Literature Review

New ‘care home’ for seniors aims to bring alternative to home health care WCAX-3 CBS, East Middlebury, VT; by Laura Ullman; 2/18/26 Vermont has a housing crisis for seniors trying to age in place. A nonprofit in Addison County is hoping to pioneer a new model to meet the needs of Vermont’s aging demographic. “Addison County Home Health looked for about a year and a half to find a space, ...” said Deb Wesley, the CEO of Addison County Home Health & Hospice. ... “Our goal is to provide a home for eight individuals who really are medically frail, are really unable to live at home alone, or require some increased assistance for their care,” Wesley said. ... Addison County Home Health & Hospice is hoping to open this care home in late spring.

Hospice spending, care quality scores by state Becker's Hospital Review; by Elizabeth Gregerson; 2/18/26 California and Nevada hospice providers had the lowest care-quality scores despite spending the most per beneficiary to provide care between Jan. 1, 2023, and Dec. 31, 2024, according to CMS data released Feb. 18. Rhode Island and West Virginia had the highest hospice care quality scores during the data collection period. CMS’ Hospice Quality Reporting Program includes data submitted directly by hospice providers, from Medicare hospice claims, and from the Hospice Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey. Here are the hospice care quality scores and per-beneficiary spending amounts by state between Jan. 1, 2023, and Dec. 31, 2024, according to CMS: ...

HPH Hospice unveils revamped Lecanto facility: Changes include adding PACE program later this year Paxton Media Group; by Nancy Kennedy; 2/7/26 Despite the rumors, the HPH Citrus Hospice House in Lecanto did not close and is not closing. In fact, they are very much providing care for their patients and expanding services with a remodel of their Lecanto [Florida] facility. ... On Jan. 29 and 30, the HPH Hospice had an open house for community partners to unveil the changes — new flooring and paint, a reconfiguration of offices and work stations, new HVAC system, new furniture and state-of-the-art equipment. ... One of the newest additions, which is expected to start in the fall, is the Hope PACE Center. One side of the facility will be dedicated to inpatient hospice care and the other side will be the PACE program — Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly.

Hospice telehealth once again endangered as federal shutdown looms  Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 1/28/26 The prospect of another government shutdown could result in the expiration of COVID-era telehealth flexibilities. The government experienced a lengthy shutdown in November 2025, which ended with the passing of the Continuing Appropriations Act of 2026. That bill not only funded the government through Jan. 30, but it also extended the telehealth flexibilities to that date. Now, a further extension sits in limbo as congressional lawmakers spar along partisan lines. If a new shutdown occurs, it would likely be partial, according to Logan Hoover, vice president of policy and government relations for the National Alliance for Care at Home.

Winter weekend storms: Off the grid United States power outage tracker USAToday.com; real-time data map; updated every 15 minutes  USA Today provides a real-time U.S. Power Outage Tracker that aggregates data from more than 1,000 utility companies nationwide. This interactive map updates automatically every 15 minutes, offering near–real-time visibility into outages as severe weather and blizzard conditions unfold. Editor's Note: Share, save, and bookmark this resource. Use it to stay ahead of power disruptions in your service areas. For leaders in affected or high-risk regions, final preparations today can reduce harm this weekend. Assess and review with your leaders and teams (especially newer employees): 

Sangre de Cristo Community Care expands rural healthcare with HomeCare & Hospice of the Valley affiliation Small Business World Journal, Glenwood Springs, CO; Press Release; 1/12/26 Sangre de Cristo Community Care has announced that HomeCare & Hospice of the Valley, based in Glenwood Springs, will become an affiliate. This affiliation marks an important step in strengthening healthcare access in rural Colorado and reflects Sangre’s and HomeCare & Hospice of the Valley’s deep commitment to ensuring compassionate care to rural communities. By joining forces, the two nonprofit organizations will now collectively cover 28,000 square miles across the state, expanding Sangre's existing 22,000 square miles of service and providing HomeCare & Hospice of the Valley with Sangre's infrastructure and resources.

Central Coast VNA & Hospice expands senior care services to meet growing in-home demand EIN Presswire, Montery, CA; by Core6 Marketing; 1/8/26 Central Coast VNA & Hospice is responding to rising community demand for in-home senior care by strengthening its continuum of services across Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz, and South Santa Clara Counties.  With a 75-year history serving California’s Central Coast, the organization now offers a range of in-home medical and supportive services, including:

Sue Ryder urges people to donate unwanted Christmas gifts to support hospice care RDG.Today, United Kingdom; by Staff Writer; 1/5/26 The charity Sue Ryder is encouraging people to donate unwanted Christmas presents to its local shops to help raise funds for palliative care and bereavement support. The national charity, which supports people facing terminal illness and grief, said items such as clothing, unused gadgets and home accessories could be given a second life by being donated rather than left unused at home. ... Sue Ryder has almost 400 shops across the UK, with money raised helping to fund palliative and end-of-life care in hospices and in people’s homes, as well as free bereavement support services. 

The hospice conversations that defined 2025 - Best of TCNtalks Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN); by Chris Comeaux; 12/24/25 With nearly 45,000 total downloads across TCNtalks and Anatomy of Leadership, this milestone reflects a shared commitment to thoughtful leadership, courageous conversations, and care as it should be. We’ve curated standout moments from episodes that challenged assumptions, clarified complexity, and pointed toward a better future for serious-illness care. ... This highlight episode isn’t just a recap—it’s a reflection of where hospice and serious-illness care has been, where it is, and where it must go next. These conversations underscore the urgency of leadership rooted in clarity, compassion, and courage. Whether you’re revisiting a favorite or discovering an episode you missed, we hope this collection sparks insight, conversation, and renewed purpose as we head into 2026.

Health systems shun black-box AI, choose human-validated models for safety and accuracy, survey finds Complete AI Training; 12/17/25 Hospitals and health systems are clear: AI should work with clinicians, not replace them. A new November 2025 market survey from Reaction Data, commissioned by Carta Healthcare, shows strong preference for "hybrid intelligence" - AI paired with clinical oversight - for safer, more reliable outcomes. The message is consistent across findings. Fully autonomous, black-box AI is viewed as risky and insufficient for high-stakes clinical use. Human validation and clinician involvement are seen as essential for accuracy, safety, and adoption.

Chapters Health System announces national rebranding of grief support camps for children PR Newswire, Temple Terrace, FL; by Chapters Health System; 12/12/25 Chapters Health System, the nation's leading chronic illness innovator and largest nonprofit hospice provider, proudly announced a unified grief support camp name, Camp Brave Heart, and logo for programs across the country starting in 2026. Each camp program will remain tailored to the needs of the local community and the longstanding tradition of providing a supportive place for children to process and share.

VITAS Hospice Services faces serious data breach investigation Investors Hangout; by Evelyn Baker; 12/9/25 ... In a significant turn of events, VITAS Hospice Services, LLC, the largest for-profit hospice chain in the United States, is facing scrutiny due to a massive data breach. Recent investigations revealed that sensitive information of 319,177 patients was compromised, raising concerns over data security and patient privacy. As investigations continue, more details about the breach are emerging, prompting calls for accountability from the company.

Inside TRU Thrift’s Giving Room: How Boulder donations reach neighbors in need The Gazette, Boulder, CO; by Tricia Stortz; 12/6/25 In the back of TRU Community Care’s Thrift Shop in Boulder, past racks of winter coats and holiday decor, there’s a doorway most shoppers never notice. Step through it, and you enter the Giving Room, a bustling, volunteer-run operation where nearly nothing goes to waste and where unsold items find new purpose across Boulder County. The space is compact, but the impact is wide. More than 30 local partner organizations – from homeless outreach teams to youth programs, animal shelters, mobility-assistance nonprofits and more – rely on the items flowing through this little room. Editor's Note: Calling all hospice organizations that have a thrift shop, read on!