Anaheim woman pleads guilty to $2.2 million Medicare hospice fraud 
Orange County Register; by City News Service; 8/27/26 
An Anaheim woman pleaded guilty on Thursday, Aug. 27 to healthcare fraud for submitting more than $2.2 million in Medicare claims for hospice care provided to patients who were not terminally ill. Lynn Galbraith, 60, pleaded guilty to one count of healthcare fraud and faces up to 10 years in federal prison, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Galbraith co-owned and operated Garden Grove-based Azure Hospice Care from September 2019 until July 2022, when she became the company’s sole owner, prosecutors said. She remained the sole owner until February 2024. According to her plea agreement, Galbraith knowingly submitted or caused the submission of Medicare claims for hospice services involving beneficiaries who did not have a terminal illness with a life expectancy of six months or less. 

From zombies to zealots: cultivating passion and purpose in healthcare leadership | part two 
Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN); podcast hosted by Chris Comeaux with DJ Mitsch and Tasha Walsh; 8/28/26 
... [Host] Chris Comeaux continues his thought-provoking conversation with DJ Mitsch, author, master coach, and founder of the Healthcare Coaching Institute, and Tasha Walsh, CEO and Executive Director of ConnectionsPlus Healthcare + Hospice. Healthcare and hospice professionals often enter the field because they feel called to the work.  But regulations, audits, documentation requirements, productivity pressures, and constant organizational change can gradually disconnect people from that deeper sense of purpose. DJ challenges leaders to recognize what happens when meaningful, purpose-driven work becomes dominated by the language of compliance rather than creation. Using the real-world example of hospice audits and documentation pressure, the conversation explores how fear of financial clawbacks and increased scrutiny can ripple through an organization and contribute to caregiver burnout. 

Community raises $520,000 for Sharp HospiceCare at annual regatta 
The Coronado Times; by Coronado Times Staff; 8/27/26 
More than 1,500 guests gathered on San Diego Bay this past weekend for the 23rd Annual Sharp HospiceCare Benefit Dinner and Regatta, raising $520,000 to support compassionate end-of-life care for patients and families through Sharp HospiceCare’s residential hospice homes and programs throughout San Diego County. Hosted in partnership with Coronado Yacht Club and Cortez Racing Association, Sharp HospiceCare’s largest annual fundraiser began Friday evening with a benefit dinner aboard the USS Midway and continued Saturday with the annual regatta. Colorful sailboats filled the bay Saturday as 52 boats competed in the race and more than 40 yacht owners donated their vessels to host viewing parties for guests. 

The sandwich generation confronts the caregiver crunch: Sonia’s story 
IndiaCurrents; by Snigdha Sen; 8/28/26 
The Indian American community is aging. As the U.S. faces a severe caregiver shortage, the community faces an even greater challenge: finding culturally and linguistically appropriate care. The Aging with Dignity project looks at efforts within and beyond the Indian community to help the "sandwich generation" care for aging parents. This is Part 1 of a three-part series.

Top challenges for hospice nurses 
Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 8/28/26 
Hospice nurses are wrestling with work-life balance, heavy caseloads and other difficulties amid widespread staffing shortages. The dearth of prospective hospice employees is well known and has existed for years. In addition to impacting provider businesses, this trend also affects nurses on the ground. This often comes in the form of a bigger workload, more travel time and the emotional toll of working with the dying, according to Skelly Wingard, CEO of By the Bay Health.

I lost my sister to cancer. Here’s what I learned about medically assisted death. 
The Washington Post; by Steven Petrow; 8/29/26 
The same year that my parents died, my sister, Julie, then 55, was diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer. Five years and three recurrences later, she’d exhausted all viable treatment options. At that point, she’d undergone one nine-hour surgery, six courses of chemotherapy and had joined two clinical trials. Like my parents’ physicians had done, Julie’s doctor eventually recommended palliative care, with at-home hospice, to keep her comfortable during her last months. ... [Julie, 61, chose legal MAID in 2023.] Approaching MAID as a journalist, I had questions: How is eligibility determined, what are the safeguards, does it always work, is a health care professional involved and many others. As a brother, however, I was conflicted and confused, and my questions felt more urgent and personal. ... 
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Chaplains describe comforting families during Hawk Fire evacuations 
KOLO-8 ABC News Now, Reno, NV; by Noah Bond; 8/28/26 
The Great Basin Chaplain Corps deployed 17 chaplains across evacuation sites during the Hawk and Bug fires, logging more than 466 hours of service at shelters, according to Chaplain Dana Sater, VOAD liaison and team lead for Northern Nevada corps. ... Sater said the corps logged 466.5 hours of service for the fires at evacuation centers, in addition to chaplains serving in hospitals, hospice, fire departments and with CERT through the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office. ... Blackburn said chaplains also coordinated evacuation for a hospice family to the Lawrence J. Weiss Hospice Guest House, ...

Dr. Ricardo Schwarcz launches healthcare sciences scholarship to support future medical leaders 
Newsnet Los Angeles, Harlingen, TX; by Dr. Ricardo Schwarcz Scholarship; 8/28/26 
The Dr. Ricardo Schwarcz Scholarship for Healthcare Sciences officially opens its application process, offering vital financial support to dedicated undergraduate students across the United States. Designed to foster the next generation of medical and allied health professionals, this scholarship initiative encourages aspiring clinical leaders to pursue their academic and professional ambitions in healthcare. Founded by Dr. Ricardo Schwarcz, a highly accomplished physician board-certified in Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Diseases, Critical Care Medicine, Neurocritical Care, Sleep Medicine, and Hospice and Palliative Care Medicine, the program seeks to inspire students who display an enduring passion for patient-centered care.

Sisters have doubts about cremated remains: ‘Where is my mama?’ 
ChicagoPublicMedia, Chicago, IL; by Cindy Hernandez; 8/28/26 
Franquella and Marshawna Campbell hired Planet Green Cremations after their mother died earlier this year, only to later discover that the business was owned by Clark and Johanna Morgan, who are under investigation for improperly storing human remains. ... When sisters Franquella and Marshawna Campbell learned that the man who had picked up their mother’s body from hospice had been accused of mishandling human remains, they turned to the urn sitting on the table in their mother’s living room. They opened it and began to question everything. “Where is my mama?” Franquella Campbell, 40, asked over and over. 

Mishawaka firefighters bring spark to 89-year-old woman’s wish 
WNDU-16 News Now, South Bend, IN; by Lauren Moss; 8/28/26 
Mishawaka Fire Department and Luminary Hospice team up to bring joy, laughter, and a little flirting to Janet Gilbert. They are used to putting out fires, but some local firefighters are turning up the heat for a special wish from a local hospice patient. WNDU’s Lauren Moss was there as they answered the call, all thanks to Luminary Hospice. The team gave Janet Gilbert quite the party with some much-needed smiles ... and a little flirting. The Mishawaka Fire Department has responded to plenty of calls at Fountainview Care Center, but this was different. “Do you got a match?” Janet Gilbert asked. The 89-year-old requested the visit from firemen... and a little more. She wanted to have a party, ...

'Nobody should die alone': Emmanuel Hospice volunteer brings joy to patients in their final days 
WXMI Fox-17, Grand Rapids, MI; by Janice Allen; 8/28/26 
Bruce Koop spends time each week sitting with hospice patients in their final days, making them laugh, and making sure they don't feel alone. The Caledonia man volunteers with Emmanuel Hospice, where he brings companionship and comfort to patients. "At first I didn't know if I could do it, but after both that first or second patient, I could see the need for it," Koop said. The work is personal. Koop lost his mother in 2017. In her final weeks, she was cared for by Emmanuel Hospice.

Hope is a renewable option: If you run out of it at the end of the day, you get to start over in the morning. ~ Barbara Kingsolver
For Monday, August 31st: And if you run out of hope at the end of the week, you get to start over in the new week. Here's to finding hope in new days, weeks, months, seasons, and more.