Literature Review

Family Hospice celebrates grand opening EIN Presswire, Gainesville, GA; by BPR International; 10/14/24 Family Hospice announces the grand opening of its new location in Gainesville. The community is invited to a grand opening celebration on Tuesday, October 22 ... The unveiling of the Gainesville location marks a significant milestone for Family Hospice, which is expanding its network of compassionate care services to better serve the community in northeast Georgia. Focusing on providing quality end-of-life care and support for patients and their families, Family Hospice is dedicated to enhancing the comfort and dignity of those facing terminal illnesses. “We are committed to providing compassionate end-of-life care for those facing a life-limiting illness,” said Robin Stanton, Chief Operating Officer of Family Hospice. “This new location allows us to expand our Family and reach patients and their families in the comfort of wherever they call home in Gainesville and surrounding counties.”

The Alliance is leading efforts to urge Congress to extend telehealth flexibilities it says have improved access to home health and hospice care by allowing virtual face-to-face recertification visits Respiratory Therapy - Home Care; by The National Alliance for Care at Home (The Alliance); 10/15/24 RT’s Three Key Takeaways:

Fun Run participants honor loved ones while raising funds for hospice care The Baynet, Waldorf, MD; by Hospice of the Chesapeaker; 10/14/24 Wearing commemorative T-shirts, flouncy tutus and colorful socks, the runners and walkers in Hospice of the Chesapeake’s Blue Crab Fun Run came to have fun while supporting an essential Charles County not-for-profit organization. They were cheered on by Reuben B. Collins, II, Esq., President of the Charles County Board of Commissioners, who served as Grand Marshal for the inaugural event. Collins said he was grateful for the support and guidance he received while his father was cared for by Hospice of the Chesapeake in 2022. “I am thinking of my father today and I know he is smiling down on us this morning,” Collins said. He encouraged participants to dedicate each of their steps to the memory of a loved one. ... The event raised nearly $30,000, with all proceeds benefitting patients and families in Charles County, ensuring they have access to expert and compassionate supportive, hospice and grief care.

A new Hope(West CEO): HopeWest CEO resigns, assures smooth transition The Daily Sentinel, Grand Junction, CO; by Jace Dicola; 10/13/24 HopeWest is on the search for a new Chief Executive Officer.According to current HopeWest CEO Cassie Mitchell, her departure is bittersweet, but the 30-year-old or ganization couldn’t be in better shape for a smooth transition. Mitchell will remain CEO until the end of this year after her successor is selected. HopeWest is a nonprofit provider of the county’s Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly and regional hospice, palliative and grief services. “It’s been a good two and a half years,” Mitchell said. “The organization is in a really strong place: quality is good, sustainability is good and we’re still 100% committed to our nonprofit, community-based mission.” The departure from HopeWest — to return to her home state of Kentucky — stems from a job opportunity in Mitchell’s old stomping grounds that will allow her to help with her faraway family’s “pressing” needs. She will serve as COO for another serious-illness health care provider currently amid a merger between two nonprofits. 

Pa. nonprofit to close; more than 100 people to be laid off Penn Live Patriot News; by Daniel Urie; 10/14/24More than 100 people will be laid off at a Philadelphia nonprofit. The Visiting Nurse Association of Greater Philadelphia has filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification notice with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry informing the state it will close, and that 114 people will be laid off at 4601 Market St. The nonprofit is expected to close on Oct. 28 but is subject to change based on client needs and operational issues. The Visiting Nurses Association of Greater Philadelphia is closing after 138 years, according to WHYY. The VNA’s home health care program had about 239 patients as of last month, and another 54 patients were being cared for in hospice and palliative care, the WHYY report said. The following employees will be laid off: [Click on the title's link for the list of roles and number of employees.]

Hospice in a hurricane: How Empath Health responded to back-to-back disasters Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 10/11/24 Hospice providers in the southeastern United States are reeling from the impacts of two massive hurricanes that have occurred during the past two weeks. ... The Florida-based hospice and senior services provider Empath Health saw the majority of its service region affected by [Hurricane Milton], which caused substantial damage to infrastructure in many communities. Empath reported no major injuries among its employees, according to CEO Jonathan Fleece. However, some employees did lose entire homes or experienced significant damage, as well as cars and other essentials. ... “We do our best through pre-storm planning to come up with our communication plans with our patients and their families, ...” Fleece told Hospice News. “When we can’t reach people by phone, once we have any kind of access to roads, we will do our very best to do some sort of a check in.” These efforts are coordinated through an emergency management team, led by commander Matt Chaloux, that engages in disaster planning and response, Fleece said. Building on lessons learned from Hurricane Ian in 2022, Empath also established a mobile response unit — a vehicle designed to provide clinical, communications and logistical support during catastrophic events. The unit is modeled after similar vehicles used by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Empath Health has set up a fund to aid employees who were affected by the hurricanes, helping to provide them with housing, transportation, child care and other needs, according to a statement posted by Fleece on LinkedIn. The organization's board of trustees has pledged to mathc donations dollar-for-dollar up to $500,000.Editor's note: Click here to donate to Empath Helath's fund to aid employees. 

Women’s Club donates to local hospice care workers The Point/Plover Metro Wire, Portage County, WI; by Metro Wire Staff; 10/11/24 The GFWC-Stevens Point Women’s Club donated more than 60 caregiver baskets to Heartland Hospice in Stevens Point during its Oct. 10 meeting. The baskets were assembled by members to show gratitude for the care hospice workers provide to their patients. The GFWC-Stevens Point Women’s Club, founded in 1895, is part of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC), an international organization established in 1890 that focuses on community improvement through volunteer service.Editor's note: November's Hospice & Palliative Care Month is near. What community groups might want to provide simple, meaningful thank-you's to your hospice staff?

Compassus CEO Mike Asselta: Hospice, home health JVs crucial to growth Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 10/9/24 Home-based care provider Compassus has been on a growth trajectory for several years running – placing hospice and home health at the center of its strategic vision. Compassus provides home health, home infusion, palliative and hospice care across 30 states. The home-based provider also offers advanced care management and skilled nursing facility-at-home services. Joint ventures with health systems have been an important part of expanding Compassus’ footprint and reaching patients in need of greater support in the home, said CEO Michael Asselta. Hospice News recently sat down with Asselta to discuss the company’s growth plans after he stepped into his new role in May. ... [Click on the title's link to continue reading.]

AMA Journal of Ethics: Educational resources in response to medical supplies lost to hurricaneEmail from AMA Journal of Ethics; 10/10/24Storm damage from hurricane Helene has forced a factory that makes medical supplies to shut down. The AMA Journal of Ethics offers the following educational resources:

Hospice of Central PA President Gil Brown to retire Abel Personnel; by Rochelle Shenk; 10/9/24 After more than a decade of service at Hospice of Central PA, president Gil Brown will retire Dec. 31. According to a news release, Brown has been a driving force behind the organization’s growth, steering it through significant achievements and fostering strong relationships with health care partners and the community. Since joining Hospice of Central PA in 2014, Brown has led the organization through numerous milestones, including earning Joint Commission accreditation and securing a 5-star status in the We Honor Veterans program offered by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. ... “Working with Gil has been a truly inspiring experience,” said Hank Straub, HCP Board Member. “His unwavering commitment to compassionate care and his visionary leadership have not only shaped Hospice of Central PA, but also set a high standard for excellence. Gil’s ability to lead with both heart and strategic focus has made a lasting impact, and it has been an honor to collaborate with him in serving our community.” 

[NonProfit Pro] How to develop your year-end ask strategy NonProfit Pro; by Jeff Schreifels; 10/8/24 There’s no doubt about it — as a fundraiser, you are now in the busiest, most productive time of your year. Hopefully you’ve developed a strategic plan for your whole year and know how to approach the next couple of months to reach your organization’s financial goals.Still, even with a strong plan, developing the right year-end ask amounts can be tricky. I can’t tell you the hundreds of times I have talked to major gift officers who don’t know the details of their caseload or their donors’ interests and situations. ... And what’s worse is once that pressure to get the money starts coming down, you may find yourself asking for gifts that harm the long-term relationship with your donor. The goal is to come to your donor from an authentic place of partnership. ... These questions will form the foundation for your ask strategy. ...

Hospices leverage school-based partnerships to strengthen bereavement care Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 10/7/24 Some hospices have increasingly recognized the value of collaborating with local educators when it comes to improving community grief support for bereaved children and their families. Establishing collaborative relationships with educational institutions can help hospices ensure that they’re developing age-appropriate grief services, according to Cole Warner, director of support services at North Carolina-based Hospice of Davidson County. The nonprofit provides hospice services across 10 counties in its service area and also offers bereavement and veteran programs. The ability to identify and communicate grief-related emotions ranges across different age groups, and bereavement care teams need to be well-versed on youths’ cognitive capacity, Warner said. This involves having educators weigh in the common challenges that kids experience along their grief journeys. ...