Final arrangements | What happens if I can’t afford a funeral? 
Fox Carolina, Anderson County, SC; by Amanda Shaw; 5/5/26 
... Two hundred and twelve names are on a memorial wall at the Anderson County cemetery. Each one represents a person who died with no one, or no money, to bury them. This year, Anderson County is on track to add more names than ever before. “Every one of these people on this wall gave something here,” McCown said. “They gave something to our society. They gave something to somebody else.” At the center of the wall is a plaque for the names no one will ever know. McCown said the life stories of those memorialized would surprise people. ... On average, Anderson County handles between 28 and 35 indigent burials a year. This year, they are on track to shatter that record, with 26 indigent cremations already reported.

Healthcare leaders break down hospice reform, Medicare & quality care | part one 
Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN); podcast hosted by Chris Comeaux with Tom Koutsoumpas and Carole Fisher; 5/6/26 
In Part One of Healthcare Leaders Break Down Hospice Reform, Medicare & Quality Care, Chris Comeaux sits down with nationally respected healthcare leaders Tom Koutsoumpas, Founder & CEO of NPHI and Carole Fisher, President of NPHI to explore the evolving future of hospice, palliative care, Medicare oversight, and the growing demand for quality-driven, compassionate healthcare leadership. Together, they unpack the growing challenges facing end-of-life care — from fraud and benefit manipulation to the urgent need for quality transparency and authentic patient-centered care.

Hospice of Davidson County honors impact of volunteers 
The Dispatch; by Staff; 5/5/26 
On April 30, Hospice of Davidson County held its annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner to celebrate the extraordinary contributions of the individuals who serve as the heart of the agency.  ... In 2025, volunteers provided 2,599 hours of direct support, a 76% increase over the previous year. Through the Hearts for Hospice initiative, volunteers assembled and delivered more than 300 Valentine's Day care packages to patients at Hospice of Davidson County's Hinkle Hospice House, ... as well as to local skilled nursing facilities and home care settings.  ... "Our volunteers do not just give their time; they give their hearts," said HDOC Volunteer Services Manager Elizabeth Mitchell.
Editor's Note: This kind of data speaks well to your Board of Directors, donors, and other stakeholders. Additionally, multiply the hours of your direct support by the National Volunteer Wage Rage, currently estimated at $36/hour, with state specific data going back to 2001.

CVHHH receives $10,000 grant from Vermont Mutual Charitable Fund 
VB | VermontBiz; by Tim and Central Vermont Home Health & Hospice; 5/6/26 
Vermont Business Magazine Central Vermont Home Health & Hospice (CVHHH) has been awarded a $10,000 grant from the Vermont Mutual Charitable Giving Fund. The funds will support CVHHH’s Adult Home Health Care program, which provides intermittent, short-term medical care, education, and support to Central Vermonters recovering from a hospital stay, injury, or surgery, and those who need assistance managing their chronic disease. 

Ohio’s Hospice CEO: prepare for value-based care 
Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 5/6/26 
In time, value-based care will come to hospices, and they must be ready, according to Kent Anderson, CEO of Ohio’s Hospice. In this environment, scale will be key, as will a need to better understand the needs and objectives of referral partners, Anderson told Hospice News. He also leads Metta Health, a revenue cycle management consulting firm. Ohio’s Hospice is a statewide alliance of nonprofit providers established in 2013. The network leverages its member organizations’ collective size in negotiations with vendors, payers and referral sources, collaborates on back-office functions and shares some expenses and infrastructure.

The financial and social costs of caregiving: 2026 U.S. News survey 
U.S. News & World Report; by Annika Urban; 5/4/26 
For many of the more than 60 million American caregivers, small acts of love to help out a loved one escalate into a major commitment. This 2026 U.S. News survey examines the emotional and financial burden of caregiving and how home health agencies fit into their support network.

• This 2026 U.S. News survey of 302 American caregivers reveals the substantial costs of caregiving, highlighting that the time commitment for approximately one-quarter (25.5%) of U.S. caregivers is equivalent to a full-time job.
• Caregiving also imposes a significant financial burden, with the largest group of caregivers (30.2%) spending between $1,001 and $5,000 on care in the last year. ...
• Caregivers express high satisfaction with professional support, with 73% saying they were satisfied or very satisfied with the help they received. 

CMS trains its program integrity sights on Texas Hospices 
JD Supra; by B. Scott McBride and Howard Young; 5/5/26 
California has seen hundreds of hospice “takedowns” and Medicare payment suspensions targeting what the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proclaims are a multitude of fraudulent hospices, particularly in LA County. Now, based on recent public statements of CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, it appears CMS is poised to train its sights on fraud, waste, and abuse among Texas hospice agencies.

New tech lets home carers and hospice providers communicate better, more safely 
Columbia Basin Herald Local News, Wenatchee, WA; by Joel Martin; 5/6/26 
Anyone who’s ever had to deal with communication between medical providers, home caregivers and Medicare or insurance knows the frustration of trying to get everybody on the same page. A new system debuted by Confluence Health is expected to make those connections easier and safer. “Suppose a patient fell and (injured themselves) and they go in for (treatment),” said Adam MacDonald, corporate communications program manager for Confluence Health. “This is going to make it so their home health and hospice nurses are looking at the exact same record.”

How do physicians perceive and manage the influence of their personal end-of-life preferences on clinical practice and end-of-life decision-making with patients? An international qualitative study  
Health and Medicine Daily | Palliative Care and Social Practice; research portion by Sarah Mroz, Frederick Daenen, and Kenneth Chambaere; 5/5/26 
... Physicians acknowledge the impact of their personal end-of-life preferences on their clinical practice and emphasize the importance of maintaining objectivity and centering decision-making on patient preferences. Physicians adopt strategies to mitigate potential biases. There is a divergence of opinion about whether it is appropriate to share when asked what they would do in the position of their patients. Most believe focusing on patients' values and priorities is essential and others feel sharing is crucial to maintain trust. Physicians struggle with ethical tensions and moral discomfort, particularly when patients' requests conflict with their beliefs. ...

Ambassador spotlight: Jill Nida’s lifelong commitment to Hospice of Santa Barbara 
Santa Barbara Independent, Santa Barbara, CA; by Hospice of Santa Barbara; 5/5/26 
For more than three decades, Jill Nida has been a steadfast advocate, volunteer, and champion for Hospice of Santa Barbara (HSB). Her leadership and generosity have helped shape the organization into what it is today, and her personal story is deeply woven into its mission.  ...

98-year-old Korean War veteran honored in Redding through hospice recognition program 
KRCR-7 ABC News, Redding, CA; by Mike Mangas and Maxwell Valva; 5/5/26 
Staff with Bristol Hospice, a provider of end-of-life care services, honored a Korean War veteran, 98, Tuesday, May 5 in Redding as part of a nationwide recognition program. The ceremony took place at Sundial Assisted Living, where John Schaefer was recognized for his military service. Schaefer served in the U.S. Army and was wounded during the war, earning a Purple Heart.

If you don't risk anything, you risk even more. ~ Erica Jong