women decided to swim across the lake for the first time to celebrate a 60 birthday and raise money for hospice care,” said Emily Hopkins, director of development and community relations for Hospicare. “Fast forward to today, swimming in their wake, we have swimmers ages 18 to 82 who swam across the lake today.”  

Flight of the Dove marks 21st year with 204 riders and more than $50,000 raised Laurens County Buzz, Laurens, SC; by Staff; 8/10/26 Laurens County’s 21st annual Flight of the Dove drew 204 registered riders to Clinton on Aug. 1 and raised more than $50,000 in support of hospice care in Laurens County. Riders traveled from six states to take part, including South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Illinois and Texas. The oldest registered rider was 83 and the youngest was 20. Of those registered, 150 were men and 54 were women. The ride was supported by 51 volunteers stationed at the stadium and at rest stops along the route, along with 26 volunteer motorcycles.

Local philanthropy ensures dignified death for allThe Daily Sentinel, Grand Junction, CO; by Jace Dicola; 8/8/26It’s no surprise that the majority of Americans want to die in their home, comfortable and without financially burdening others. Satisfying all three criteria can be easier said than done; however, end-of-life care providers are a reliable solution for most people, since they typically deliver care in-home, focus on patient comfort and accept most insurance. But when it comes to people who are unhoused or uninsured, hospice care is often far from guaranteed. ... That reality looks different in much of western Colorado, primarily because of hospice and palliative care provider HopeWest.

Home health aide pay 2026: $17.36/hr average, top states & policy threat to your paycheck Unfinished Man; by Rasha; 8/11/26 The average home health aide makes $36,120 a year, or $17.36 an hour — but pay varies widely by state, setting, and a proposed federal rule change. You search “home health aide salary” and get three different numbers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says one thing, Payscale says another, and the Labor Department median sits somewhere in between. Which one do you trust? ... Some aides earn barely above the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour. Others clear $20 an hour. And right now, there’s a policy fight happening that could change everything about how this job pays.

Nonprofit announces new 'challenge grant,' matching every dollar donated through year-end up to $300K Steamboat Pilot & Today, Steamboat Springs, CO; by Julia Coccaro; 8/10/26 Northwest Colorado Health has raised nearly $800,000 toward its first-year fundraising goal for home health and hospice services since the campaign’s October 2025 launch, and a newly announced $300,000 matching grant could push the nonprofit past its target by year-end. Chief Executive Officer Steph Einfeld shared the fundraising update with the Steamboat Springs City Council at its meeting last week, framing the nonprofit’s home health and hospice programs as essential infrastructure that enables residents to remain safely at home rather than relying on hospitals, emergency services or out-of-area facilities.

MatrixCare releases list of 2026 CAHPS Honors Elite and Honors Award winners MatrixCare, by ResMed; retrieved from the MatrixCare website on 8/11/26 MatrixCare (a ResMed company) released its 2026 CAHPS Honors and Honors Elite Award winners, recognizing home health and hospice organizations whose patient/family satisfaction scores exceeded MatrixCare's own national benchmark — a distinction limited to agencies that use MatrixCare as their CAHPS survey vendor. This is not a ranking among all roughly 6,850 Medicare-certified hospices nationwide, so many excellent agencies using other vendors simply aren't eligible to appear. Congratulations to all organizations listed, especially the approximately 70 that reached the top "Honors Elite" tier.