Literature Review

LAVNS appoints Ruben Vasquez as its executive director Daily Post, Los Alamos County, NM; 12/4/25 Los Alamos Visiting Nurse Service, Inc. (LAVNS), “the community’s trusted not-for-profit partner in home health and hospice care since 1973”, has announced the appointment of Ruben A. Vasquez as executive director. This leadership transition marks the beginning of a revitalized strategic chapter for LAVNS as it heads into 2026, focused on strengthening its workforce, modernizing operations, and reaffirming its commitment to the community it has served for more than five decades. 

Nurse executive graduate brings life to hospice care  Augusta University - JAGWire, Augusta, GA; by Nina Siso; 12/2/25 When someone says the word “hospice,” words like “illness” or “dying” might come to mind. But for Ashley Perkins, it’s more than that. “We bring life to the rest of the time you have. It’s about what’s important to you, and how we can help you with that,” Perkins said. Perkins is graduating from the Doctor of Nursing Practice Nurse Executive program through Augusta University’s College of Nursing. The program is designed exclusively for chief nursing officers, vice presidents of nursing and other nursing leaders aspiring to pursue executive-level nursing positions. Already a vice president of hospice services at a not-for-profit organization, Perkins pursued an advanced degree to be able to contribute more. 

Hospice El Paso pediatric patient to spread joy with Toy Drive for local children ABC KIVA-7, El Paso, TX; by Armando Ramirez; 12/1/25 7-year-old Kenia Marisol Huerta Medina, a participant of Hospice El Paso's Butterfly Program, has a wish to help others this holiday season. According to Hospice El Paso, Kenia is battling diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, a cancer that affects the central nervous system to include the brain and spinal cord. As apart of her holiday wish, Kenia is asking for Christmas toys and other gifts for undeserved children in the El Paso region.

Transforming care: MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center receives $6 million gift from Marilyn V. Adams to expand lifesaving geriatric emergency program and comfort services PR Newswire, Laguna Hills, CA; by MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center; 12/2/25 MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center is honored to announce a landmark $6 million gift from the late Marilyn V. Adams, a former Laguna Woods resident and lifelong philanthropist. This extraordinary contribution will support palliative, hospice and geriatric emergency care, ensuring quality, compassionate care for patients who are seniors in need of emergent care or who have life-limiting illness—two vulnerable populations often overlooked.

Salon De Coiffeur raises $2,305 for Hospice of Orleans OrleansHub.com, Orleans County, NY; Press Release; 12/2/25 Hospice of Orleans County is pleased to announce a generous contribution resulting from the dedication of a local business owner and the enthusiastic support of the community. Terah Jackson, owner and stylist at Salon De Coiffeur, has successfully concluded her salon’s Annual Christmas Raffle, raising $2,305 for Hospice of Orleans County. For the past two months, Ms. Jackson diligently sought donations and promoted the raffle, inspiring an outpouring of support from community members and local businesses. This massive effort resulted in over 55 generously donated baskets and raffle items. Editor's Note: One person’s generosity can open the gates for many others. Terah Jackson’s leadership did exactly that. Her dedication reminds us how individual vision can inspire collective generosity.

Rainbow dedicates tree and memorial bench in honor of beloved nurse practitioner Kristina Heimsch Rainbow Community Care; Jefferson, Wisconsin; by Rainbow Community Care Team; 10/13/25Rainbow Community Care hosted a touching dedication ceremony on Monday, October 6, to honor the life and contributions of Kristina Heimsch, a cherished nurse practitioner who passed away in April 2025 at the age of 37. Held in collaboration with Kristina’s family, the event established a peaceful and lasting tribute to her presence within the Rainbow family. A Fire Maple tree, which was generously gifted by McKay Nursery of Waterloo, now stands on the front lawn of the Rainbow Hospice Care Inpatient Center. Kristina’s family also donated a memorial bench in her memory.

Memorial bricks at William Childs Hospice House pave way for comfort, community and healing Space Coast Daily, Palm Bay, FL; by Space Coast Daily; 11/29/25 Under a beautiful November sky, more than 200 family members and friends gathered on a recent Saturday morning in front of the Butterfly Garden, nestled on the grounds of the William Childs Hospice House. Attendees joined the Health First Foundation’s annual Brick Paver Dedication Ceremony, a heartfelt tradition held each November during National Hospice and Palliative Care Month. ... One such brick was in honor of Arthur “Lou” Larmay, 94, who passed in July while in Hospice care. During his final weeks, Lou was commended by Hospice with a ceremony honoring his military service – and his days as a jazz musician. Gathering in the garden after his passing was just what his mourning loved ones needed.

Retention first: The smarter recruitment strategy for nonprofits Forbes; by James Dismond; 11/25/25 Retaining talent at a nonprofit has always had its challenges, but today, it’s becoming unsustainable. ... A recent report found that nearly half of nonprofit leaders cite recruitment or retention as their top challenge, and nearly two-thirds report struggling to fill staff vacancies in the past year. In my industry of hospice and palliative care, the shortage of qualified talent is even more devastating. Right now, there are merely 13.35 hospice and palliative care specialists per 100,000 seniors in the United States. This is concerning because turnover of registered hospice nurses reached 25% in 2023—more than double the private-sector average.

Hospice gets free solar power as firms chip in BBC News, Luton, England; by Louise Parry; 11/22/25 A solar company said it had seen "amazing generosity" from local and international firms who pulled together to provide a hospice with free renewable power. Keech Hospice in Luton has received an array of 504 photovoltaic panels, which would usually cost about £200,000 to install. "We're calling it a solar legacy project, not just a one-off donation, as it will save the hospice £50,000 a year," said project manager Eddie Doherty. Liz Searle, chief executive of Keech said: "This gift doesn't just power our building — it powers hope, care, and community for years to come."

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. 

Mercy Hospice House temporarily closes; parent company to assume outpatient care The Durango Herald, Durango, CO; by Elizabeth Pond; 11/17/25 The Mercy Hospice House, an end of life care wing of Mercy Hospital, has temporarily closed because of a change in outpatient service ownership and a required licensing review. A reopening date has not been determined. The facility, owned and operated by CommonSpirit Health, will transfer leadership of outpatient services to its national entity, CommonSpirit Health at Home, said Kevin Massey, a spokesman. Inpatient hospice care will continue under CommonSpirit Health and Mercy Hospital, he said.

[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.