Literature Review

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.

Care Planning Issues Top Lists of Hospice Survey DeficienciesHospice News, by Jim Parker; 1/4/24Amid rising regulatory scrutiny, issues related to care planning continue to top lists of the most common survey deficiencies among hospices. The most frequently cited deficiency is the requirement that each patient should have a customized care plan developed by the interdisciplinary team with involvement from a physician as well as the patient and family, the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) reported. The noncompliance rate was 66% for 2022.

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):

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.

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.

Stepping forward to enhance end-of-life careLaker Lutz News, by Mary Rathman; 1/2/23Gulfside Hospice, a leading provider of compassionate health care services, hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for its newest venture — a state-of-the-art Gulfside Hospice Care Center — on Dec. 8, on the future grounds of the center.

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.

Ask Amy: Annual charity column shows ways to giveDenver Post, by Amy Dickinson; 12/26/23Dear Readers: As I offer my 20th annual year-end “charity roundup,” I’d like to remind readers that while charity truly does begin at home, it need not stay there. Those who can afford to share their material wealth should give abundantly, donating locally to the local library, after-school program, hospice center, arts organizations, historical society and animal shelter. Acts of kindness and compassion are always worth their weight in gold: Shoveling a walk for a neighbor, writing a letter to an elder and volunteering at the local food bank are all ways to express your generosity.

Open house held in Gloucester for Sentara Home Health and HospiceGazette-Journal (Gloucester and Matthews counties, VA), 12/27/23Gloucester, VA—Sentara held an open house for its new Home Health and Hospice location in Gloucester on Tuesday, Dec. 12. The business will provide accessible and high-quality nursing to residents of Gloucester and the surrounding area, according to a release.

Aaron A. & Maria H. Putnam Family Charitable Trust gives grant to Aroostook Hospice FoundationThe County (Presque Isle, ME)December 26, 2023Presque Isle, ME—The Aroostook Hospice Foundation, owner of the Aroostook House of Comfort, is delighted to announce the receipt of a generous $5,000 grant from the Aaron A. and Maria H. Putnam Family Charitable Trust of Houlton. 

New residential end-of-life facility opens in central Pa.Patriot-News (Harrisburg, PA)December 26, 2023Chambersburg, PA—Mercy House of Chambersburg has opened at 730 Norland Ave. in Chambersburg. Mercy House was formed last year and partners with local hospice agencies in providing care for those who need 24-hour assistance and who are unable to remain at home. 

Super One Foods Wadena and Baxter help raise $3,925.08 for Knute Nelson hospice programPioneer Journal (Wadena, MN)December 26, 2023Wadena, MN—Super One Foods Wadena and Super One Foods Baxter partnered with the Knute Nelson Foundation on a fund raising drive to benefit the Hospice Program. From Nov. 10 through Nov. 27 customers were able to round up or select a donation amount at the registers to donate towards the hospice program. ... [A] total of $ 3,925.08 was donated.

Pohai Malama Adult Residential Care Home hosts open houseHawaii Tribune-Herald (Hilo, HI)December 25, 2023Hilo, HI—After closing its doors to inpatient services last year, Pohai Malama will be reopening as an adult residential care home beginning next year. Hawaii Care Choices, formerly Hospice of Hilo, earlier this month announced the opening of the Pohai Malama Adult Residential Care Home to a room full of board members, supporters and community leaders. The former 12-bed hospice and palliative care inpatient facility, located at 590 Kapiolani St. in Hilo, was closed in November 2022 after operating for 10 years due to changing preferences from patients, many who preferred to be treated in their homes.