Literature Review

This is the one question leaders need to ask themselves: To avoid burnout, leaders need to pay attention to their energy levels Forbes - Work Life; by Tim Jack Adams; 9/1/25 You’ve carried the weight of big decisions, the pressure to perform, to lead and deliver, all despite what’s happening behind the scenes. You’ve navigated through uncertainty and change, providing the space for everyone else to thrive. It’s a feeling that the most capable leaders feel. It’s not quite burnout, but a kind of dullness. A slow drain. A fog that creeps in quietly and makes it harder to stay clear, connected, and grounded. ... It's not about time, it's about energy. ...Editor's Note: Twenty years ago, this concept revolutionized my workday, productivity, outcomes, and overall well-bing, via the book The Power of Full Engagement: Managing Energy, Not Time, Is the Key to High Performance and Personal Renewal, by Jim Loehr, published 2003. This author's content is fresh, dated September 2025.

[United Kingdom] Hikers take on volcanic trek to support hospice BBC News, Somerset, UK; by Clara Bullock and Charlie Taylor; 8/30/25 A group of hikers is taking on the dramatic landscapes of Iceland to raise money for a hospice. The nine walkers will trek 36 miles (58km) across the volcanic highland region of Landmannalaugar – over lava fields, past hot springs and waterfalls – to fundraise for St. Margaret's Hospice in Somerset [United Kingdom]. Louise Wonham is taking part with her two sons. She said she wanted to give back to the charity after it supported her husband Mike, who had cancer. ...

Bipartisan home health legislation introduced to protect Medicare beneficiaries and lower Medicare costs National Alliance for Care at Home, Alexandria, VA and Washington, DC; Press Release; 9/4/25 The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) issued the following statement today in response to the introduction of the Home Health Stabilization Act of 2025. This bipartisan legislation, introduced by Representatives Kevin Hern (R-OK) and Terri Sewell (D-AL), would protect home health care by pausing the devastating payment cuts proposed in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) CY 2026 Home Health Prospective Payment System proposed rule. 

Hospice care co. can't duck claims it covered up death Law360; by Mike Curley; 8/27/25 A Texas appeals court has thrown out wrongful death and negligence claims against a hospice care provider in a suit alleging its employees are liable for a man's death from fentanyl overdose, but allowed claims that they covered up the cause of death by falsifying patient records to proceed.

Seasons Hospice closing Hospice House in Rochester to focus on in-home care ABC News KAALTV-6, Rochester, MN; by KAALTV; 9/4/25 On September 4, Seasons Hospice announced it will be closing the Hospice House after more than 25 years of service. Seasons Hospice cited an exclusive focus on in-home hospice care as the reason for the closure. Seasons Hospice said it will remain fully operational in providing home-based hospice services without interruption. “This is not an end to our mission. It is a continuation of our mission in a new way,” said Dawn Beck, Seasons Hospice Board of Directors President, via a press release. ... The closure will go into effect on Friday, October 10. 

No one can whistle a symphony. It takes a whole orchestra to play it. ~ H.E. Luccock

CMS updates AHEAD model: 6 things to know Becker's Hospital Review; by Alan Condon; 9/2/25 CMS on Sept. 2 unveiled policy and operational updates to the Achieving Healthcare Efficiency through Accountable Design Model, a state total cost of care initiative launched in 2023 to curb spending, improve population health and advance health equity. Six things to know: 

New Mexico nurse assistant charged with hospice fraud, misconduct Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 8/29/25 A federal grand jury in Bernalillo County, New Mexico, has indicted a certified nurse assistant for their alleged involvement in a hospice fraud scheme. Potential sentencing includes more than two decades of imprisonment. April Guadalupe Hernandez, 27, was an employee of Luna Del Valle Hospice, LilyCare of New Mexico and Hospice De La Luz. She allegedly assumed the identities of hospice nurses and illegally provided care to patients, according to a statement the New Mexico Department of Justice (NMDOJ) released on Wednesday. Hernandez is charged with 19 counts of misconduct including allegations of identity theft, elder abuse, nursing without a license and Medicaid fraud, among other charges.  

Palliative care researchers use qualitative data to understand the full picture of patients' lives St. Jude Research; by Heather Johnson; 8/26/25 The central goal of palliative care is to provide comfort, relieve suffering and improve the quality of life for those dealing with serious illnesses. That care is interdisciplinary. It must be. Quality of life relates to physical, social, emotional, spiritual and psychological needs. Addressing those needs requires teamwork from physicians and clinicians in a range of disciplines. ... Palliative care studies often use mixed methods approaches to capture the full picture of what can be subjective outcomes. For example, scales and surveys may provide a foundation for assessing symptom relief, while qualitative research, such as patient interviews and focus groups, helps researchers understand the meaning behind the numbers.  Editor's Note: Yes. Measures for hospice and palliative success and growth are more than dollar amounts and the number of locations. Pairing qualitative research with quantitative data, researchers and leaders must seek to "understand the meaning behind the numbers." Ongoing, be sure to explore our newsletter's Saturday issues for relevant, timely evidence-based research articles--quantitive and qualitive data--to improve the care of persons who needing hospice and palliative care.

Detecting and intervening against elder abuse: Tips for primary careMedscape; by Batya Swift Yasgur;8/27/25Elder abuse is any action — or lack of appropriate action — occurring in a relationship where there is an expectation of trust that causes harm or distress to an older person, according to the World Health Organization. One sixth of community-dwelling older adults are affected by elder abuse, with rates climbing in the United States and globally... [This article explores:]

[Global] Palliative care for special populations ehospice; by Howard Kinyua; 9/1/25

Protecting Florida's seniors: Fighting fraud and financial exploitation Targeted News Service; 8/29/25 The Senate Special Committee on Aging released the following testimony by Brandy Bauer, director of the Senior Medicare Patrol Resource Center, from an Aug. 7, 2025, field hearing entitled "Protecting Florida's Seniors: Fighting Fraud and Financial Exploitation": Chairman Scott, thank you for inviting me here today on behalf of the Senior Medicare Patrol program. The nation's 54 Senior Medicare Patrol, or SMP, programs are managed by the U.S. Administration for Community Living, with the mission to help empower and assist people to prevent, detect, and report Medicare fraud, errors, and abuse. ...

Amarillo VA expands end-of-life care with new hospice unit CBS KFDA-10, Amarillo, TX; by Canion Cvazos; 8/28/25 After years of planning, the Amarillo VA has opened a new chapter in veteran care. The VA held a ribbon-cutting ceremony today to celebrate the opening for its new hospice unit. VA leaders say the goal is to create a home-like environment, where families can gather with comfort and dignity during their loved one’s final days. The hospice unit will provide 10 private rooms, each designed for a single patient, with its own bathroom and shower.