Literature Review

Connecticut Hospice back on sound financial footing; many credit local business owner Barbara Pearce for turnaround CTPost, Branford, CT; by Mark Zaretsky; 7/12/25 Connecticut Hospice, the nation's first hospice facility, appears to finally be out of the financial woods now — but that wasn't the case a few years ago. And many people outside its inner circle may not know just how precarious its situation was and how a well-known business owner played a key role in the turnaround. Barbara Pearce, CEO of Pearce Real Estate, put her life and her role in the real estate company her late father founded on hold for six years to take over at Hospice and make hard decisions to steer it back to health. Hospice has new leadership now. New President and CEO Sylvia Allais is working to move Connecticut Hospice forward. 

Grieving the living: How Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley helps caregivers cope North Country Now, St. Lawrence County, NY; by Kate Favaro, Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley; 7/10/25 With caregiving comes grief, there’s no way around it. You will grieve two important things that you’ve lost: who the person you’re caring for used to be, and the things that will never be. Take the time to explore the grief you’re experiencing so you can provide the best care possible. If you’re not taking care of yourself, you won’t be able to take care of anyone else. Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley offers the following on the grief of caregiving:

Prospect Home Care & Hospice begins dispersing funds Pikes Peak Courier, Pikes Peak, CO; by Pat Hill; 7/9/25 A $200,000 gift from Prospect Home Care & Hospice Foundation, the new brush truck fills gaps for Four Mile Fire Protection District. “The problem we run into is that 20 to 26 volunteers typically show up for a fire, but I only had enough trucks to get 20 out,” said Chief Chris Hawkins. “It’s crucial; with another crew on a fire, it’s another 400 gallons of water.” The foundation funds were left from when the hospice organization was active. Mary Barrowman served the organization as president and chief executive officer from 2003 to 2018. That year, Barrowman closed the hospice/home care side but continued to offer grief counseling and individual family assistance for those suffering the loss of a loved one. After dissolving the nonprofit in 2018, Barrowman initiated Prospect’s philanthropy with small grants to organizations and agencies that helped families in need. The donation to Four Mile and an earlier one to the Florissant fire department fulfills Barrowman’s wish to establish a legacy in the name of the Prospect Home Care & Hospice.

Carolina Caring launches specialized program to support dementia patients Carolina Caring, Newton, NC; Press Release; 7/3/25 On Tuesday, July 1st, 2025, Carolina Caring launched a new Dementia Care Program designed to provide expert support and services to patients with a dementia diagnosis. As part of this launch, Carolina Caring also announced approval from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to participate in the “Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience” (GUIDE) Model of Care, a national initiative which seeks to improve quality of life for dementia patients. The expansion of this Dementia Care Program builds upon years of Carolina Caring’s internal development and collaboration with universities and professional partners. The program is now accepted as a National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI) Dementia Care Program.

Mayo Clinic gets $50M gift to boost innovation Becker's Health IT; by Naomi Diaz; 6/30/25 Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic has received a $50 million donation from Florida philanthropists Gilchrist and Amy Berg — a gift dedicated to the health system’s innovation efforts. The money will support Mayo’s Innovation Exchange, a program that helps healthcare startups and entrepreneurs bring new technologies to patients. In recognition of the donation, the program will be renamed the Mayo Clinic Berg Innovation Exchange, according to a June 30 news release. The Innovation Exchange serves as a hub for global collaboration, bringing together experts in AI, digital health, product design and more. It has a footprint on six continents and supports startups working on tools in diagnostics, therapeutics and medical devices, according to Mayo Clinic.

Reopening of Hospice House stalls after Seasons Hospice exits Steele County Southernminn, Faribault, MN; by Annie Harman; 7/1/25 What has been a continuing journey of peaks and valleys has come upon yet another roadblock as volunteers with the Homestead Hospice House announce the reopening of the residential hospice facility will be put on hold. The news comes after Seasons Hospice, a nonprofit hospice care organization based out of Rochester, has made the decisions to discontinue their home care and hospice services in Steele County. Seasons had initially partnered with the board of the Homestead Hospice House in August 2024 to work toward reopening the facility, raising $850,000 — $350,000 to reopen the facility and cover startup funds for IT and staff, and an additional $500,000 to secure operating funds for the first year. 

Hospice Savannah launches The GUIDE Model for Dementia Care Savannah Business Journal; by Staff Report; 6/30/25 Hospice Savannah will launch their latest program, Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE), on July 1 through the Steward Center for Palliative Care in partnership with the Edel Caregiver Institute. The GUIDE model offers enhanced services for people living with dementia along with support for their caregivers. Its’ focus is to bring high-quality dementia care for all individuals, including those in underserved communities.GUIDE recognizes the complex challenges families face in caring for a loved one with dementia. This model provides a framework for delivering care with additional resources that were not available until now.  

Center for Acute Hospice Care to close in August 29 News, Charlottesville, VA; by Jacob Phillips; 7/1/25 After nearly a decade of offering around-the-clock end-of-life care, Hospice of the Piedmont is closing their Center for Acute Hospice Care (CAHC) on Ivy Road in Charlottesville in August. “It gives us an opportunity to concentrate more on where patients want to be, which is home, and those services will still be provided,” Hospice of the Piedmont President and CEO Nancy Littlefield said. “[CAHC] is a 10-bed unit that we lease...and it’s for patients who might be having needs of a higher level of hospice care.” Littlefield says the main reason for closing the center is the lease is coming to an end and with uncertainty surrounding federal budget cuts of hospice care, continuing in this location is not sustainable. “Our hospice, as well as all hospices across the state, are having to be very cautious about what Medicaid and other reimbursement changes may occur under the current administration,” Littlefield said, “and I think the worst thing we can do for families and patients is to not be prepared.”

Petaluma and Santa Rosa hospice workers kick off 2-day strike against Providence Petaluma Argus-Courier, Petaluma, CA; 7/2/25 Nearly 100 hospice workers and supporters protested in Petaluma and Santa Rosa on Wednesday as part of a two-day strike against what they call bad-faith bargaining with Providence as the health care giant joins forces with a private equity-backed hospice company. The hospice workers, who are represented by the National Union of Healthcare Workers, said they’ve been locked in negotiations for their first contract for two years and are frustrated with Providence’s “stalling.” They accuse the health care provider of not wanting to settle their contract while it works on a joint venture with a for-profit company. 

Golf for Guthrie Hospice Tournament celebrates 23 years of generosity Morning Times, Sayre, PA; 7/2/25 The 23rd annual Golf for Guthrie Hospice Tournament continued its tradition of community support, raising more than $46,000 this year and bringing the 23-year total to nearly $680,000. These funds are vital in advancing Guthrie Hospice’s mission of providing compassionate care to those in need. ... “We are truly grateful to our sponsors, golfers, community partners and volunteers who make this cherished annual tradition possible,” said Tricia Huston, Executive Director of Guthrie Resource Development.

LP Quinn Elementary students raise nearly $13K for High Peaks Hospice; Each grade chose a different way to fundraise The Sun, Tupper Lake, NY; News Report; 6/24/25 The students of LP Quinn Elementary School have once again proven the power of community, creativity, and compassion. During May, the entire school united in their annual fundraising campaign and raised an incredible $12,600+ for High Peaks Hospice. Each grade level chose a unique fundraising strategy, highlighting the ingenuity and heart of LP Quinn students:

Snowline rethinks donation policy Mountain Democrat, Placerville, CA; News Release; 6/18/25 ... Operated in support of Snowline’s nonprofit mission, its thrift stores raise crucial funds to provide palliative care, hospice services, bereavement and veteran support to individuals and families throughout our region. Recently, in response to feedback from the community about donation limitations, Snowline opened its doors to accept a broader range of donated items. The goal was simple: to be more accommodating and say “yes” more often to those wanting to give. ... While the outpouring of donations was generous and deeply appreciated, this well-intentioned shift led to a significant rise in items that simply could be resold, things that were broken, torn, incomplete or nonfunctional. As a result, waste removal costs have skyrocketed in the thousands due to an increased number of trash runs and landfill fees. These unexpected expenses threaten Snowline’s ability to direct maximum funds toward the care programs that are at the heart of its mission. “We want to be a resource for our community and also remain good stewards of the donations we receive,” said Director of Thrift Operations Daron Hairabedian. “But we also have a responsibility to ensure the dollars raised through our thrift operations go where they matter most, supporting patients and families in the most vulnerable times of their lives.” To preserve the long-term sustainability of Snowline’s vital programs, including palliative care and grief support services, Snowline Thrift Stores will return to a more selective donation process.