Literature Review

Community comes together to trim tree of treasured memoriesDaily Star (Hammond, LA)December 16, 2023Hammond, LA—On the morning of Saturday, Dec. 9, members of the community came together for a standing-room-only remembrance celebration and to trim a Christmas tree with hand-picked ornaments symbolizing treasured memories of their loved ones. The “Memory Tree Remembrance Celebration” carries on a 31-year tradition that a!rms the lives of former hospice patients. Held in the E. Brent Dufreche Conference Center on the campus of North Oaks Medical Center, it is one component of North Oaks Hospice’s bereavement counseling and support services provided to families and caregivers for one year following the death of their loved one.

2024: Healthcare Insiders Predict The FutureForbes, 12/14/23By Sachin  H. JainCan others predict what the future holds for healthcare? To find out, I asked colleagues, friends and other people I admire in the healthcare industry to weigh in with their predictions for 2024. From AI to pharmaceuticals to the cost of care, their viewpoints cover a range of topics. I hope you find their predictions and insights as intriguing as I do.Editor Note: Article includes 20 topics, including...

Horizon Home Care & Hospice announces CEO’s retirementWashington County Daily News, 12/16/23MILWAUKEE — Horizon Home Care & Hospice announced on Thursday that CEO Mary Haynor will be retiring on Jan. 5, 2024. "Mary’s outstanding leadership and 24-year commitment to Horizon has resulted in exceptional services in home care, hospice and grief support," said Chair of Horizon’s Board of Directors and VP of Post Acute Care with Froedtert Health Diane Ehn in the release. "She has made a difference in the lives of others and this community impact will be her legacy."

SLU Hospital nurses plan two-day strike in late-DecemberKTVI-TV (St. Louis, MO)December 15, 2023St. Louis, MO—A group of SLU Hospital nurses is planning a two-day strike later this month. Organizers say the strike comes in protest of “union-busting” practices and outsourcing of RN jobs. Nurses gave their employer (SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital) notice Friday that they would plan a 48-hour strike. It’s currently scheduled outside the hospital from 7 a.m. on Dec. 27 to 6:59 a.m. on Dec. 29.

Heed history’s warning on aid in dyingBy Sen. John HoffmanStar Tribune (Minneapolis, MN)December 14, 2023Legislative proposals to legalize physician-assisted suicide in Minnesota have been introduced in Minnesota every year since 2015. The bill contents change regularly as the authors try to stay ahead of the numerous legal, medical and ethical objections that are raised. Many of the changes just create new concerns. In whatever form, such legislation is dangerous and would likely have serious consequences for vulnerable populations—particularly those with disabilities.[Editor’s Note: The author is a member of the Minnesota Senate representing Champlin. He is a member of Democrat Farmer-Labor.]

Oklahoma Woman Finds Help To Cope With Mother’s Loss During The HolidaysKOTV-TV (Tulsa, OK)December 14, 2023Tulsa, OK—The loss of a loved one is difficult at any time, but during the holidays, grief and sorrow can be heightened. For one Oklahoma woman, she found comfort through hospice care even after her mother passed away.

Palliative-Behavioral Health Collaborations Benefit Patients with Serious Mental IllnessesPalliative Care NewsDecember 15, 2023Palliative care providers have opportunities to bridge gaps of unmet needs among patients who have serious mental illnesses and their families. ... Building up community-based palliative and mental health care collaborations will be crucial to supporting a growing population of seniors with SMIs with complex needs, he [Dr. Andrew Esch, palliative care physician and senior education advisor at the Center to Advance Palliative Care] said. ... Some of the most common SMIs among seniors include bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder and post traumatic stress and major depression, among others.

Iowa Democrats, advocates call for hearings on nursing home care and oversightIowa Capital DispatchDecember 14, 2023Iowa Senate Democrats on Thursday called on the GOP-controlled Senate Oversight Committee to launch a bipartisan investigation into Iowa’s nursing homes. Calling it “a matter of life and death,” Sen. Claire Celsi, D-West Des Moines, the ranking member on the committee, formally requested the investigation in a Dec. 14 letter to committee chair Sen. Amy Sinclair, R-Allerton.

LAJHealth Opens Second Brandman Center for Senior Care on WestsideJewish Journal (Los Angeles, CA)December 14, 2023The Brandman Centers for Senior Care, a PACE program of Los Angeles Jewish Health, has opened a new ... It is the second LAJH PACE program, with the first located on its Reseda campus.

Indiana remains ‘an island of prohibition’ as surrounding states legalize marijuana. Some hope that changes.WRTV-TV (Indianapolis, IN)December 14, 2023Indianapolis, IN—... Indiana is one of just 12 states with a total ban on marijuana. As calls for legalization grow, are Indiana lawmakers ready to approve it here? Supporters hope so, but opponents say not so fast. “We’re an island of prohibition in Indiana and it is somewhat embarrassing,” said Keith Johnson, a veteran and proponent of legalization.

The $20,000 Christmas Tree—Lake County Hospice’s Annual Festival of TreesThe Bloom (Lake County, CA)December 15, 2023Imagine stepping into a place where Christmas exists in a timeless moment—it starts at the registration tables, where a train circles a beautifully decorated tree. But once you walk down the hallway and into the main tent, you enter another world. This moment, hosted by Lake County Hospice, has become a beacon of hope and compassion, bringing joy to families and touching the hearts of all who attend. ... It’s a visual feast. ... But what sets the Festival of Trees apart is its purpose. Beyond the fascinating and enchanting decorations, the event serves as a vital fundraiser for Lake County Hospice. ... People know that Hospice of Lake County fills a significant need in the community and bid accordingly. Winners of auctions donate the tree back to be auctioned again, and yes, one tree sells for $20,000.

End-of-life doulas are changing conversation around death in Central OregonCentral Oregon Daily (Bend, OR)December 14, 2023Sisters, OR—... Cheryl Adcox has been working as an end-of-life doula in Central Oregon since 2018. That’s when the registered nurse opened Hand-in-Hand End of Life Doula Services. For her, death is “sacred and it’s magical and it’s part of the mystery of life.” It’s a view that few people understand. It’s one these death doulas understand intimately.