Literature Review

Marine veteran’s hospice wedding celebrates love and compassion Greater Good; Guest Contributor; 8/18/25 When Marine Corps Veteran Ivson Shelley entered hospice care at the Lebanon VA Medical Center in Pennsylvania, he had one final wish: to marry his lifelong love, Wanda Rivera. Their story, shared by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, is a testament to enduring love, the compassion of caregivers, and the power of community. As a Vietnam War Veteran, Shelley’s journey is already marked by service and sacrifice. But it is this deeply personal moment—his wedding in hospice—that has touched hearts across the country and highlighted the dedication of VA staff in honoring Veterans' final wishes.

Over half of older employees plan to work 'indefinitely' and never retire Money Magazine; by Amd Hardy; 8/11/25 Many retirement-age Americans are planning to continue working — forever. Some 51% of employed Americans 65 or older say they expect to work “indefinitely,” according to a recent report from Asset Preservation, a financial advisory firm. Meanwhile, about 6 in 10 respondents say they plan to work “at least five more years” before retiring, putting the earliest age they would consider retiring at 70. ... Why older Americans are working so late in life seems to be a fairly even split between necessity and choice. About one half works to cover basic living expenses, like food, health care and housing, while the other half chooses to work to stay mentally and physically active. Guest Editor’s Note, Mark Cohen: As many hospices are still trying to rebuild the ranks of their volunteers to pre-pandemic levels, this report indicates the challenges may continue to grow. It’s worth noting that half of the Boomers who say they will continue working past normal retirement age would do so out of choice and not economic necessity. That opens the door to demonstrating the value and rewards of volunteer service. And for those volunteer managers younger than Boomers, it’s important to keep in mind that, more than any other generation, Boomers define themselves and measure their success in life in large part by their work.

Have a question about death? A new project may have answers. The New York Times; by John Otis; 8/5/25 A new Times series examines the topic of death and dying in 2025. Ms. Pisapia, an editor on The Times’s Projects and Initiatives team, pitched a series to her team titled “Death in the Modern Age.” It would focus on end-of-life issues and serve as a resource for readers who might be grappling with their own mortality or coping with the loss of someone close to them. ... The cornerstone of the project is an F.A.Q. titled “Let’s Talk About Death,” compiled from several hundred submissions from Times readers who either asked questions related to death and dying or shared personal experiences.

Would you go to a local Death Cafe? It's a chance to eat cake and talk end-of-life issues Times Telegram, Utica, NY; by Amy Neff Roth; 8/12/25 Key Points:

Emerald Coast Hospice hosts Annual Back-to-School Drive-Thru Jackson County Times; by Shelia Mader; 8/4/25 Emerald Coast Hospice Care once again stepped up to support the community it serves, hosting its third annual back-to-school drive-thru supply event this past Friday morning. Though not held consecutively each year, the effort continues to grow in impact, reaching nearly 140 children this year with essential school supplies and a few extra treats. ... Through their ongoing efforts, Emerald Coast Hospice Care continues to be a vital presence not only in healthcare but also in the daily lives of families across the region. Editor's Note: How inspiring. Due to the philanthropic nature of our hospice work, giving to a hospice organization is an easy norm. This out-of-the-box example of a hospice supporting the community--and for children instead of senior adults--encourages us all to see needs, creatively respond. Make a difference. Thanks Emerald Coast Hospice!

Hospice volunteers recognize local floral donors Uvalde Leader News, Uvalde, TX; 7/27/25 Uvalde Memorial Hospital hospice volunteers recently recognized the Flower Patch and Uvalde H-E-B for their weekly donations of fresh flowers for hospice patients. Hospice volunteers deliver the gifts, valued at approximately $1,950 annually from each business, to patients, brightening their homes and hospital rooms while providing emotional comfort during difficult times.

Closing the gap: Addressing social determinants of health and racial disparities in hospice care Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN); by Alyson Cutshall; 8/4/25... While Americans’ health trajectories are inevitable at the time they become eligible for hospice services, SDOH (Social Determinants of Health) still play a major role for the patients and families our field is privileged to serve. ... [To] fully impact health equity, we must be cognizant of other examples of SDOH, such as racism and implicit bias.  Unfortunately, our collective field has not been as successful in addressing access to hospice care across differing racial and ethnic groups. ... Certainly, there are some pockets of improved access.  One Teleios member organization, Ancora Compassionate Care, recognized the alarming disparities within its community and set about to create change. Ancora leaders recognized that the Black community in their service area typically placed high trust in their religious leaders. To better understand their needs and preferences regarding end-of-life care and services, Ancora embarked on a "listening tour" to gather feedback and insights from these religious leaders. Using the wisdom imparted, Ancora adapted their care delivery to be more inclusive to the Black community.  As such, the organization is making incremental improvements in lessening the racial divide in access to hospice care.

Hospice of Humboldt expands services Redwood News, Eureka, CA; 7/31/25 ... Through a fundraising effort called the Compassionate Growth Campaign, Hospice of Humboldt was able to raise $750,000, enough to recruit another team of caregivers and double the capacity of the hospice house. “It was a heavy lift for our organization. We recruited and trained an additional 19 staff members,” Keating said. Doctor Charles Knoll, the medical director on campus, walks families through the process. 

Annual Hospice Home & Garden Tour raises more than $29,000 for hospice services Granite VNA, Laconia, NH; Press Release; 7/29/25 Granite VNA’s annual Hospice Home & Garden Tour raised more than $29,000 to support the agency’s hospice services. This year’s tour featured five remarkable properties in Wolfeboro and Tuftonboro including a country Colonial, an antique farmhouse, a lovingly restored Cape Cod-style home, a classic Craftsman-style home, and the Clark House Museum. More than 450 attendees spent a warm July afternoon touring through Lakes Region homes and gardens, enjoying historical builds, elegant interiors, breathtaking gardens and Lakes Region vistas. 

Vet to Vet Cafe brings veterans together Tribune Chronicle, Warren, ; by Bob Coupland; 7/26/25 Veterans looking for a casual place to gather for fellowship, conversation, snacks and education can visit the newly formed Vet to Vet Cafe at the Warren SCOPE Senior Center. The new program, which started this summer, runs from 2 to 4 p.m. the second Thursday of each month at the senior center, ... John Bower, chaplain for Grace Hospice, said there are educational programs focused on veterans, including assistance with therapy access, acquiring necessary items such as hearing aids and utilizing services offered by the Veterans Association.  “We started in June as an opportunity to get veterans together for conversation or educational programs,” Bower said. ... Autumn Lopez, administrator for Grace Hospice, expressed enthusiasm for organizing the Vet to Vet Cafe with participating veterans. “The goal is to connect veterans with the services and programs that are out there to help them,” she said.

Be on the lookout for this new Medicare scam Las Vegas Review-Journal; by Toni King; 7/24/25 Dear Toni: A hospice agent recently came knocking on the doors in my neighborhood saying he represented Medicare. He was giving away hospice gifts and told me that I could receive these Medicare services at no charge for me and my husband. I told him that I did not give out personal information to anyone that I do not know. Now, I’m concerned that I could have made a mistake. Should I call and ask if this Medicare service is still available? —Deidre, Katy, Texas Dear Deidre: Medicare is not giving away anything free! This is a new scam that is targeting America’s Medicare population.  ...Editor's Note: Though we’ve addressed this topic repeatedly in recent months, ongoing awareness and community education remain essential. Please continue seeking opportunities to collaborate with media outlets in your service areas to help inform and protect vulnerable populations. Use the following articles—previously featured in our newsletter—as reference points:

'A long, beautiful time together': Photo exhibit 'Til Death Do Us Part'KUT 90.5, Austin, TX; by Michael Lee; 7/21/25“Well, we have to go back five years to the beginning of the pandemic,” says photographer Becky Wilkes, recalling how she came to create the exhibit Til Death Do Us Part. ... Wilkes and her siblings found themselves making frequent trips to Waco to care for their almost-90-year-old parents, and then the looming threat of a global pandemic made an already-difficult situation worse. ... She’d already started snapping some cell phone photos to share with her siblings, but seeing her parents together again, with what seemed like a renewed sense of love and togetherness, Wilkes decided to capture more and better photos. “And then I did have a conversation with them very quickly and I requested permission to photograph them,” she says. The resulting photography exhibit, Til Death Do Us Part, chronicles that last year of her parents’ lives.  ... The story ultimately ends in their death and our understanding of their death. But the story is really about their living. And, that's really… that's really beautiful.” Editor's Note: Click here for Becky Wilkes' website page with her descriptions and photos. 

Online reputation management crucial for hospices, home-based care providers Hospice News; by Joyce Famakinwa; 7/18/25 Hospice and home-based care providers cannot put online reputation management on the back burner. That’s a key takeaway from a recent report from Transcend Strategy Group. While all businesses should be concerned about maintaining a good online reputation, this is especially important for home-based hospice care providers due to their unique care delivery setting, according to Tony Kudner, chief strategy officer at Transcend. A hospice provider’s digital presence can give patients and their families greater insight when it comes to the quality and depth of their services, Kudner said. “When you are dealing with the intimacy of someone coming into your home, the personalization and how you feel about the agency that you open the door for matters more,” Kudner told Hospice News.