Literature Review

Engaging community health workers in Advance Care Planning  Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 10/24/25 Three organizations have developed an advance care planning training program in Illinois for community health workers that could potentially be adapted for other states. The seeds for the project were planted when the Illinois Public Health Association (IPHA) was awarded a grant by the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA). IPHA proceeded to engage the Illinois Hospice & Palliative Care Organization (IL-HPCO) and the HAP Foundation as subject matter experts to help develop the curriculum, as well as the education company Hospice Media, which filmed and designed the modules and workbooks.

Heritage Hospice spreads smiles with ‘Scattering Kindness’ project The Advocate-Messenger, Danville, KY; 10/17/25 Heritage Hospice, Inc. volunteers spread cheer across four counties recently through a community outreach effort called “Scattering Kindness,” which delivers handmade seasonal crafts and treats to local nursing homes and assisted living residents. The project, coordinated by Heritage Hospice Volunteer Services, began earlier this year with the idea of using creativity as a way to bring comfort and connection to patients in care facilities. The first celebration took place in February, when volunteers marked Valentine’s Day with heart-themed gifts — setting the tone for what would become an ongoing series of seasonal outreach events.

Chesapeake Supportive Care and Southern Maryland House Calls partner to expand access to in-home palliative care in Calvert County Southern Maryland News Net, Chesapeake, MD; 10/16/25 Chesapeake Supportive Care (CSC), the palliative care arm of Hospice of the Chesapeake, is excited to announce a new partnership with Southern Maryland House Calls (SMHC), a trusted leader in home-based geriatric care, to enhance access to palliative care services for residents of Calvert County. ... “Southern Maryland House Calls has been an exceptional partner in caring for our shared patients,” Becky Miller, President and CEO of Hospice of the Chesapeake, said. “Together, we’re building on that relationship to help more people access the kind of care that truly improves quality of life.”

[Scotland] The University of Glasgow has partnered with The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice to launch a bold new concept in sustainable fashion, in the heart of Glasgow University of Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom; by University News; 10/14/25 The University of Glasgow has partnered with The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice to launch a bold new concept in sustainable fashion, in the heart of Glasgow. With more than 200,000 tonnes of textile waste generated annually in the UK, Worthwhile Wardrobe is a collaboration between the hospice and Adam Smith Business School that offers a more conscious and sustainable way to shop. High-end items donated to the hospice will be curated into the ‘Worthwhile Wardrobe’ collection, available at the Hospice Shop on Queen Street, Glasgow. When a customer purchases an item from the collection, they have the option to return it after use and receive a discount on their next Worthwhile Wardrobe purchase. This ensures that garments stay in the circular chain rather than being discarded after minimal wear. Professor Deirdre Shaw, Professor of Consumer Ethics and Sustainability at the Adam Smith Business School, said: “Worthwhile Wardrobe is all about doing good - for the planet and for people. By extending the life of clothes, you help reduce waste while supporting vital hospice care."

LGBTQ+ history project: The need to preserve LGBTQ+ histories of rural America Watermark Out News; by Lauren Rowello; 10/14/25 ... Resources importantly emerged as people formally organized — bringing critical health care and hospice networks during the HIV/AIDS crisis, for instance, and launching LGBTQ+ voices into expansive advocacy careers. Across the US, some of the most impactful voices for change have come from rural regions. ... Editor's Note: For more on this interface with the birth of hospice care in the US, examine "The AIDS Epidemic’s Lasting Impact on Hospice Care for LGBTQ+ Populations," by Holly Vossel, Hospice News, 6/28/24. Pair these with today's post, "Inside the hospice that feels like home: How Omega House catches those who fall through the cracks." 

Rehab patients practice skills by building hospice care packages as Oak Park police and Lincoln Rx donate supplies. Feiga Bowick connects it all.  The Detroit Jewish News; by Rochel Burstyn; 10/9/25 ... Small steps can quickly snowball and make a big difference. Feiga Bowick, LMSW, CDP, the manager of Social Services and Community Engagement at PARC Home Care and Hospice of Southeast Michigan, ... [described] her recent hospice collaboration with Life Skills Village ... a rehabilitation center mainly for patients who have developmental delays and traumatic brain injuries. “I met with their occupational therapist ...: "How could these patients help others in a way that would be helpful to their own recovery?” Bowick said. “Many patients at Life Skills Village are working on fine motor skills and organizational skills, and we decided to try and get items together so they could create care packages for PARC hospice patients — while practicing their skills.” [Continue reading this inspirational story.]

Milton Village Open House builds community to support caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's, dementia, or other cognitive conditions GreatNews.Life; by Lauren Grasham; 10/6/25 To help healthcare providers better understand the numerous resources available, Milton Village hosted an open house on Tuesday, September 30. Milton Village is a collaborative effort between Milton Adult Day Services (a program of the Center for Hospice Care) and Alzheimer’s & Dementia Services of Northern Indiana (a REAL Services program) to provide comprehensive care and support to individuals living with Alzheimer’s or other cognitive conditions and their caregivers. “Inviting healthcare providers to see our facility and learn more about our programs is a great way to help them understand our unique model,” said Sarah Youngs, director of Milton Adult Day Services. “As providers tour the facility and hear how our guests engage in the programming, it’s so satisfying to see them recognize what this can mean for their patients and the patients’ caregivers.”

Stamford-area seniors can now enjoy free daytime care Evergreen, Stamford, CT; by Evergreen Daytime Senior Care and CT Hospice; 10/3/25Thanks to a groundbreaking Medicare initiative, seniors living with dementia now qualify for benefits that help cover the cost of adult daytime care. Designed to improve quality of life, the GUIDE (Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience) Model, offered by Connecticut Hospice's Stand By Me program, features a full range of valuable services, including care coordination, caregiver education, and an annual respite benefit for up to 25 free days at adult day centers like Evergreen Daytime Senior Care. ... "We're excited to partner with Evergreen to provide high-quality adult day services to families enrolled in the GUIDE Model program," explained Mark Olynciw, GUIDE Program Manager at Connecticut Hospice. "Having trusted partners like Evergreen ensures our families have excellent options for their respite benefits."

B2B website navigation: Structure that guides complex buyersTrajectory; updated 9/29/25 ...  42% of users will abandon your website as soon as they experience issues with functionality or usability. ... When someone can't find basic information quickly, they don't just leave your website. They question your company's competence. ... If [the site visitor] can't find the information category they need within 10-20 seconds, they often assume it doesn't exist and leave. That's not much time to prove you have answers to their complex questions. Your navigation must immediately signal that you understand their needs and have the depth of information they require.Editor's Note: Though written for B2B, these lessons matter for hospice websites (B2C). Patients, caregivers, healthcare decision makers, and family members of diverse generations need clarity in moments of stress. Review your website’s navigation through their intergenerational eyes—can they quickly find what hospice is and how to begin care? Clear pathways reflect the heart of hospice care: guidance and compassion.

6 Coloradans took to the Colorado River to grieve. What they found was a way to feel less alone. The Colorado Sun, Loma, CO; by Shannon Mullane; 9/28/25 Losing a loved one leaves people reeling. It forces the body to reconfigure deep bonds and impacts health. One Colorado River retreat aims to help people navigate. ... One by one, the members — all Colorado residents who ranged in age from their 40s to their 70s — shared their stories of death and grief. It was the start of a grief therapy retreat on the Colorado River, and the clients and crew members on the trip had lost parents, children and life partners. This moment was what they came for: a chance to open up space in their day-to-day lives to grieve. With other people who know what it’s like. Without having to act like they were holding it together. ... In their seven years of operation, Podmore and Pathfinders have offered about 20 grief retreats on the Colorado River for over 160 clients of all ages — including everyone from children to seniors — mostly from the Roaring Fork Valley in western Colorado. 

Hospice of the Chesapeake’s popular Golf Tournament raises more than $210K Hospice of the Chesapeake; Press Release; 9/29/25 Thanks to an impressive lineup of sponsors, the dedication of volunteers and the hundreds of golfers who came out to play, Hospice of the Chesapeake’s annual Golf Tournament was another great success. The event raised more than $210,000 in support of the nonprofit’s mission to care for families in Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles and Prince George’s counties. Held Sept. 25 at Queenstown Harbor Golf Course, the day was filled with good cheer, delicious food and generous hospitality ... This success would not have been possible without the businesses, organizations and individuals in the community who stepped up as sponsors, ... This event helps families experience moments of joy, dignity and connection at one of life’s hardest times.

A hospice intervention for caregivers: Improving home hospice management of end-of-life symptoms (I-HoME) pilot study Journal of the American Geriatrics Society; by Veerawat Phongtankuel, Sara J. Czaja, Taeyoung Park, Jerad Moxley, Ronald D. Adelman, Ritchell Dignam, Dulce M. Cruz-Oliver, Micah Denzel Toliver, M. C. Reid; 9/24/25 Background: While home-based hospice care seeks to reduce suffering at the end of life (EoL), patients continue to experience a high symptom burden. High symptom burden contributes to adverse outcomes, including patient suffering, burdensome care transitions, and caregiver burden. Yet, most caregivers lack formal education in patient symptom management despite providing up to 65 h of care per week. ... Conclusion: The I-HoME intervention was feasible to implement in the home hospice setting and acceptable to caregivers and hospice staff. Future efficacy trials are needed to determine whether this caregiver-focused intervention ... can measurably improve patient and caregiver outcomes in the home hospice setting.