Sacramento Hospice lets homeless residents die with dignity, not alone on the street 
hoodline, Sacramento, CA; by Michelle Johnson; 10/25/26 
Curtis Burdan lived on the streets of Sacramento starting in 2012, and for years he carried congestive heart failure that eventually left his heart functioning at about 10%. Today he has a private room, daily necessities and professional hospice care at Joshua’s House, a South Natomas facility built specifically so people experiencing homelessness do not have to die in a hospital bed or on the pavement. ... Joshua’s House opened in summer 2025 and is operated by YoloCares, according to CapRadio. As KCRA 3 News reports, the facility hosts six cottages with capacity for 15 patients, and each cottage includes three private rooms along with shared kitchen, dining and bathroom spaces. 

ACG Hospice opens Martinsville office, adds local care option 
Martinsville Bulletin, Martinsville, VA; by Bill Wyatt; 10/24/26 
A ribbon-cutting Wednesday marked the opening of ACG Hospice's Martinsville office at 156 E. Market St. The company provides in-home hospice care and support for patients and families facing end-of-life illnesses. "We specialize in providing that one-on-one care for the family and the patient," said Renee Martin, director of the Martinsville office. ... "We're already working hard and seeing patients," Latimer said. "We're excited to be able to serve more." ACG is new to Martinsville, Martin said, but has offices elsewhere in Virginia and other states. The company is part of Agape Care Group, a multistate hospice provider.

Run to Remember Hospice raises over $11K in run and walk event 
NBC 10 News, Rochester, NY; by Hunter Wright News; 10/25/26
UR Medicine Home Care held its inaugural Run to Remember Hospice, a 5K to raise funding for hospice care in the Rochester area, on Sunday morning. ... The 5K and a 1.25-mile walk both started at 9:30 a.m. Organizers say the event provided people with a way to honor loved ones who have received end-of-life care. The event included memorial signs honoring loved ones near the finish line, along with event shirts that had fingerprints of kids. ... The 5K and a 1.25-mile walk both started at 9:30 a.m. Organizers say the event provided people with a way to honor loved ones who have received end-of-life care. The event included memorial signs honoring loved ones near the finish line, along with event shirts that had fingerprints of kids. 

Daymark Health Oncology, palliative model reduces hospitalizations, costs 
Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 10/26/26 
An in-home and virtual supportive oncology care program by Daymark Health was associated with fewer hospital admissions and lower overall healthcare spending among patients undergoing active cancer treatment. This is according to a clinical study presented at the 2026 ASCO Quality Care Symposium on October 16. Daymark Health, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island (BCBSRI) and Brown University Health conducted the research, with co-authors from the University of Pennsylvania and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Palliative care is essential to the model, according to Daymark Health Co-Founder and Medical Director Dr. Angela Taber. 

Hidden consciousness in coma patients: researchers unlock direct communication 
TakeToNews; by David Miller; 10/23/26 
Patients who lie motionless in bed following severe brain injuries and show no reaction to external stimuli are clinically classified as unconscious. However, groundbreaking new research reveals that a significant portion of these individuals may perceive much more of their surrounding environment than previously assumed—and may even possess the capability to communicate. These revelations stem from comprehensive studies led by neurologist Dr. Jan Claassen and his colleagues at Columbia University in New York. The team successfully developed a non-invasive brain-computer interface designed to establish contact with patients presumed to be completely unresponsive.

Self-disclosure pilot offers home-based care providers more clarity, but risks remain 
Home Health Care News; by MK Manoylov; 10/23/26 
A new federal pilot program will allow healthcare companies, including home-based care providers, to self-report and rectify conduct, such as compliance issues. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) Civil Division announced the six-month self-disclosure pilot program on Thursday. The pilot provides more clarity on resolving certain civil billing violations, though concerns about repayment costs and risk exposure for small providers remain, home-based care industry experts told Home Health Care News.

CMS and states launch $275 million initiative to recruit and retain nurses in nursing homes 
CMS Newsroom; Press Release; 10/23/26 
The new Nurses for Nursing Homes initiative is expected to support more than 4,000 nurses and nursing students nationwide, including those serving rural communities. Nursing students and licensed nurses interested in working in a nursing home may now qualify for up to $40,000 in student loan repayment and/or a $10,000 stipend in exchange for a three-year commitment to serve in a qualifying nursing home in a rural or higher labor-shortage area through a new $275 million nationwide initiative announced today by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). 

LTC ACO Partner Summit brings long-term care leaders together to turn insight into action 
bluegrasslive; by GlobeNewswire; 10/26/26 
LTC ACO brought participating practices, clinical leaders, external experts and industry partners together in Louisville, Kentucky, October 5-6 for its 2026 LTC ACO Partner Summit, a two-day event focused on translating shared insight into practical strategies for success in long-term care value-based care. Across the Summit, participants explored the clinical, operational and performance priorities shaping long-term care value-based care and preparation for the performance year ahead.  

Health systems are building for 2030 
Becker's Hospital Review; by Laura Dyrda; 10/26/26 
Health systems have spent years building organizational infrastructure around the work of gathering information, compiling reports and moving data between functions. Artificial intelligence is beginning to automate that work and in some systems, the displacement is already underway. Peter Banko, president and CEO of Baystate Health in Springfield, Mass., has said he expects AI to displace significant categories of work including roles in finance, law and administrative functions, and his system is already building retraining programs in response. Executives planning for the next three years are examining the existing organizational structure and questioning whether their purpose is still relevant, or needs a reboot.

Miss Brevard, St. Francis Hospice launch flag campaign for veterans 
Hometown News, Melbourne, FL; by D. Warren; 10/25/26 
Miss Brevard County Florida 2026 Kayleigh Mollycheck is partnering with St. Francis Hospice Foundation on a countywide campaign to provide American flags to veterans served by St. Francis Hospice. Through “Stars, Stripes & Service: 1,000 Flags for Veterans,” community members, businesses and organizations can sponsor a flag with a $20 donation. Each flag will be presented to a veteran served by St. Francis Hospice and their family as a symbol of gratitude and respect for their military service. With more than 70,000 veterans living in Brevard County, this initiative is more than a fundraiser.  

Santas prepare to perform with compassion during holidays 
Marietta Daily Journal, Marietta, GA; by jlinder; 10/25/26 
It may be the middle of the spooky season, but at the Hilton Marietta Conference Center, it was beginning to look a lot like Christmas as dozens of Santa Clauses gathered to create holiday magic in a new kind of workshop. Smyrna couple Michelle and Paul Smith, longtime Christmas performers and cofounders of a new nonprofit called The Sleigh Society, hosted their first compassionate performer workshop to help fellow Santa Claus performers prepare for more sensitive interactions they may encounter during the holiday season. During the workshop, the Smiths invited medical and healthcare professionals to give advice for how performers can interact with their facilities’ most vulnerable patients, such as terminally ill children and elderly hospice patients.

Please all, and you will please none. ~ Aesop