Literature Review

'It's heartbreaking': Hospices planning cuts to jobs and beds[UK] BBC News; by Hugh Pym, Vicki Loader; 8/30/24Five hospices caring for terminally ill people have planned job cuts in the past two months due to financial pressures, BBC News has learned. St Giles Hospice, which runs community services and in-patient sites in the West Midlands, has started consulting staff this week on a reduction of 40 posts, including clinical roles, which could involve redundancies. The organisation representing the sector, Hospice UK, has warned of a funding crisis and further cuts in services.

State seeks input on Columbia Gorge hospital, Gentiva hospice care The Lund Report, Oregon and SW Washington; by Nick Budnick; 8/29/24 State officials are checking in on two health care acquisitions that have occurred since August of 2022, the absorption of Mid-Columbia Medical Center into California-based Adventist Health as well as a private equity firm's acquisition of Kindred Hospice. Now the state wants to hear how the renamed entities are doing: Adventist Health Columbia Gorge and Kindred Hospice Care. “OHA wants to understand how ownership changes may have affected health care services at AHCG and Gentiva hospice agencies,” according to a state announcement. “We’d like to hear from patients, health care providers, employees, and community members who have interacted with AHCG or Gentiva in the past year.”

I wonder if my first breath was as soul-stirring to my mother as her last breath was to me. ~ Lisa Goich-Andreadis, 14 Days: A Mother, A Daughter, A Two-Week Goodbye

Monday is for people with a mission. ~ Cristina Imre

I can't change you and you can't change me, but together we can work to change the world!  ~ Germany Kent

If you don't like the road you're walking, start paving another one. ~ Dolly Parton

If you want to be the best you have to do things that other people aren't willing to do. ~ Michael Phelps, Olympic swimmer 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, the most decorated Olympian of all time with a total of 28 medals. Click here for his post-Olympic Foundation, with its vision "to save lives and help build healthier families."

It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light. ~  Aristotle

2nd Annual Walk for Hospice raises over $60,000 for the Aroostook House of Comfort The County, Presque Isle, ME; 9/19/24 The Aroostook Hospice Foundation is proud to announce that the 2nd Annual Walk for Hospice, presented by Event Sponsor McCrum Family Holdings, LLC, raised over $60,000 in support of the Aroostook House of Comfort. Held in memory of Dr. David Jones, the event was a powerful and moving tribute to those impacted by hospice care. The Foundation extends heartfelt gratitude to  everyone who contributed to the event’s success. The Walk for Hospice not only aims to raise essential funds but also to increase community awareness and celebrate the lives of those  impacted by hospice care. This year’s event saw tremendous support with 15 Trail Sponsors, 12 Community Sponsors, 22 Friend Sponsors and 10 In-Kind Sponsors, and boasted a remarkable turnout of 32 teams and 335 participants. The day offered families, friends, and colleagues a beautiful opportunity to walk, reflect, and honor their loved ones in a memorable and meaningful way.  

Everyone breathes in air, but it's a wise person who knows when to use that air to speak and when to exhale in silence. ~ Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, Queen of Dreams

What is Death?GeriPal podcast; by Eric Widera, Alex Smith, Winston Chiong, Sean Aas; 8/22/24We’ve talked about Brain Death before ... and in many ways today’s podcast is a follow up to that episode. Why does this issue keep coming up? Why is it unresolved? Today we put these questions to Winston Chiong, a neurologist and bioethicist, and Sean Aas, a philosopher and bioethicist.

Sophisticated caregiver training remains an underutilized retention, ROI tool Home Health Care News; by Audrie Martin; 8/22/24 ... [Only] 43.8% of home-based care staff and 55% of home health and hospice staff feel prepared to care for new clients, according to the 2024 Activated Insights Benchmarking Report. As a possible result, the annual care staff turnover rate has climbed 14% in the last two years to almost 80%. Organizations demonstrating a commitment to continuing education improve employee satisfaction by allowing caregivers to hone their skills and grow in their careers. Investing in employees’ long-term success will impart a sense of purpose and possibility within a role known for turnover and burnout. “The average home-based care provider offers five hours of orientation and eight hours of ongoing training,” the report read. “Those who offer at least eight orientation hours and 12 hours of ongoing training see an increase of $1,103,291 in revenue. However, while establishing a clear path is one of the top strategies to retaining long-term employees, only 39% of providers have one.”