Literature Review

Revisiting mastering the art of re-entry: the key to a less-stressful return from vacation Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN); by Chris Comeaux; 8/11/26 Now that it is midsummer, have you followed my advice in my previous blog, Work-Life Harmony and taken your vacation? Stephen Covey coined the phrase, “Sharpening the saw,” many years ago and that age-old wisdom applies even more today than when he first wrote about it over thirty years ago. Taking time off is essential to live a high-performance life. But I have noticed a disturbing trend amongst my peers and team members. They are taking time off, but about a week into their return, they comment, “that is so far in the rearview mirror because I am so far behind that I am working twice as hard to catch up.” ... It's time to break free from this vicious cycle by incorporating a crucial new competency: planning your re-entry.Editor's Note: Translate this to your interdisciplinary team professionals for whom--during their vacations--patients have died, their family conflicts have escalated, and newly admitted patients have been added to their caseloads. What systems do you have for smooth, supportive transitions for IDG members when handing off caseloads when leaving, and picking them up on return?

Influencer Sydney Towle's final message before death was a powerful reminder to 'choose kindness'Big News Network; 8/7/26 The death of popular influencer Sydney Towle has left her family, friends and followers heartbroken. According to PEOPLE magazine, the 26-year-old content creator, who openly shared her battle with a rare form of cancer on social media, passed away on August 5. Before her death, she left behind a simple but powerful message about kindness and compassion.

Elisabeth Kübler-Ross at 100: a legacy that changed how the world faces deathe-hospice; by Ken Ross and Stephen Connor; 7/13/26 On July 8, the world marked the 100th anniversary of the birth of Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, the Swiss American psychiatrist whose work helped transform how clinicians, families, faith communities, and societies understand death, dying, grief, and compassionate care. Born in Zurich in 1926, Kübler-Ross entered medicine at a time when dying patients were often kept at the margins of care—physically present in hospitals, yet too often emotionally abandoned. She challenged that silence with a simple but radical act: she listened. Sitting at the bedside of people facing the end of life, she heard their fears, hopes, anger, questions, and need for honesty. In doing so, she insisted that dying people were not medical failures, but human beings with voices, wisdom, and dignity. Her landmark 1969 book, On Death and Dying, grew from interviews with seriously ill patients and introduced a language that reshaped modern conversations about loss. 

Homemakers create quilts for hospice patientsThe Kentucky Standard, Nelson County, KY; by Katelyn Norris;8/1/26 Nelson County Homemakers continue to find new way to serve their community. Earlier this week nearly two dozen quilts made by its members were donated toward local hospice patients. On Monday, the quilts were displayed at the Nelson County Extension Office as the local Homemakers donated them to the Hospice of Nelson County. The quilts were sewn, crocheted and knitted with love and care by the Homemakers. Each quilt has a tag denoting it was created by members of the group. ... Jaime Crockett [Manager of Clinical Services with Hospice of Nelson County] said she wants this moment to encourage other local quilters, crocheters and knitters to donate their own new, handmade blankets for those in hospice care.

Pierce County woman says scammers stole $117K as husband enters hospice care Fox 13, Seattle, WA; by David Rose; 7/23/26 A Pierce County woman says she lost about $117,000 to an elaborate phone scam while caring for her husband in hospice, leaving her uncertain how she will pay her bills after the man she has cared for through years of declining health dies. Charlotte Tripp said the scam unfolded at what she describes as the worst possible time in her life. Her husband of 17 years, who has dementia, recently entered hospice care after suffering a rapid decline following hip surgery and a urinary tract infection. ... "Basically, he can go any day now," Tripp said. "I'm trying to concentrate more on my husband to give him the time he needs." Instead, she said she has spent hours dealing with banks, law enforcement and mounting financial problems after scammers convinced her to drain her accounts.

Man donates van to hospice which cared for wife BBC News, Shropshire, England; by Andy Martindale and Chloe Hughes; 7/22/26 |A man whose wife was given end-of-life care by a hospice has donated a van to them as he said they "were there for us when we needed them most". Severn Hospice cares for patients from Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and mid-Wales, and the van will be used by its retail operation and maintenance teams which support its 31 charity shops. ... The van, grey with flashes of yellow and blue from the hospice's logo, also bears Barbara's name. "I know she'd [Barbara] love the idea - we used to love going to the charity shop in Oswestry, and I'm sure she'd be pleased to see her name travelling around Shropshire, hopefully doing a bit of good for the hospice."

From Iowa City to the Rockies: How one social work graduate built a career on connection Iowa University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, School of Social Work; 6/25/26 Since earning her bachelor's degree in social work from Iowa in 2010, Amanda Hebel has spent 15 years helping people navigate life's challenges—from hospice care to rehabilitation services across Colorado. ... Her senior year also brought her practicum placement in hospice care, and it’s where her education became a career. Having lost both of her parents before starting college, Hebel entered the placement with a depth of understanding that shaped how she showed up for patients from day one. The hands-on work—grief counseling, difficult conversations, navigating complex family dynamics—translated directly into the skills she'd carry into the workforce.

Ahwatukee vet helps seniors stay in their homes Ahwatukee Foothills News, Tempe, AZ; by AFN Staff; 6/23/26  For Alexander Mock, helping seniors remain safely in their homes isn’t just a business model. It’s a mission shaped by military service, years spent working alongside hospice nurses and families, and a belief that caring for people often means caring for the homes they live in. ... [As a hospice volunteer for veterans, he noticed a pattern.] As people’s health declined, the condition of their homes often declined as well. Many families struggled with maintenance issues, accessibility concerns and repairs that made it increasingly difficult for older adults to continue living independently. Mock began to see an opportunity to combine his experience helping people with practical home services.

Cincinnati Children's opened 6 locations in 2025. Here's why Cincinnati Enquirer, Cincinnati, OH; by Carly Gist; 6/12/2026 Cincinnati Children's is expanding its access to care across the region, including in Northern Kentucky. The health system reported in its latest Community Impact Report, released to the public June 9, that six new locations opened in 2025, including facilities in previously underserved communities such as Clermont and Clinton counties. Rural areas often have limited access to specialized and emergency care, placing residents at a higher risk of health challenges and death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Helping end-of-life patients helps us live fully BBC News, Bristol, England; by Jonathan Holmes, John Darvall, Sarah Turnnidge; 6/18/26"The reminder that we will all die is very difficult, but also really real, and it's the only truth we all have." Those are the words of 44-year-old Hazel Bulger from Bristol, who has spent the past year visiting her elderly neighbor Eric, 86. Living - in his own words - "in the shadow of cancer", recovering from a recent serious accident and managing alone after the death of his wife, Eric was matched with Bulger by St. Peter's Hospice as a "hospice neighbor." The chiropractor and yoga teacher was inspired to volunteer after losing both her parents suddenly in her twenties, said: "I think opening yourself up to end of life can actually allow you to live fully."

Designing the dream house of an 87-year-old tech visionary DNYUZ; 6/16/26 Brand’s life has been going for 87 years, but lately the going has been tough. The man known for creating the Whole Earth Catalog—the 1960s countercultural guide to self-sufficiency that Steve Jobs was fond of—has an incurable disease and is down to 130 pounds, an alarming weight for a nearly 6-footer. Brand’s mind is sharp as ever; you can’t talk to the man for five minutes without learning something. ... Brand is a world-class pragmatist and a philosopher of structures; he once wrote a book called How Buildings Learn about how homes and commercial properties evolve over time. ... We do a walk-through of the studio, all 715 square feet of it. Off of the living space, under an arch, is a motorized bed. There are no rails, and it looks nothing like hospital equipment. Brand grabs a remote and playfully shows me how it rises and kneels. The kitchen counters are lower than usual, to accommodate Brand if he ever needs a wheelchair. The bathroom is the space that’s most optimized for accessibility. ...

Stitching love The Ironton Tribune, Ironton, OH; by Mark Shaffer Patriotic-themed quilts made by the Ohio Hospice Quilters are on display at the Lawrence County Courthouse. Some of the quilts are for sale to buy more quilting supplies and the others will be donated to veterans. Ohio Hospice Quilters has made hundreds of quilts to comfort. For years, the members of the Ohio Hospice Quilters have put their skills to use to bring comfort. ... Each quilt is catered to the recipient as much as possible, they are designed for men, women, veterans or to a person’s interest or hobby.

The estate planning mistake that could leave your family with nothing Due; by Petere Daisyme; 5/28/26 A friend’s father passed away last spring with $1.2 million in assets and no will. No trust, no beneficiary designations updated since the 1990s, no power of attorney documents. His ex-wife — not his current partner of 15 years — was still listed as the beneficiary on his life insurance and retirement accounts. Change your designations as soon as a life situation changes. ...