Elderly people look at their younger reflections in this beautiful photo series by Tom Hussey 
Digital Synopsis; photos by Tom Hussey; retrieved from the internet 7/10/25 
'Reflections of the Past' is an award-winning photo series by commercial advertising photographer Tom Hussey. The photographs show an elderly person looking pensively at the reflection of his/her younger self in the mirror. Hussey was inspired by a World War II veteran who said "I can't believe I'm going to be 80. I feel like I just came back from the war. I look in the mirror and see this old guy." It's beautiful, touching ... 
Editor's Note: Click here to view this touching series. The phrases "every photo tells a story" and "a picture is worth a thousand words" come to life. Moments like this occur in nearly every hospice visit, as interdisciplinary team members' gentle questions provide "mirrors" of reflection. This award-winning campaign was used in a marketing campaign by Novartis for a treatment of Alzheimer's disease. [Our newsletter has no disclosures to report.] These photos are under strict copyright laws with rigorous enforcement. They can be shared easily via social media links at the top of its webpage. 

Texas flooding: Live updates and main donation link
Links below are from CNN and the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country

• Click here for CNN's Live Updates
• Click here for the Kerr County Relief Fund, through the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country: The Kerr County Flood Relief Fund supports relief and rebuilding efforts after the flood of July 4, 2025. Your generosity helps our neighbors recover. The Community Foundation - a 501(c)(3) public charity serving the Texas Hill Country - will direct funds to vetted organizations providing rescue, relief, and recovery efforts as well as flood assistance. The Fund will support the communities of Hunt, Ingram, Kerrville, Center Point, and Comfort. All donations are tax-deductible, and you will receive a receipt for your gift.

Beyond the sandbags: Operational hurricane planning for in-home care 
HomeCare; by Matthew P. Chaloux; 7/9/25 
When hurricanes approach, in-home care organizations face challenges that are vastly different from those of facility-based providers. In addition to safeguarding infrastructure, we must ensure the safety of mobile care teams, maintain critical supply routes and coordinate services for patients whose needs don’t pause for the weather. At Empath Health, we care for more than 75,000 patients annually across 20 Florida counties through hospice, home health, palliative and supportive care programs. Our teams aren’t centralized—they’re on the road, in homes and dispersed across regions that may be affected in very different ways by the same storm. Over the years, we’ve learned that effective hurricane response in home-based care depends on three things: preparation, coordination and flexibility. ...

• Map Access Before You Need It ...
• Balance Protocol With Flexibility ...
• Action Items for Your Team ...
• One Team, One Mission ...

Georgia Power Foundation supports Phoebe Hospice Services in memory of President Jimmy Carter 
Albany Area Chamber of Commerce, Americus, GA; by Mary Bickerstaff; 7/9/25
The Georgia Power Foundation has made generous donations to Phoebe Sumter Hospice and Phoebe Hospice in memory of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, honoring his legacy as a long-time advocate for clean energy and compassionate care. Phoebe Sumter Hospice provided hospice services for both Pres. & Mrs. Carter. The gift was made in recognition of hospice’s role in providing care and comfort and highlights Georgia Power’s continued commitment to the communities it serves, especially in Southwest Georgia. Phoebe Sumter Hospice serves patients in Sumter and seven other surrounding counties. Phoebe Hospice serves patients in 11 counties in and around Albany. The Georgia Power Foundation donated $100,000 that was split evenly between Phoebe Sumter Hospice and Phoebe Hospice.

Essentia nurses and healthcare workers turned away from bargaining by employer on second day of ULP strike, acute care nurses announce tentative agreement vote results 
Minnesota Nurses Association, Duluth, MN; Press Release; 7/9/25 
On the second day of the ongoing unfair labor practice strike in Duluth and Superior, nurses and healthcare professionals across all six Essentia Health bargaining units arrived at negotiations prepared to make progress — only to be met with rejection and dismissal. ... No meaningful negotiations took place and no progress was made towards resolving the unfair labor practices. Despite Essentia Health’s reliance on costly travel nurses and its abrupt closure of essential facilities like the Solvay Hospice House, frontline healthcare workers have consistently proposed clear pathways to resolution. Today alone, negotiating team members offered to consolidate and expedite bargaining across all six contracts and offered 22 additional negotiation dates in July — both of which Essentia flatly refused.

New Winship web tool helps Georgians find palliative care services 
Emory University Winship Cancer Institute; Press Release; 7/7/25 
Patients, families and referring physicians now have a new online source for locating palliative care services in Georgia. Developed by Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, More Access to Palliative Care Georgia (MAPGA) is a searchable database of vetted inpatient and outpatient palliative care agencies and hospital-based programs across the state. ... Users who visit MAPGA can view a list and interactive map of nearby palliative care services, including hospital-based outpatient clinics and home-based care. For more customized results, they can enter their zip code or filter by location (clinic, in-home or hospital-based/inpatient) and type (adult or pediatric). MAPGA also features a “heat map” that highlights gaps in access to care. 

Study: New method successfully measures whether seriously ill patients receive care matching their wishes
McKnight's Long-Term Care News; by Donna Shryer; 7/8/25
A study has developed a reliable way to measure whether seriously ill hospitalized patients receive medical care that aligns with their personal goals. The research, involving 109 seriously ill patients with a median age of 70, found that using electronic clinical notes to measure goal-concordant care is feasible. The study identified variation in whether treatment matched patients’ stated goals. Researchers found that only half of all treatment phases were goal-concordant — with medical treatment matching patients’ documented preferences. Nearly one in five phases was goal-discordant, where treatment contradicted stated wishes, while roughly one-third remained uncertain due to unclear or missing goal discussions.

DOJ & HHS announce reinvigoration of False Claims Act Working Group and Healthcare Fraud Enforcement Priorities 
Dorsey & Whitney LLP; Press Release; 7/9/25 
The Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services announced the reinvigoration of a False Claims Act (“FCA”) Working Group, a joint effort between the two agencies.  The announcement was made on July 2 during remarks at the American Health Law Association (“AHLA”) Annual Meeting by Brenna Jenny, the new Deputy Assistant Attorney General of DOJ’s Commercial Litigation Branch, and in a press release that same day. This working group underscores that healthcare fraud is a priority for the Administration, despite recent staff changes and recent policy announcements about enforcement priorities in civil rights and DEI. It also underscores that robust compliance programs should continue to be a priority for healthcare-industry stakeholders.

HPCC strengthens commitment to DEIB across credentialing programs 
Hospice & Palliative Nurses Association / Foundation / Credentialing Center (HPNA/HPNF/HPCC); Press Release; 7/10/25 
In 2025, the Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center (HPCC) has continued its implementation of strategic initiatives that advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) across its credentialing programs. From in-depth exam item reviews to national outreach and inclusive resource development, HPCC remains committed to ensuring fairness and inclusivity in all certification processes. The following strategic initiatives reflect the progress HPCC has made and showcase the future direction of its DEIB efforts. ... This work is part of HPCC’s broader goal to strengthen the inclusivity of its credentialing programs. As HPCC explores the expansion of DIF analyses across additional certification exams, the organization remains rooted in its mission.

Where Teal meets Requisite Organization with Bruce Peters
Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN); podcast by Chris Comeaux with Bruce Peters; 7/9/25
What happens when two powerful organizational frameworks converge? Bruce Peters, founder of Beyond Teal LLC and longtime student of leadership, joins Chris Comeaux to explore the fascinating intersection of Requisite Organization and TEAL principles—and how they might save modern workplaces from disconnection and disengagement. The conversation begins with a provocative question about superpowers, with Peters suggesting most of us misidentify the source of our success. Additionally, they delve into the complexities of leadership and organizational structure, with a specific focus on the healthcare sector.

Social Media Watch 7/11/25

• Ira Byock, physician and public advocate noted, "It is fitting that the New York Times has published a prominent obituary for Dr. Anne Merriman. Her commitment and zeal touched millions of people." Anne Merriman, "Mother of Palliative Care" in Uganda dies at 90.
• Drew Mihalyo, entrepreneur, PharmD, investor, noted "Stem cell-derived, fully differentiated islet cells represent a promising strategy for treating type 1 diabetes by offering a renewable supply of insulin-producing cells."

• Kara Ulasewicz Travis, end-of-Life patient & staff advocate, highlighted the long-awaited release of this very important work by my colleagues at #NYS DOH. Live your best life. NY Master Plan for Aging.

Even if you are on the right track, you will get run over if you just sit there. ~ Will Rogers