Literature Review

2,200 Walk to Remember those who have passed away Cleveland Jewish News; by Kirsten Beard; 6/9/25 About 2,200 people attended the 14th annual Walk to Remember with the Hospice of the Western Reserve on June 8 at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. This event offered a meaningful way to celebrate life, to honor the memory of loved ones and support care that brings comfort and dignity for those facing serious illness. “The Hospice Walk to Remember is both our most important fundraiser of the year, but it’s also a really important time for families to come together and remember their loved ones that aren’t with us anymore, ...” Bill Finn, president and CEO of Hospice of the Western Reserve in Cleveland, told the Cleveland Jewish News. Gary Isakov, board member of Hospice Western Reserve, told the CJN while this is a fundraising event, it’s more about “bringing people together.”

Longtime Fargo-based hospice service has new name Fargo Forum, Fargo, ND; Press Release; 6/9/25 Hospice of the Red River Valley, which has had a presence in the region for decades, is now called HIA Hospice. Editor's note: The rest of this article is behind a paywall. Click here for more from HIA Health's website.

Spotlight on medicine: Jack Black makes a splash at Sunday by the Sea Easy Reader & Peninsula; by Tony La Bruno; 6/6/25 On April 27, the stunning backdrop of Lunada Bay set the stage for the 34th annual Sunday by the Sea fundraiser, in support of the Providence TrinityCare Hospice Foundation. The day was filled with entertainment, including a Tiger Squadron flyover and a special appearance by long-time supporter Jack Black. More than 600 enthusiastic attendees gathered to savor offerings from 38 culinary participants stretching from El Segundo to San Pedro, as well as wineries and breweries from Paso Robles to Torrance. Together, they raised nearly $300,000 to benefit vital adult and pediatric hospice and palliative care programs, ensuring compassionate support for every patient and family served.

Alive welcomes local healthcare leader as new CEO Alive Hospice; Press Release; 6/4/25 Alive, Middle Tennessee’s only nonprofit provider of hospice, palliative care and end-of-life services, today announced Amir Hamad as the organization’s new president and chief executive officer. He will begin his new role on June 30. A healthcare executive with more than 20 years of experience, Hamad comes to Alive from Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital West where he served as Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer overseeing over 1,800 employees and managing operations for one of the state’s top acute care hospitals. Hamad’s hiring comes as the beloved organization is gearing up to celebrate its 50th Anniversary in November. Alive was the first hospice established in America’s heartland and the third in the nation in 1975. 

NPHI proud to announce its partnership on the upcoming documentary for PBS, Caregiving, from Executive Producer Bradley Cooper National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI), Washington, DC; 5/19/25 The National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI) is proud to announce its partnership on the upcoming PBS documentary Caregiving, a powerful new film executive produced by Academy Award-nominated actor, director, and producer Bradley Cooper. Created in collaboration with Cooper’s production company, Lea Pictures, as well as WETA Washington, D.C., and Ark Media, Caregiving will shine a national spotlight on the often unseen yet essential work of caregivers across the country. NPHI is honored to serve as a national partner on this important project. Narrated by Uzo Aduba (The Residence, Orange Is the New Black) and directed by Chris Durrance, Caregiving intertwines deeply personal stories of caregivers with the untold history of the American care system. The documentary examines how caregivers—often family members, friends, and frontline professionals—navigate the immense challenges and unseen achievements of their roles.

Hospice fundraiser baseball game raises funds and receives community support Mercer County Outlook, St. Mary's, OH; 6/3/25 Grand Lake Hospice is pleased to announce the success of the Minster Baseball Hospice Night, a charity baseball game held on Friday, May 9th. The baseball game, against the St. Marys Roughriders, raised funds to support the services provided by Grand Lake Hospice to the surrounding communities. Through the generous contributions of attendees, sponsors, and volunteers, the hospice fundraiser successfully raised a total of $6,600 in funds. These funds will be used to enhance the comfort and quality of life for terminally ill patients, provide specialized medical care, and offer emotional support to patients and their families during the most challenging times. 

Missoula community celebrates opening of Hope Hospice Center NBC-KULR, NonStop Local Billings, MT / Missoula, MT; by Taylor Richardson; 6/3/25 The Hope Hospice Center celebrated its opening with a ceremony in Missoula, marking a significant milestone for elder care in Western Montana. The new facility will provide critical end-of-life care for people across the region. The state-of-the-art center spans 15,200 square feet and offers 24-hour end-of-life services. It includes 12 private patient rooms, spaces for family visits, and areas for religious and cultural practices. Amanda Yeoman Melro, Executive Director of Partners Hope Foundation, expressed her excitement about the center. "I think it has exceeded our wildest dreams of what a hospice center could possibly be," she said. The facility was made possible through community fundraising efforts led by the Partners Hope Foundation, which raised more than $15 million. 

The Roaring ‘20s: Hospice of the Valley hosts senior prom Arcadia News, Phoenix, AZ; by Mallory Gleich; 6/1/25 At the Dementia Care and Education Campus in Arcadia, the spirit of the Roaring ’20s came to life as Hospice of the Valleyhosted its second annual senior prom. With pearls, feathers, vintage flair, and a whole lot of heart, this unforgettable evening was more than just a dance, it was a joyful celebration of life, connection, and music. Around 80 guests – a mix of Adult Day Club members, assisted living residents, spouses, family members, staff, and volunteers – attended the soiree. From the start, the event buzzed with anticipation and excitement. For many, this was a chance to relive a moment they had missed, or rewrite one that had fallen short in their youth. 

Sioux Falls VA Healthcare System opens hospice cottage Dakota News Now, Sioux Falls, SD; by Dakota News Now staff; 5/30/25 The Sioux Falls VA Healthcare System has cut the ribbon and opened the newest facility on its campus, a hospice cottage. The 10,000-foot facility with 10 beds is meant to give veterans and their families a high level of care and a peaceful environment that allows them to spend time together. The VA says the cottage is the perfect setting for end-of-life care for veterans, treating them with dignity. ... "We are here for the veterans, and we complete that circle. The time they gave, and now we’re giving back to them at the end of their life,” said Sioux Falls VA Hospice Nurse Manager Cami VanWyhe.

Jewish hospice volunteer goes beyond ‘Shabbat blessings’ with ‘Froth and Bubble’ Jewish News; by Shannon Levitt; 5/20/25 Jeff Lewis, 71, had about 100 boxes of books with him when he moved to the Valley from California more than a decade ago. Surprisingly, those books became his first link to Hospice of the Valley (HOV), an organization that would become very important to him through the years. ... Thus, when he decided to retire from his photography business but wanted to stay busy, his friend again nudged him toward HOV and its Shabbat Blessings volunteer program. ... As a Shabbat Blessings volunteer, Lewis, a member of Temple Solel in Paradise Valley, offers hospice patients a small Shabbat service, including lighting Shabbat candles, saying the Hamotzi and Kiddush blessings and offering small prayers. [Story of patient financially choosing between medicine and food.]  ... [Lewis} started buying $75 grocery gift cards to give away. [This developed into] The Froth and Bubble Foundation for Food Assistance. Editor's note: This inspirational Shabbat blessings story tells the rich background behind our 3rd top-read story from last week, Hospice volunteer donates 10,000 gift cards to cancer patients. Scroll to the end of this story for the meaning behind the name "Froth and Bubble." 

SpiriTrust Lutheran says Home Care & Hospice operations will wind down across three counties, end service on July 18th Tri-State Alert, Chambersburg, PA; Press Release; 5/29/25 Earlier on Thursday [5/29], News Talk 1037FM was alerted to a WARN notice from SpiriTrust Lutheran as to a closure of a portion of their business. Throughout the process, that notice has been narrowed down to their Home Care & Hospice (HCH), with the company announcing their plans to discontinue operations out of their Franklin County office which serves clients in Franklin, Adams and York counties. The official closure will be July 18, 2025. ... SpiriTrust Lutheran says that roughly 65 home care and hospice employees will be affected by the shutting, but  some are expected to be reassigned or offered positions within the SpiriTrust Lutheran family of Life Plan Communities ... SpiriTrust Lutheran officials cited the organization’s ongoing challenges mirrored those confronting many similar organizations nationwide – significant increases in the cost of delivering care due to staffing shortages; rising benefit expenses; and the escalating prices for medical supplies and pharmacy. 

Hospice El Paso to receive over $100K from Marathon Petroleum Corporation KTSM, El Paso, TX; Press Release; 5/28/25 Hospice El Paso will receive a $174,000 donation from Marathon Petroleum Corporation this week, which includes the gift of a fully equipped ambulance to support the organization’s patient transportation needs. The donation will be held on Thursday, May 29, the organization said. ... The donation will enable the organization to “provide timely and compassionate transportation for patients requiring specialized end-of-life care, ensuring they receive the support they need with dignity and comfort,” read the news release by the organization. ... “We are deeply grateful to Marathon Petroleum for their unwavering commitment to our community,” Dr. Jim Voiland, CEO of Hospice El Paso, said.