Asking older adults with impaired cognition and care partners about serious illness experiences can elicit goals of care during advance care planning 
Americn Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine; by Glory H. Thai, BS, Valecia Hanna, MS, Peiyuan Zhang, MSW, Chase Mulholland Green, MPH, John Cagle, PhD, MSW, Jennifer L. Wolff, PhD, and Martha Abshire Saylor, PhD, RN; 8/13/25 
Older adults with cognitive impairment and their care partners were able to respond to serious illness experience questions, with responses eliciting a spectrum of goals of care. Integrating such questions into advanced care planning (ACP) for older adults with cognitive impairment may clarify goals of care and improve decision-making for patients and families. 

A photo essay of birth & death doulas 
Charlotte Magazine; by A.M. Stewart; 8/17/25 
I photographed my first death at 17. It was my great-grandmother’s funeral, and something inside me said it was an important moment to document. But it wasn’t until 2018—19 years later, when my father died—when I began to devote part of myself as a documentary photographer to the subject of death and dying.

Musical organization brings comfort to hospice patients 
CBS 19 News, Charlottesville, VA by Jadyn Howard; 8/14/25 
The Front Porch, a nonprofit music organization, partners with Hospice of the Piedmont to give musical performances to patients in their final months. "Mom doesn’t know her grandchildren or great-grandchildren, but Clara sings the song and words come out it’s beautiful so something about the brain remembers music," said Beth Johnson, daughter of a patient at Linden House for Assisted Living.  Clara George is a Front Porch musician who performs for Johnson's mother every Thursday. "People who have dementia a lot of times they can felt isolated or lonely or agitated and when I start playing with them I see their hands start to clap and sing along," said George.

Pet volunteers helping those at Hinds Hospice through challenging times 
ABC Action News KFSN-30 - Fresno, CA; by Ana Torrea; 8/15/25 
Going through a terminal illness can be hard on a person and their family. Being placed in hospice or palliative care can be just as isolating. Pet volunteers can help ease their feelings of anxiety and loneliness. Sven Hamilton is the Director of Volunteer Services with Hinds Hospice. "Most importantly, it's just being able to be there for our patients and to bring that little bit of joy as they are facing a disconnection with all the things they once loved," he said. Health experts say animal-assisted therapy can help enhance physical, emotional and social well-being.

Chicago woman wounded in mass shooting at her 25th birthday party is going to hospice care 
CBS News; by Sara Machi; 8/17/25 
After being critically wounded in a mass shooting in Chicago's Portage Park neighborhood that killed her father and two others, Mariah Vera's body has held on for two and a half years. But her family says that time is running out, and they need help from the public. Vera's family is preparing to move her to hospice care at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center ... Family members said Vera was shot while trying to protect her father after an uninvited partygoer caused trouble at her 25th birthday party.

Addressing hospice care Medicare fraud: Awareness and action
Investors Hangout; by Lucas Young; 8/18/25 
The New York StateWide Senior Action Council (StateWide) is an impactful 53-year-old non-profit organization dedicated to assisting approximately 2.5 million senior citizens. Recently, they have spotlighted a concerning trend in their monthly Medicare Fraud identification: Hospice Care Medicare Fraud. This initiative is part of the Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP), which equips older adults and their caregivers with the knowledge to detect, prevent, and report healthcare fraud, errors, and abuse. StateWide administers this program for New York State, acting as a crucial resource for senior citizens across the region. [This article provides simple, clear facts for the public.]

The Medicare Advantage, ACA and No Surprises Act lawsuits to watch 
Modern Healthcare; by Bridget Early; 8/18/25 
Legal challenges to Medicare Advantage marketing, health insurance exchange regulations and the No Surprises Act are working their way through the courts with major implications for the healthcare sector. Here are some key cases that could change how health insurance companies sell Medicare plans, how insurers and providers resolve out-of-network billing disputes, how consumers sign up for health insurance exchange plans, and how preventive healthcare is covered. 

With time running out, advocates mount push for telehealth, hospital-at-home extensions 
McKnights Home Care; by Adam Healy; 8/15/25 
With the Sept. 30 expiration date approaching for telehealth flexibilities implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic, industry advocates are urging lawmakers to pass a two-year extension. “We have only 48 days to avert a telehealth shutdown on October 1, and we’re relying on continued bipartisan, bicameral support to win the day,” Kyle Zebley, executive director of American Telemedicine Association Action and senior vice president of public policy for the ATA, said Thursday [8/14] in a statement.

IL law calls for annual report on prison hospice, palliative care 
WAND News, Springfield, IL; by Mike Miletich; 8/15/25 
Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill into law Friday to require the Illinois Department of Corrections report data on hospice care available for prisoners. More than 1,000 Illinois prisoners are 65 or older, and a growing number of those people are in need of end-of-life care and support services. The Department of Corrections does not have a formal hospice program, as end-of-life care is provided on a prison by prison basis. 

Study: Specialized nursing home physicians cut emergency visits for Medicare dementia residentsMcKnights Long-Term Care News; by Donna Shryer; 8/17/25 
A major new study suggests that Medicare beneficiaries with dementia receive better care when treated by clinicians who specialize in nursing home practice — meaning they provide at least 80% of their services in nursing facilities — rather than general practitioners who only occasionally visit. The research, published in JAMA Health Forum, analyzed care for more than 417,000 long-stay nursing home residents with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias over six years. The study found that residents cared for by nursing home specialists — clinicians who provide at least 80% of their services in nursing facilities — experienced 7% fewer preventable hospitalizations and emergency room visits compared to those treated by nonspecialists.

How to estimate your EHR implementation cost: Factors that impact your budget 
Joyrulez; by RickD32; 8/14/25 
Implementing an EHR (Electronic Health Record) system is one of the most significant investments a healthcare organization can make. Beyond the obvious benefits of digital recordkeeping—such as improved patient care, streamlined workflows, and regulatory compliance—the financial implications of EHR implementation are considerable. Understanding the factors that influence costs is essential for accurate budgeting and successful project execution. This guide will break down the key considerations, providing insights into an ehr implementation cost breakdown, the roles involved, and hidden expenses that organizations often overlook.

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is wrapping a present and not giving it. ~ William Arthur Ward