Literature Review

EverHeart Hospice to be featured on all access with Andy Garcia Mercer County Outlook, Greenville, OH; 10/27/25 EverHeart Hospice is set to be featured in an upcoming national documentary distributed to public television on “All Access with Andy Garcia.” The segment will provide vital education on the topics of hospice and palliative care, highlighting the compassionate, specialized support EverHeart Hospice provides to its patients and families. ... The feature will be distributed nationally, reaching major markets in all fifty states, with an anticipated availability in early 2026 for circulation. The national emphasis on distribution will help demystify end-of-life care and promote a greater understanding of the benefits of both hospice and palliative services to viewing audiences.

Home-based care companies improve outcomes by training family caregivers Home Health Care News; by Joyce Famakinwa; 10/25/25 Home-based care companies are increasingly recognizing the importance of training family caregivers to improve patient outcomes. By engaging family caregivers through education and mobilization, these companies can keep patients out of hospitals longer and maintain them in their homes, contributing to their overall happiness and health. 

Alzheimer’s Association, Maine Chapter sees largest turnout for annual fundraiser walk WABI-5, Bangor, ME; by Grace Bradley; 10/11/25 For more than two decades, folks have hit the streets of Bangor to help raise money and awareness for Alzheimer’s. On Saturday, Maine’s chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association says they saw the largest crowd yet of about 400 people for their largest annual fundraiser. “We provide free care and support for families and community members walking through this disease, whether it’s Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. So what we do enables us to do everything for free. But we also take a portion of that money and put it towards research,” explains Kris Baker, Development Manager of Alzheimer’s Association Maine. Editor's Note: Do you support and partner with the Alzheimer's Association?

Nevada hospice provider launches first-of-its-kind palliative care in Las Vegas education program ABNewswire; by Summerlin Hospice and Palliative Care; 9/29/25 Summerlin Hospice and Palliative Care has announced the launch of an innovative educational initiative designed to increase awareness and understanding of specialized comfort care services throughout Nevada. ... Summerlin Hospice and Palliative Care has developed partnerships with local medical centers, healthcare providers, and community organizations to maximize the program’s reach and effectiveness. These collaborations ensure that educational resources reach diverse populations throughout the Las Vegas Valley and surrounding Nevada communities.

Students lift patients' spirits with Words of Warmth The Daily Toreador, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX; by Christian Jeter; 9/19/25 As pens hit paper with words of love and encouragement, students gathered to write letters to patients currently in hospice care at the Student Activities Board’s Words of Warmth event on Sept. 19. Hosted on the first floor of the Student Union Building, the event invited students to write a letter or decorate gift bags with uplifting words as a part of the SAB’s Service Week, a period of time in which the organization holds community service-focused volunteer events. ... Phrases such as “Peace and love” and “Wishing you comfort” were some of the many suggestions SAB members recommended students write on their letters. Students could also write more in-depth text or personal anecdotes.

Community turns out for Banner's Senior ExposCleveland Daily Banner, Cleveland, TN; by Will Bublitz; 9/19/25 Hundreds of seniors enjoyed the food, door prizes, free samples and information to improve their lives during the Living 55Plus Senior Expo, held Thursday in Wacker Commons at the PIE Innovation Center in Cleveland. This was the sixth year for this popular and free event sponsored by the Cleveland Daily Banner. It was co-sponsored by Bradley Medical Center, Cleveland Utilities, Garden Plaza of Cleveland, Ahlberg Audiology, Companion Funeral Homes and Life Care Center of Cleveland. "The 2025 55Plus Senior Expo was the best expo thus far, with the most vendors and attendees yet," said Joyce Taylor, publisher of the Cleveland Daily Banner. [Vendors included, but were not limited to Adoration Hospice, Hearth Hospice,  and Hospice of Chattanooga.]

A natural segue: Retired hospice physician Ralph Caldroney ’72 turns a planned gift into immediate impact with new lecture sponsorship W&L - The Columns, Washington & Lee University, Lexington, VA; by Barbara Elliott; 9/15/25 [Dr. Ralph Caldrony, retired medical director for Hospice of Rockbridge County,] attended several Mudd Center lectures during this past year’s series: “How We Live and Die: Stories, Values and Communities.” ... Impressed by the range and quality of the Mudd Center presentations [at Washington & Lee University], Caldroney previously committed a $250,000 planned gift to the center for his 50th reunion gift in 2022. However, after such a positive experience attending this year’s lecture series, he decided to fast-track his support. For each of the next five years, his $5,000 per-year gift will sponsor an annual lecture. “It was a natural segue,” Caldroney says. “This way, I can enjoy some of the fruits of my labor while I am still alive.”

Raising the standard of Arizona’s dementia care Lovin' Life; by Lin Sue Flood; 9/7/25 Arizona is setting a bold new standard to better support families impacted by dementia. A groundbreaking state mandate requires all memory care facilities to provide up to 12 hours of specialized dementia training to their staff, plus four hours of continuing education each year. This extensive training combines online video modules with hands-on, in-person skills sessions. Hospice of the Valley’s experienced Dementia Team is leading the way as one of the agencies the Arizona Department of Health Services has approved to deliver this comprehensive training. The nonprofit organization is unique in offering it as a free community service.

Why palliative care is more than just end-of-life support MedPageToday's KevinMD.com; by Dr. Vishal Parackal; 9/1/25 ... Palliative care as a system requires strong interpersonal and cross-specialty communication for smooth functioning, as patients may require expert opinions from different fields to optimize their treatment plan. Patient education for systemic follow-ups and establishing a baseline of knowledge regarding their diagnosis and potential danger signs helps create a better environment for holistic care. While we focus on the physical aspects of care and diagnosis, we often fail to realize the psychological and mental impact that such conditions can have on the patient and their family. ... The opportunity to make a meaningful difference in patients’ lives by easing their suffering and enhancing their quality of life is profoundly fulfilling. ... Editor's Note: Excellent descriptions of palliative care.

Make training more effective with microlearning and AI Training Industry; by David Resendes; 8/20/25 When people think of microlearning, it’s often viewed as a tool for reinforcement of longer form training, something used after the main event to help employees retain what they’ve learned. And while microlearning is incredibly effective in that role, it’s time to expand that view. ... More organizations are using microlearning as the primary delivery mechanism for critical learning content. When designed intentionally, it’s one of the most engaging, effective ways to introduce concepts, drive early understanding and encourage immediate application.

Simulation, flipped classroom, and reflective dialogue in socioemotional training in end-of-life care: Perspectives of nursing students Journal of Hospice & Palliative Nursing (HPNA); by María Lanza, Rebeca Abajas, Mar Aparicio Aparicio, Ángeles Melero, Carmen Ortego; 8/1/25The implementation of active methodologies in end-of-life education can play a crucial role in stimulating participatory learning and facilitating the acquisition of socioemotional competencies. ... From the students’ perspective, simulation, reflective dialogue, and flipped classroom enhance the conceptual learning process and facilitate students’ socioemotional preparation to face this complex and challenging professional situation. Editor's Note: Today’s tech-savvy nursing students show that simulation, reflective dialogue, and flipped classrooms build the person-centered qualities hospice and palliative care need. Use these methods—inside and outside the classroom—to improve patient/family care, teamwork, and self-care. For more information: 

Monastery dig uncovers details about 8th century end-of-life care Care Home Professional; by Stephen Hall; 8/4/25 Archaeologists have picked up their trowels to learn more about how people lived, died and were cared for at the site of an 8th-9th century monastery in Cookham. The remains of the monastery were first discovered in 2021 in a test excavation by staff from the University of Reading’s Archaeology Department and volunteers from local archaeological societies. ... Thomas Hayes, director of the university’s field school, told the BBC this year they had found evidence of illness and treatment in human remains, including bedsores, suggesting palliative care may have taken place.

[United Kingdom] Hospice staff learn life-saving skillsehospice, UK Edition, Derbyshire, UK; 7/26/25 Treetops Hospice is upskilling all its staff, from nurses to fundraisers, with essential life-saving skills, including CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and defibrillator use, through Basic Life Saving (BLS) training. The hospice, based in Risley, Derbyshire, welcomes hundreds of people through its doors every year. The rollout of the vital BLS training programme reflects the simple truth that anyone, anywhere, can face a medical emergency. ... Phil Shreeve, Director of Clinical Services, explained, “Just because we provide end-of-life care doesn’t mean we ignore medical emergencies.  We have a lot of people on site, including patients, families and carers, staff and volunteers, and even the general public who can walk around our grounds.