How thanatology is driving hospice care innovation 
Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 6/13/25 
Thanatologists examining dying and grief practices have uncovered significant trends shaping hospice and bereavement care models in recent years. Thanatology is derived from the Greek word for death, “thanatos.” It is commonly described as the study or description of death, dying and loss and the psychological, social, cultural, biological and spiritual aspects of these processes. 
Editor's Note: A significant addition to this thanatology article for you to know is ADEC, the Association for Death Education and Counseling: The Thanatology Association, at www.adec.org, celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026. This article describes thanatology as "recent years" and that "several studies have examined examined aspects of the dying process ..." Thanatology--and ADEC's contributions to our end-of-life care field--are much more than "recent," "several studies," and "aspects." ADEC emerged within the same era as Kübler-Ross's first book and the first hospices in the US, years before the Hospice Medicare Benefit. ADEC's thanatology ground-breaking leaders and members include thousands of national and international researchers, editors/authors, academicians, and clinicians throughout the evolution of our end-of-life care field, e.g., William Worden (founding member), Ken Doka (past president), Robert Neimeyer (past president), and so many more. When you see the "FT" or "CT" credential, know that this person has earned the advanced professional credential "Fellow in Thanatology" or "Certified in Thanatology." Recognize the professionals in your organization with these important thanatology credentials. Support your professionals who seek it.

Providence announces 'difficult but necessary' restructure cutting 600 positions 
Fierce Healthcare; by Dave Muoio; 6/13/25 
Providence said it launched a restructuring this week that will bring a reduction of 600 full-time-equivalent positions. The major nonprofit, which employs 125,000 people across seven Western states, said it will be shifting those affecting into other open positions “where possible.” There are more than 5,000 open roles across the system, it said. Affected roles are “primarily in non-clinical, administrative functions, though some patient-care roles are also impacted,” Providence said in its Thursday announcement. Transitional resources are being provided to impacted employees, it said. ... Of those cut roles, local reports say 134 are within Providence’s Oregon operations, while more than 100 certified nursing assistants at Providence Regional Medical Center Everett, in Washington, also reportedly received notices this week.

Choices Healthcare President and CEO to retire 
Central Penn Business Journal; by Rochelle Shenk; 6/12/25 
Steve Knaub, president and CEO of Choices Healthcare, will retire December 31, according to a media release. Choices Healthcare is the parent organization of Hospice & Community Care and Hospice of Central PA. The media release said Knaub has been a “driving force behind the organization’s growth, steering it through significant achievements and fostering strong relationships with healthcare partners and the community”. “Serving this organization and our community has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” Knaub said in the release, “When I first joined—then Hospice of Lancaster County (in 1998)– we were caring for 140 patients a day. Today, we serve more than 1,000. That growth reflects not only the increasing need for compassionate end-of-life care, but also our unwavering commitment to meeting people where they are, with the support they deserve.”

Nancy Streber Memorial Golf Classic continues record-breaking fundraising for McLaren Hospice 
myfenton.com, Fenton, MI; Press Release; 6/13/25 
The 28th Annual Memorial Golf Classic, held on May 10 at Heather Hills Golf Course in Romeo, Michigan, raised more than $15,000 in support of McLaren Hospice’s end-of-life care services—surpassing its previous fundraising record set in 2024. Founded by Dave Streber and his family, the event honors the memory of his mother, Nancy, and the compassionate care her father received as a McLaren patient. This year’s outing welcomed 144 participants, making it one of the largest and most successful events in the tournament’s history.

Medicare Home Health Care is the ideal platform for home-based palliative care at the end of life
Journal of Palliative Medicine; by Tessa Jones and Sean Morrison, with Guest Editor note by Ira Byock, MD; 6/10/25
Recognizing the central role of HH as a de facto means of providing home-based palliative care—and strategizing how to integrate palliative care principles and education into it—holds the potential to expand access to palliative care services and improve the quality of end of life for older Americans. The authors identify four main barriers to successfully integrating HH into the suite of palliative care delivery models. First, the HH workforce lacks training in fundamental palliative care. Second, the current lack of ongoing physician involvement in the HH setting. Third, reimbursement. Palliative care services are often excluded from traditional payment models, particularly in the HH setting. Lastly, financialization of the HH sector. They say that integration of palliative care within for-profit HH agencies may require a strategic emphasis on financial incentives.
Guest Editor Note, Ira Byock, MD: This academic oped extends the drumbeat toward alternatives to hospice care. Overcoming barriers to home-based palliative care requires steps that are strikingly similar to those needed to make hospice programs successful. The authors repeatedly refer to HH interdisciplinary teams. In fact, home health is a multidisciplinary model of service delivery that lacks the clinical synergy of high-functioning interdisciplinary hospice teams.

Serious illness has mental health implications — palliative care can help 
Becker's Behavioral Health; by Dr. Simeon Kwan and Dr. Rowland Pearsall; 6/12/25 
... As health plans and providers strive to deliver whole-person, value-based care, we must recognize that treating the body is only part of the equation. Mental and emotional well-being are critical dimensions of serious illness, and they demand more focused attention. Fortunately, we have a powerful but often underutilized ally: palliative care. ... According to multiple studies, up to 40% of patients with advanced cancer experience clinical depression. Anxiety and spiritual distress are also common, particularly when facing the unknown or confronting the loss of autonomy. For those managing progressive illnesses over time, mental health concerns can erode treatment adherence, accelerate physical decline, and strain family caregivers.

The shrinking physician leadership pipeline 
Becker's Clinical Leadership; by Mariah Taylor; 6/6/25 
Leaders across the nation are noticing a new trend — physicians seem less willing and interested in taking on roles beyond their clinical work. Traditionally, physicians have balanced full-time clinical loads with extra responsibility as a leader or educator. “But as people and the workforce have evolved, there’s a growing understanding: if you’re going to commit to something and do it well, you need dedicated time to focus on it,” Michael White, MD, executive vice president and chief clinical officer at Valleywise Health in Phoenix, told Becker’s. ... The increased interest in work-life balance for medical professionals has also contributed to younger physicians declining extra responsibilities. 

Death, taxes, and talking to your parents: Why the conversation you’re avoiding might save your family
Psychology Today; by Nancy J. Kislin, LCSW, MFT; 6/11/25
Key points:

• Most families avoid care talks—until crisis hits. Start the conversation before it’s too late.
• Reframe the topic: It’s not about death; it’s about how your parents want to live and be cared for.
• Gentle, curious questions open doors. Ask about values, not just logistics.
• These talks can deepen connection—not just prepare for the future, but strengthen your bond today.

Chapter 6: Medicare’s measurement of rural provider quality 
MedPAC; 6/12/25 
... Because of low patient volumes in many rural health care settings, there are practical challenges in measuring some individual rural providers’ quality of care and in holding these providers accountable in quality reporting programs. ... The Commission acknowledged these difficulties when it established specific principles to guide expectations about quality in rural areas. These principles were developed with hospitals in mind but could be applied to other providers. ... [On page 4 of 40] Rural skilled nursing facilities and dialysis facilities had lower shares of providers with publicly reported quality results compared with their urban counterparts; in contrast, rural home health agencies and hospices had higher shares of providers with publicly reported quality results compared with their urban counterparts.
Editor's Note: For ranking of hospices by quality scores, examine the National Hospice Locator, provided to the public by Hospice Analytics (a sponsor of this newsletter). 

Georgia hospice provider reaches $9.2M settlement with DOJ over kickback allegations 
McKnights Home Care; by Adam Healy; 6/13/25 
Georgia-based Creative Hospice Care Inc paid the Department of Justice $9.2 million to settle claims that it entered kickback arrangements with medical professionals in exchange for patient referrals, the DOJ disclosed Wednesday. “Decisions regarding end-of-life care are incredibly difficult and personal, and families must be able to trust the intentions of their chosen providers,” Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr said in a statement. “Those who instead take advantage of the system for their own personal gain will be held accountable.”

Inspiration for nursing home leaders: Finding empathy, expertise on the ground and in the air
McKnights Long-Term Care News; by Kimberly Marselas; 6/11/25 
In the search for creative strategies, nursing home leaders can’t look just to their own peers. Inspiration is everywhere, as several executives recently told McKnight’s Long-Term Care News. Rhonda Dempsey RN, senior vice president and chief nursing officer at Trilogy Health Services, serves in a clinically oriented role, but she says when she wants to better understand the hospitality side of the business, she looks to emulate Marriott, owner of the world’s most hotel beds. “I’m inspired by leaders who prioritize empathy and create cultures that value employees as much as customers,” she told McKnight’s. “Those who focus on purpose-driven leadership and foster environments of inclusion and continuous learning stand out."
Editor's Note: The words "hospice" and "hotel" share the same root words "hospes" and "hospitium," meaning hospitality, host, guest, and restful lodging for weary travelers.

Nursing home is pressuring my mother-in-law to enter hospice
Aging Care - Caregiver Forum - End of Life - Questions; question posed by "concerned8"; 6/12/25 
I am her Health Care Surrogate but as they won't declare her incompetent it has not come into effect. I believe the home's intent is to prevent me from making the decision regarding hospice and instead to pressure her to enter it in various ways. ... I am not anti-hospice and expect her to enter it in the near future, but want that to be my decision, not the home's (even if it's portrayed as hers).  ... 
[An answer from another reader" Our family has only had bad experiences with three different hospice companies. Contrary to what most people believe, many patients are placed on hospice for free equipment and free services. I was told this by more than one hospice worker.
Editor's Note: This post raises numerous troubling perceptions, with descriptions of poor hospice experiences. 

Worthington man carves wooden hearts for hospice patients 
KELO Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls, SD; by Tom Hanson; 6/12/25 
In a world often defined by fast-paced living, some people choose a slower, more meaningful path—quietly making a difference. Inside his garage, Joel Krekelberg is hard at work. He is making small wooden hearts. He gives them to people hoping to give them comfort, or inspiration, or just a warm feeling. For Krekelberg, the process of making the hearts is special. For him, with the headphones and a mask, it’s peaceful.

Hospice a saving grace during our hardest time 
Pikes Peak Courier; by Mary Lovato; 6/11/25 
... I recently lost the two most important men in my life. My husband passed away from bladder cancer and within 6 months, my brother passed away from COPD. The individuals who worked for Hospice and helped us deal with the end of life of each of these loved ones were amazing. It wasn’t just the medical personnel, it was also the person who came to the house to set up the required equipment, it was the person who bathed the patient, it was the social worker, it was the person who offered spiritual guidance, it was even the person who in an emergency, delivered medicine in the middle of the night.

You manage things. You lead people. ~ Grace Murray Hopper