Literature Review

Shepherd’s Cove Hospice: Children’s Activity Garden Sand Mountain Reporter, Albertville, AL; by Mary Bailey; 11/22/25 Shepherd’s Cove Hospice in Albertville lives by the words of community, compassion and connection. On Tuesday morning they opened the doors of the community room for a free breakfast and then held a ribbon cutting for their new “Children’s Activity Garden” located at their facility. With one in nine children in Alabama experiencing a loss of a parent or sibling by age 18, Shepherd’s Cove Hospice saw a need and wanted to help. The Children’s Activity Garden is space where children and teenagers can come to deal with their emotions but also have the freedom and space to still be a child and play. 

The hidden value of thrift stores in hospice care Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN); hosted by Chris Comeaux with Mark Cohen and Lin Sue Flood; 11/19/25 This TCNtalks episode explores the multifaceted role of thrift stores in Hospice Care, highlighting their impact on community engagement, grief support, and economic sustainability. Our guests, Lin Sue Flood, Director of Community Engagement at Hospice of the Valley, and Mark Cohen, retired Editor & Publisher of Hospice News Today, and Principal, Cohen-Fyfe Communications, discuss how thrift stores serve as vital assets for Hospices, providing not only financial support but also fostering community connections and environmental sustainability.

[United Kingdom] Daughter of hospice patients backs bed campaign BBC News; by Will Jefford; 11/18/25 The daughter of a couple who spent their final moments together side by side in a hospice has backed a campaign to save two end-of-life care beds from funding cuts. Julie Whittaker's parents, Chris and Lynne Johnson, were cared for in the same room at Ashgate Hospice, in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, before dying just days apart in February 2024. Ashgate Hospice announced plans to reduce the number of inpatient beds as part of wider plans to save more than £2.6m in October Editor's Note: Read more, "Married 'soulmates' spent final days side by side," which we posted on 7/17/24.

Empathy is the strongest form of leadership: Kyle Godhard Cleveland.com; by guest columnist Kyle Godhard, VP of Human Resources at Hospice of the Western Reserve; 11/16/25 ... In hospice care, that compassion runs especially deep. Staff walk alongside patients and families in their final days, often carrying emotional weight long after each goodbye.  In such a setting, leadership must offer more than direction; it must offer empathy. At Hospice of the Western Reserve, we believe compassionate leadership is not only kind, but also strategic. And it may be the most important investment any healthcare organization can make. ... Compassionate leadership doesn’t replace high expectations. It strengthens them. It builds teams that trust one another, stay committed and show up fully for patients and families. 

NVNA and Hospice rebrands as Croí HealthPR-Inside.com, Norwell, MA; Press Release; 11/13/25 NVNA and Hospice is rebranding as Croí Health starting December 1st. The non-profit home health care and hospice agency, founded in 1920, will remain independent and maintain the same award-winning care team, changing only its name. "Croí" draws inspiration from the Gaelic word meaning "heart" which embodies their unmatched empathy and unwavering support for patients and families. This move better reflects the nonprofit's identity and the future of the organization.

Finding their "why": Women in healthcare share their journeys at Alys Smith Symposium The Parthenon; by Abby Ayes; 11/13/25 ...  This year, the [seventh Alys Smith Symposisum on Women Professionals] celebration centered on Melanie Hall, Hospice of Huntington CEO and Marshall University alumna, whose keynote address offered a glimpse into resilience, loss and purpose. ... Hall’s story began with a spark of curiosity. “In early high school, you’re trying to figure out what you’re going to do,” she said. “So, I signed up to be a candy striper.” ... In 2013, Hall’s husband encouraged her to apply for the CEO position at Hospice of Huntington. A few months later, tragedy struck when a house fire destroyed everything her family owned. “Thankfully, all my family made it out,” Hall said. “But life changed in just a few hours.” ... As she wrapped up her keynote, Hall left the audience with a reminder about finding purpose in the unexpected turns of life. [Continue reading.]Editor's Note: Thank you Melanie for your leadership both through Hospice of Huntington and throughout your community. This article ends with, "Students, faculty, and community members were given the chance to ask questions, connect, and learn about nontraditional pathways in healthcare, a fitting close to an evening dedicated to women whose care, courage and conviction define what it means to serve."

Empath Health leans into value-based care with plans for multi-state expansion Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 11/14/25 Florida-based senior care provider Empath Health is blazing a trail forward in value-based care programs and has plans to expand beyond its home state. The nonprofit’s three-year strategic plan is heavily focused on working with risk- and value-based payers, leveraging its diversified suite of services, according to President and CEO Jonathan Fleece. Empath refers to its continuum of care, much of which is home-based, as its “Full-Life Care Model.”

Inside Compassus’ 2-pronged plan to expand Providence joint venture Home Health Care News; by Morgan Gonzales; 11/11/25 The joint venture between Compassus and not-for-profit health system Providence is set to expand through two key growth tactics. ... For the first pillar, the joint venture aims to expand through multiple sources within Providence, including case management, discharge planning, hospital-based clinicians and Providence’s ambulatory environment. ... Its second growth strategy looks outside of the Providence ecosystem for referrals, whether from long-term care facilities, skilled nursing facilities or physicians working directly with patients. 

Doves & Diamonds event draws record crowd Beloit Daily News, Beloit, WI ; by Clint Wolf; 11/9/25 A record crowd turned out Saturday for the 21st Annual Doves & Diamonds Gala event at the Eclipse Center. Tami Scarpetta, executive director of foundation, marketing and community relations for Beloit Health System, said 354 guests had registered to attend the event, which is the largest fundraising event for Beloit Regional Hospice each year. ... “We usually raise about $100,000 each year. We are hoping to top that this year,” Scarpetta said. She said, before the event even kicked off, the bourbon raffle already had raised $12,000 in pre-sales. 

Hospice care recipients of calendar fundraiser The Grapevine, Martha's Vineyard, MA; by The Martha's Vineyard Times; 11/7/25 In honor of National Hospice and Palliative Care Month and as an ode to his family’s personal experience, Vineyard photographer Michael Blanchard donated $5,000 to Hospice & Palliative Care of Martha’s Vineyard (HPCMV). The proceeds come from Blanchard’s 2026 Inspirational Calendar for the Annual Appeal, which is a dedication to the memory of his parents, who both received hospice or palliative services at the end of their lives. “Hospice was there for my family,” Blanchard said. “This donation is simply a way to say thank you and encourage others to support the work they do for our Island.” 

Providence home health venture launches in California, includes North Bay The Press Democrat, North Bay, CA; by Cheryl Sarfaty; 11/4/25Providence and home-health care provider Compassus have finalized plans to provide home health, hospice, palliative care and personal home care services to multiple California regions, including Sonoma and Napa counties. California becomes the second of the three-phase joint venture. The first, announced March 3, includes Alaska, Texas and Washington. The third phase, in Oregon, is still pending regulatory review and approval in that state, according to Providence and Compassus. Under the agreement, Compassus will manage operations for all locations of the combined entity, called Providence at Home with Compassus. 

Hospice executive highlights Medicare benefits during National Hospice and Palliative Care Month ABC-WWSB, Sarasota, FL; by Thad Randazzo and Summer Smith; 11/5/25 November is National Hospice and Palliative Care Month, a time to discuss the benefits of hospice care and its importance to communities. Casey Cuthbert, executive director of Affinity Care Hospice of Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, and DeSoto counties, said people often don’t understand that hospice care is a journey everyone faces. ... Many people don’t realize they have paid into Medicare hospice benefits throughout their working lives, Cuthbert said. Medicare covers hospice services at 100%, including the caregiving team of nurses, aides, social workers, and chaplains.

Alive Hospice celebrates 50 years with 400 guests, two Nashville stars and one Krispy Kreme Yahoo! News; 11/6/25In typical Vince Gill fashion, the country star had a nonprofit fundraiser crowd laughing and tearing up in a two-minute span. After his wife, fellow artist and Nashville philanthropist Amy Grant, gave heartfelt opening remarks at the Alive Hospice gala, Gill leaned into the mic with a little smile. "I'm strictly here as eye candy," Gill said, swiveling his hips and sticking out his tongue as the crowd laughed, hooted and clapped.  ... More than 400 people gathered for Alive Hospice's 50th anniversary gala Nov. 4 at the Country Music Hall of Fame in downtown Nashville. It was the largest event in the nonprofit's history, and the $1 million-plus raised is the most money Alive Hospice has collected at a fundraiser, hospice staffers said.