Literature Review

Letter: Honoring hands that hold us in life’s final chapter Delaware Gazette, Delaware, OH; Letter by Jennifer Porter, Volunteer Coordinator, OhioHealth Hospice with Compassus; 6/11/25 As we recognize Certified Nursing Assistants Week, June 12–18, I want to speak directly to the hospice aides — those whose hands so often become the bridge between suffering and peace. In hospice, our work is sacred. It asks for clinical skill, yes — but also deep compassion, patience and emotional resilience. Hospice aides are at the center of this calling. They are the ones who bathe patients too weak to speak, who brush their hair, adjust their pillows and whisper comfort into quiet rooms. They walk into spaces heavy with emotion and bring calm ... Their care isn’t measured only in tasks, but in dignity restored, fears soothed and final moments honored. ... Whether they are called hospice aides, certified nursing assistants, nurse aides or simply “the ones who helped my loved one feel like themselves again,” they are the heart of this work. They deserve our respect, our thanks and our unwavering support. Take a moment to thank a hospice aide in your life. 

The two kinds of people in the world--and why it matters for leadership Fast Company; by Robert E. Siegel; 6/3/25 Hard-nosed leadership and compassionate leadership aren’t opposites. The best leaders embrace both. One provocative assertion I often make when teaching is that there are two kinds of people in the world: those who have hearts and those who don’t. ... I then share that many leaders look at changing technology and changing markets and realize that a lot of jobs in their companies will inevitably be eliminated within the next few years, and it’s not hard to predict which jobs will go away. The question is how the executives react to this realization. ... For the purposes of Systems Leadership, it doesn’t matter which type of person you are in my (admittedly reductive) shorthand. You need to invest in your people whether you have a heart or not, for at least three major reasons.

Hospice staff at UVM Home Health and Hospice vote to form union Vermont Biz - Vermont Business Magazine; by Tim, The University of Vermont Health Network - Home Health & Hospice; 6/6/25 After six months of organizing, a majority of the roughly 85 Hospice staff at UVM Home Health and Hospice voted Thursday to formalize their union. Hospice United will represent Nurses, LNAs, Social Workers, Chaplains, Bereavement Coordinators, Volunteers Coordinators, Cooks, and Admin Support in both the McClure Miller Respite House and the community-based team. ... With a 88% voting yes, this victory marks the establishment of union representation at every one of UVM Health Network’s seven locations. Once the votes are certified, staff will begin the process of bargaining their first contract with the UVMHN administration.  

HOPE Tool Anxiety: What are we forgetting in the rush to prepare?Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN); by Melissa Calkins and Ashley Espy; 5/30/25 Panic is in the air.  With the HOPE assessment tool set to replace HIS, hospice teams are racing to prepare—scrubbing workflows, updating systems, and trying to wrap their heads around new clinical documentation demands.  But amid the rush, it's easy to overlook critical gaps: non-clinical staff being left out of planning, unclear timelines, poor communication, or the complete absence of a project lead.  HOPE isn't just about compliance—it's about execution. If we don't step back and ask what's missing, we risk rolling out a system that nobody is truly ready for.Steps to Operationalize the HOPE Tool:

SpiriTrust Lutheran says Home Care & Hospice operations will wind down across three counties, end service on July 18th Tri-State Alert, Chambersburg, PA; Press Release; 5/29/25 Earlier on Thursday [5/29], News Talk 1037FM was alerted to a WARN notice from SpiriTrust Lutheran as to a closure of a portion of their business. Throughout the process, that notice has been narrowed down to their Home Care & Hospice (HCH), with the company announcing their plans to discontinue operations out of their Franklin County office which serves clients in Franklin, Adams and York counties. The official closure will be July 18, 2025. ... SpiriTrust Lutheran says that roughly 65 home care and hospice employees will be affected by the shutting, but  some are expected to be reassigned or offered positions within the SpiriTrust Lutheran family of Life Plan Communities ... SpiriTrust Lutheran officials cited the organization’s ongoing challenges mirrored those confronting many similar organizations nationwide – significant increases in the cost of delivering care due to staffing shortages; rising benefit expenses; and the escalating prices for medical supplies and pharmacy. 

57 ways healthcare teams may evolve in 2 years Becker's Hospital Review; by Randi Haseman; 5/27/25 Question: How do you see your teams evolving in the next two years? What roles and/or skills will you focus on and what will fade? [Note: Responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity.] 

[United Kingdom] Hospice cuts staff and beds to secure its future BBC News, Yorkshire, UK; by Alex Moss; 5/23/25A hospice in Huddersfield has announced it has made 19 staff redundant and reduced the number of inpatient beds in order to save its future. The Kirkwood provides end-of-life care to about 2,000 patients each year but its chief executive Michael Crowther said it had faced a "perfect storm" of rising operational costs over the past few years. ... He said: "This has been the single hardest decision we have ever had to make." Another nine staff members have agreed to cut their hours and several others have decided to retire to help reduce the annual costs by £1.7m, the hospice added. ..."As you can imagine, this has been one of the most difficult periods in The Kirkwood's history. ..."Editor's note: Read more--directly from The Kirkwood--at "Securing Our Future Together: A New Way Forward." 

What it’s like to be…a hospice nurse Behavioral Scientist; by Dan Heath; 5/22/25 Comforting patients as they prepare to transition, navigating end-of-life regrets and frayed relationships, and providing support and advice for fearful families with Heather Meyerend, a retired hospice nurse. How does she know when the end is imminent? And what has the work taught her about the different ways we deal with death? In each episode of What It’s Like to Be…, bestselling author Dan Heath speaks with someone about what it’s like to walk in their (work) shoes.

[Taiwan] Spiritual well-being of terminally ill patients and next-of-kin caregivers in hospice care: A quantitative and qualitative approachPalliative and Supportive Care; Er-Jung Hsueh, Shu-Chun Tsai, Jun-Hung Lai, Chi-Yu Lu, Tsai-Wei Huang, Made Satya Nugraha Gautama; 4/25Terminal cancer patients often endure significant distress, impacting their quality of life. Spiritual well-being provides peace and meaning during this challenging period. This mixed-methods study included 30 terminally ill patients and 17 next-of-kin caregivers in hospice care. Spiritual well-being was assessed using the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy - Spiritual Well-Being Scale (FACIT-Sp-12), and symptom distress with the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale. Patients showed a significant improvement in spiritual well-being over time, ... [and] symptoms such as shortness of breath ... , drowsiness ... , and anxiety ... were negatively associated with spiritual well-being. Caregiver spiritual well-being positively influenced patient scores, especially with female caregivers ... Qualitative findings supported these results, revealing themes of spiritual adjustment, the impact of physical symptoms on spiritual well-being, and the crucial role of caregivers in providing emotional and spiritual support.

You have made the right choice Boston University School of Public Health; by Jillian McKoy; 5/18/25 Public health faces enormous challenges ahead, and as of May 17, the field officially gained 461 additional practitioners who will dedicate their professional lives to eliminating health inequities, fighting for justice, and advancing health for all. On Saturday afternoon, the School of Public Health community, families, and friends gathered at the Boston University Track & Tennis Center to celebrate the achievements of the newest generation of public health leaders at the 2025 SPH Convocation.  Dean Ad Interim Michael Stein opened the event by acknowledging that the class of 2025 is “entering a very different world than the one that existed when they began this program of studies. “They are graduating at a time of unprecedented challenge and opportunity, but I personally witnessed the strength, resilience, and purpose that defines this class.” 

Blessing hands, healing hearts: CHP honors nurses with special ceremony Hometown Stations - ABC, FOX, NBC, CBS, Delphos, OH (WLIO); by Todd Cummins; 5/15/25 A local nonprofit agency is recognizing the dedication of its staff with a special blessing ceremony. In honor of National Nurses Week, the staff of CHP Home Care and Hospice participated in a “blessing of the hands” — a centuries-old tradition meant to honor the vital role nurses play in healing and compassion.  The idea came from Colleen Quickery, the administrator of Hearth & Home in Van Wert. Chaplain Steve Haddix said he has performed about 240 blessings for staff across Paulding and Van Wert counties, as well as the Lima and Delphos offices. This marks the first year CHP has offered the ceremony, and it has had a powerful impact on many who received it.Editor's note: Reminder that CNA Week is June 12-18, 2025.

[June 12-18, 2025] Why celebrating CNA Week is a big deal ShiftMed; by Sarah Knight; 4/23/25 National Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Week, which kicks off on the Thursday of the second full week of June, is an annual tribute to the dedicated individuals who form the backbone of our healthcare system. So, as we approach CNA Week 2025, we must recognize their tireless efforts and unwavering commitment. ... CNA Week 2025 kicks off on Thursday, June 12 and runs through Wednesday, June 18. This year’s theme, “We Are the Champions,” celebrates CNAs as the unsung heroes of frontline care—professionals who ensure patients feel seen, heard, and truly cared for every single day. ...

Celebrating National Nurses Month with 62 years of nursing excellence: Meet Alma Flowers, hospice nurse Jacksonville News - JAXChamber, Jacksonville, FL; 4/30/25 This month, we are proud to spotlight Ms. Alma Flowers, a dedicated Registered Nurse at Community Hospice & Palliative Care, whose remarkable career spans an impressive 62 years. Alma's journey began at the Brewster Duval School of Nursing in Jacksonville in 1959, marking the start of a lifelong commitment to compassionate care and professional excellence. Alma's career has been a testament to the evolution of nursing, encompassing diverse roles from acute psychiatric units to the compassionate realm of hospice care. Throughout her journey, Alma has adapted to and contributed to advancements in healthcare practices and policies. ... As we celebrate National Nurses Month, we are reminded of nurses' profound impact on patient care, healthcare innovation, and community well-being. Alma Flowers' journey is a testament to the enduring spirit of nursing excellence at Community Hospice & Palliative Care.Editor's note: What a beautiful tribute to Alma, especially when describing her journey as a "testament to the evolution of nursing." Imagine changes ahead for today's student nurses: 62 years from now will be the year 2087. While we struggle to keep up with the current barrage of nursing workforce challenges, we can draw inspiration from Alma's life-long commitments, flexibility, and immeasurable contributions.