Literature Review

Carolina Caring Community Counseling Program expands services to anyone who has experienced loss Carolina Caring, Newton, NC; Press Release; 7/1/26 For many individuals, addressing the mental health concerns tied to grief and loss can feel overwhelming, complicated, or out of reach. Recognizing the profound impact that loss can have on one’s wellbeing, Carolina Caring has expanded a Community Counseling Program to support individuals who have experienced a major loss of any kind. ... Traditionally, organizations like Carolina Caring provide bereavement services to families of hospice patients for up to 13 months. But the Community Counseling Program is different from this traditional model. Through the expansion, the Community Counseling Program redefines what it means to provide compassionate care to the whole person, both physically and emotionally.

AI, hospice fraud crackdown & medicare’s future—the biggest healthcare stories of 2026| part one Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN); podcast hosted by Chris Comeaux with Cordt Kassner; 7/1/26 In this quarterly edition of TCNtalks / Anatomy of Leadership, host Chris Comeaux is joined by healthcare strategist Cordt Kassner to unpack the biggest healthcare stories shaping 2026.  Together, they examine the trends every healthcare executive should be watching—from the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence and workforce transformation to increasing regulatory scrutiny, quality measurement, Medicare reform, and the financial realities facing hospice providers.  Using Dr. Ira Byock’s strategic framework as their guide, they move beyond headlines to explore what these developments mean for the future of care. The conversation also tackles larger questions facing the healthcare system.  

Nancy Streber Memorial Golf Classic raises more than $10,000, surpasses $200,000 lifetime milestone Tri-County Times, Davison, MI; Press Release; 7/1/26 Davison The 29th Annual Nancy Streber Memorial Golf Classic, held May 9 at Heather Hills Golf Course in Romeo, Mich., raised more than $10,000 in support of McLaren Hospice's compassionate end-of-life care services. Founded by Dave Streber and his family, the golf outing was established to honor the memory of his mother, Nancy Streber, while also recognizing the compassionate care his grandfather received as a McLaren patient. With this year's contribution, the event has now raised more than $200,000 over its 29-year history in support of McLaren Hospice a remarkable milestone made possible through decades of community support and dedication to hospice care.

CMS proposes community-based palliative care benefit Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 7/1/26 The U.S Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed coverage of community-based palliative care through the Medicare home health benefit. CMS included the palliative benefit in its 2027 proposed home health rule. ... The agency emphasized that palliative care under the home health benefit would be separate from hospice care and could support patients earlier in the course of serious illness.

1776-1786: 250 Years - A History of CareHospice & Palliative Care Today; by Joy Berger; for 6/10/26Continental Congress, Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776

VNA Hops for Hospice brings community together in support of compassionate care GreatNews.Life, Valparaiso, IN; by Maxwell Barath; 6/29/26 On Saturday, June 27, more than 250 guests and over 60 dedicated volunteers gathered at the Porter County Expo Center for VNA Hospice NWI’s sixth annual Hops for Hospice, an afternoon celebrating local craft beverages, delicious food, live music, and a shared commitment to compassionate hospice care. The Expo Center was filled with energy as attendees sampled offerings from dozens of regional breweries, wineries, and beverage vendors while enjoying live performances by Bryan Elliott and Duke Tumatoe, whose music provided the perfect soundtrack for an afternoon of community, conversation, and giving back.

What do UK hospice websites communicate about the meaning of palliative care? BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care; by Lucy Williams, Charlotte Browne, Paul Perkins, and Vanessa Taylor; 6/30/26Objectives: Hospice websites are an important source of information for the public. This study examined whether information communicated about palliative care aligned with WHO and the International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care (IAHPC) definitions of palliative care. ... Conclusions: Key information was often missing, and opportunities to educate the public and address misconceptions are being lost. Hospice websites need reviewing and content updating to help improve public understanding of palliative care. Editor's Note: What does your website communicate? What information does it omit, and why? In a time of heightened scrutiny and rampant fraud, examine your website for strengths, gaps, and opportunities to educate and support the public with integrity, authenticity, and empowered choice.

At Hospice Austin’s summer camp, kids find joy together after experiencing loss KUT 90.5, Austin, TX; by Olivia Aldridge; 6/29/26 On a Friday in mid-June, middle school-aged kids lined up for their shot at a summer camp rite of passage: the infamous high ropes course at John Knox Ranch in Fischer, Texas. The ranch hosts Camp Brave Heart, Hospice Austin’s annual camp for kids and teens who have experienced loss. 13-year-old Alisa bravely stepped up to the challenge first. Soon enough, she was strapped into a harness, inching along ropes strung 30 feet in the air. “You are rocking this!” the counselor belaying her from the ground yelled as Alisa neared the end of the course. “Take a second — you want to look at the view?”

Remembrance Walk brings grieving families together The Alamosa Citizen, Alamosa, CO; by The Citizen; 6/29/26 A Friday morning breeze came in handy at San Luis Valley’s inaugural Remembrance Walk at Blanca Vista Park. A quiet 1.5-mile Pelican Trail became a place for shared memories, tears, and community healing. Organized by Hospice del Valle, the June 26 event brought together community members from across the Valley, each taking a lap around the lake for someone no longer able to walk beside them. ... Lori Taylor and her family were at the park to celebrate her mother, Judy, who passed away in December. Even though her mother was in hospice care for a single day, Taylor said the nonprofit’s grief support groups made a massive difference for her family.

Mi Casa Hospice Alzheimer’s awareness event brings community together through education and compassion Alice Echo News Journal, Alice, TX; by Pete Vasquez; 6/29/26 Education, compassion, and community came together during the recent Mi Casa Hospice Alzheimer’s Awareness Event, where healthcare professionals, local businesses, caregivers, and community members united with one shared purpose—to raise awareness and support families affected by Alzheimer’s disease. ... Mi Casa Hospice emphasized that when healthcare providers, local businesses, community organizations, and residents work together, they can make a lasting difference in the lives of those impacted by Alzheimer’s disease.

Improving trauma-informed end-of-life support for indigenous populations Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 6/29/26 The end of life can come with significant challenges for underserved and under-resourced patient populations, including indigenous tribal communities. Hospices seeking to improve quality and disparities need a trauma-informed care delivery approach, as well as greater cultural staffing diversity and education. Culturally inclusive recruitment and retention policies can help hospices to bridge wide gaps of unmet needs among terminally ill patients and their families, according to Dr. Sophina Manheimer Calderon, CMO, Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) Health System in Baraga, Michigan. Calderon is from the Navajo Nation in Arizona and previously worked within the tribal community’s health system to collaborate with local hospice and home health providers. Increasing diverse staff representation allows hospices to have a deeper understanding of the unique challenges a community faces ...

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