National Alliance for Care at Home publishes CONNECT to Care Report 
National Alliance for Care at Home, Alexandria, VA and Washington, DC; Press Release; 5/27/25 
The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) published the results of new research conducted by Transcend Strategy Group exploring perceptions of hospice care among underserved communities. This research compiles findings from a series of surveys of 2,000 people and explores perceptions of hospice care among Black, Hispanic, Asian American, LGBTQ+, and rural communities. Using the CONNECT acronym – Communication, Outcomes, Network, Nurture, Engagement, Collaboration, and Transparency – the report aims to help providers support equitable, inclusive, and comprehensive access to care and is part of the Alliance’s ongoing commitment to increasing access to hospice and home care through knowledge sharing, data collection, and collaborative discussion.  Along with key research findings, CONNECT to Care offers recommendations for hospice providers to help increase understanding of hospice care and help overcome barriers to access.  

"Taps" Bugle Call: USMC Drum & Bugle Corps [YouTube]
YouTube filmed at the National Mall's Vietnam Memorial, Washington DC; compilation by Joy Berger, Editor in Chief; retrieved from the internet 5/22/25
We invite you to begin this Memorial Day with this reflective playing of "Taps." Its simple, 24 notes evoke poignant memories and emotions for persons of all generations. Ongoing, we share with you these resources below for the veterans and their families whom you serve.

• Taps for Veterans - Request a Bugler: "With over 1,000 veterans passing away each day and not enough military buglers to attend every funeral, most veterans receive an audio recording of Taps. Taps for Veterans believes that a veterans’ final honors are worthy of a live rendition of our National Song of Remembrance. ... We match buglers with families of veterans who wish to honor them with the sounding of Taps. We are standing ready to serve once again, just make your request and we will do our best to fulfill it."
  
  
• Find a name on the The Vietnam Veterans Memorial: This can be an important tool for your social workers and chaplains to use with Vietnam veterans and families for whom the deaths of loved ones then are still "with them" today. 
  
  
• T*A*P*S - Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors: Bookmark and recommend this easy-to-remember website for Gold Star Families: taps.org. 
  
  
• "Remembering a bugler's broken note," by PBS: "The assassination of President John F. Kennedy [in November 1963] was followed by four days of grieving, culminating in a final farewell at Arlington National Cemetery. As Principal Bugler of the United States Army Band, Sgt. Keith Clark had played “Taps” at Arlington hundreds of times. But On Nov. 25, 1963, he was there to play the solemn 24-note melody for the president’s state funeral. In the rendition of “Taps” heard by millions around the world, Clark fumbled the sixth note of the tune. The broken note served as a symbol of sorrow to a lamenting nation. 

Hospice volunteer donates 10,000 gift cards to cancer patients 
AZ Family - CBS-5, Phoenix, AZ; by Tianna Morimoto; 5/20/25 
One Valley man has made a difference in times of need for those who may be losing hope by donating thousands of gift cards, and that’s Something Good. Jeff Lewis volunteers with Hospice of the Valley and was recently recognized for donating 10,000 grocery gift cards to help cancer patients in need. Jeff is a cancer survivor and has made it his mission to help those going through treatments with no family or support. He created a nonprofit called the Froth and Bubble Foundation. Every month, the foundation provides gift cards to more than 100 people in the Valley who are struggling financially. Often, these patients have to decide between paying for food, medicine or doctor bills, and these gift cards can help them with their bills or other necessities to survive. ... “These gift cards help families bridge the gap when they need food and are juggling bills and feeling stressed,” said Hospice of the Valley Executive Director Debbie Shumway. “He is a servant leader who quietly gives back and makes a huge difference, one person at a time.” Thank you, Jeff, for all you do to help others!

Music as medicine: Jenny Chen, Tyler Jorgensen, & Theresa Allison
GeriPal podcast; by Eric Widera, Alex Smith; 5/22/25
As you know, dear listeners, I love music. We start each podcast with a song in part to shift the frame, taking people out of their academic selves and into a more informal conversation. Well, today’s guests love music at least as much if not more than me, and they each make a strong case for music as medicine. Jenny Chen is a palliative care fellow at Yale who regularly sings for her seriously ill patients... Tyler Jorgensen not only plays music for his patients, starting out with just pulling up a tune on his iPhone, he and others at UT Austin and Dell med now wheel a record player into patients rooms and play vinyl, taking patients back to the sounds and routines – think taking the record out of the sleeve, placing the needle in the groove – of younger days... And Theresa Allison is a geriatrician and ethnomusicologist who studies the role of music for people with dementia.

Trend Report: Artificial Intelligence In Health Care
Health Affairs; 5/25/25
For our first Insider trend report, we explore the ways that artificial intelligence could impact the health care landscape. The report highlights:

• How is AI being used in health care?
• What does the current policy and regulation landscape look like?
• What might the future state of policy and regulation look like?

Publisher's note: Downloading report requires a subscription.

What it’s like to be … a hospice nurse 
Behavioral Scientist; by Dan Heath; 5/22/25 
Comforting patients as they prepare to transition, navigating end-of-life regrets and frayed relationships, and providing support and advice for fearful families with Heather Meyerend, a retired hospice nurse. How does she know when the end is imminent? And what has the work taught her about the different ways we deal with death? In each episode of What It’s Like to Be…, bestselling author Dan Heath speaks with someone about what it’s like to walk in their (work) shoes.

[United Kingdom] Hospice cuts staff and beds to secure its future 
BBC News, Yorkshire, UK; by Alex Moss; 5/23/25
A hospice in Huddersfield has announced it has made 19 staff redundant and reduced the number of inpatient beds in order to save its future. The Kirkwood provides end-of-life care to about 2,000 patients each year but its chief executive Michael Crowther said it had faced a "perfect storm" of rising operational costs over the past few years. ... He said: "This has been the single hardest decision we have ever had to make." Another nine staff members have agreed to cut their hours and several others have decided to retire to help reduce the annual costs by £1.7m, the hospice added. ..."As you can imagine, this has been one of the most difficult periods in The Kirkwood's history. ..."
Editor's note: Read more--directly from The Kirkwood--at "Securing Our Future Together: A New Way Forward." 

Gulfside Hospice Thrift Shoppes 
ABC News WFTS, Tampa Bay, FL; by Gulfside Healthcare; 5/27/25 
Gulfside Hospice Thrift Shoppes serves a greater purpose than providing affordable gently used goods: all net proceeds fund charity care for hospice patients. Gulfside Hospice Thrift Shoppes has a new and improved online shop for easy access and including shipping. To learn more about Gulfside Hospice, visit Gulfside.org. To shop Gulfside Hospice Thrift Shoppes online visit gulfsidethrift.myshopify.com/ or stop by one of four convenient locations in New Port Richey, Hudson, Dade City or Zephyrhills. Follow Gulfside on social media for updates and sales.
Editor's note: This online access opens up a world of engagement with those who cannot visit the shop in person, especially long distance donors and family members/friends acquainted with Gulfside Hospice. 

I quit my healthcare job to take care of my grandmother. It’s a mix of happy and sad moments, but ultimately has been life-changing for us. 
DNYUZ; "as-told-to essay based on a coversation with Kristina McDonald"; 5/26/25
My grandmother is 80, and my grandfather is 83. I quit my full-time job to care for my grandmother as I noticed that her undiagnosed dementia was worsening. ... 

• That's when I decided to make the switch ...
• Just getting gram out of the house leads to probably some of my happiest times with her ...
• It’s been amazing to be able to care for a family member who’s so near and dear to me ...
• One of the things that I wish people would definitely know is how difficult it can be to care for a loved one ...

This article appeared first on Business Insider.

Proposed California budget calls for prior authorization for hospice in Medicaid 
Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 5/22/25 
The proposed California budget would require prior authorizations for hospice care within the state’s Medicaid program. Currently, Medicaid managed care plans who provide coverage through the state’s Medicaid system, Medi-Cal, may not perform prior authorizations for hospice. California’s Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) indicated in a 2025-2026 budget revision that this could save $25 million over the next two years and more than $50 million in the long term. If enacted, this would make California the first state in the nation to implement such a rule, according to the California Hospice & Palliative Care Association (CHAPCA). The association contends that the anticipated $25 million in cost savings is “speculative and fails to account for the downstream costs and systemic burdens this proposal would create,” according to a position paper shared with Hospice News. ... CHAPCA recommended to the state government three alternative approaches: ...

Veteran’s Last Patrol joins NVBDC’s MVO Task Force to support veterans in hospice care 
Eurozone.Newswire, Detroit, MI; by EIN Presswire.com; 5/27/25 
The National Veteran Business Development Council (NVBDC) proudly welcomes Veterans Last Patrol as the newest member of its Military and Veteran Organization (MVO) Task Force. This collaboration expands the Task Force’s ability to reach and support Veterans during one of the most critical moments in their lives—end-of-life care. Founded by retired military officer Claude Schmid, Veterans’ Last Patrol is a national nonprofit dedicated to providing companionship and support to Veterans in hospice care. With a mission to “befriend, honor, and support,” the organization works to ensure that no Veteran faces the end of life alone, offering meaningful connection and comfort during their final days, or their “Last Patrol.”

[UK] Students face the realities of hospice care in powerful visit
DevonLive; by Lewis Clarke; 5/27/25 
A visit to Exeter Hospice gave South Devon UTC students a moving insight into care careers—and the deep compassion behind them. Students from South Devon UTC in Newton Abbot have been given a rare glimpse into the realities of end-of-life care during a visit to Exeter Hospice, in what educators described as an eye-opening and inspiring experience. The visit formed part of the students’ health and social care curriculum and broader enrichment programme. Involving pupils from Years 10 to 13, the day provided an in-depth look at the range of careers within the hospice setting—from nursing and palliative care to occupational therapy, physiotherapy, counselling, and volunteer coordination.

I... wanna soak up the sun! ~Sheryl Crow