Literature Review

How a novel coaching intervention is building resilience and hope in adolescents and young adults with advanced cancer: A conversation with Abby R. Rosenberg, MD, MS, MA The ASCO Post; by Jo Cavaloo; 9/15/25 Each year, nearly 90,000 adolescents and young adults (AYAs; aged 15–39) are diagnosed with cancer, and approximately 9,300 die of the disease. ... AYAs are at increased risk for developing adverse long-term side effects from cancer and/or its treatment, including chronic conditions, secondary cancers, infertility, poor psychosocial health, and financial toxicity. ... The findings from a recent randomized phase III clinical trial investigating a novel resilience coaching intervention for AYA patients with advanced cancer are showing promising results in improving feelings of resilience and hope, as well as longer-term improvement in quality of life for these patients. ... In a wide-ranging interview with The ASCO Post, Dr. Rosenberg discussed the psychosocial impact of cancer on AYA cancer survivors, the results of the PRISM-AC study, and how AYA survivors are able to cope with having a terminal prognosis.

What executives can learn from how and why hospitals plan for a crisis Forbes; by Edward Segal; 9/2/25 

Assisted living fire with multiple fatalities a reminder to have evacuation plan, expert says McKnights Senior Living; by Kimberly Bonvissuto; 7/15/25 A five-alarm fire at a Massachusetts assisted living community in which nine people died and at least 30 were injured is a “realistic reminder” for senior living providers to make sure they have evacuation plans that are practiced and up to date, according to one expert. Stan Szpytek, president of Fire and Life Safety Inc. and a former deputy fire chief and fire marshal, told McKnight’s Senior Living that he was “horrified” to see the death toll, adding that multiple fatalities in buildings equipped with properly working fire suppression systems “has never occurred,” according to statistics from the National Fire Protection Association. ... “Smoke kills more people than fire does everyday in America,” Fall River Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon said during a press conference.

[United Kingdom] The Sussex Beacon to become UK’S first LGBTQ+ hospice with HIV specialism Sussex Health & Care; Press Release; 7/18/25 In a landmark development, The Sussex Beacon has announced it is to become the UK’s only dedicated hospice for LGBTQ+ people, uniquely combining inclusive care with expertise in specialist HIV care. The Sussex Beacon is refreshing its approach to palliative and end-of-life care services, expanding its offer to the wider LGBTQ+ community, regardless of HIV status. ... Decades of experience supporting people with HIV have given The Sussex Beacon deep insight into the ongoing impact of stigma and health inequalities. National research, including Hospice UK’s report “I Just Want To Be Me”, which examines access to care for trans & gender-diverse people and insights from LGBTQ+ organisations.

Twenty-fourth proclamation relating to wildfiresOffice of the Governor - State of Hawai'i, Hawaii.gov; by Reece Kilbey; 7/7/25By the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the State of Hawai’i, to provide relief for disaster damages, losses, and suffering, and to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the people, I, Josh Green, M.D, Governor of the State of Hawai’i, hereby proclaim as follows: ... [This lengthy document has 8 references to "hospice."]

Natural disasters, climate change, and the impact on hospice and palliative care teams and their patients American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM) Quarterly; by Larry Beresford; Summer 2025 Edition, 7/3/25 Several recent natural disasters, including highly destructive wildfires in Los Angeles and Maui and flooding in the North Carolina hills caused by rains from Hurricane Helene, have provided vivid reminders that disasters can happen anywhere, anytime. Hospice and palliative care providers, responsible for the care of patients with serious illnesses who live in their homes and in long-term care facilities, could be dealing with disruptions in power or phone service, other communication barriers, staffing shortages, impassible roads, even large-scale evacuations of their patients. ... Are agencies doing what they can to plan, prepare, and practice for managing disasters, which could also include human-caused crises or events like earthquakes that are not subject to weather or climate?

Experiences of hospice staff beyond the frontlines during COVID-19: A qualitative secondary analysis study Journal of Palliative Care and Social Practice; by Thanga Harini Sundaramoorthy, John I MacArtney, Abi Eccles; 4/12/25Three main themes were identified: (1) Blurred margins: Participants discussed facing difficulty separating work and home life and taking stresses and thoughts about work home. (2) Isolation, loneliness and social interactions ...  (3) Disruption to family and personal commitments: Some staff felt unable to see or support their parents, partners and children during the pandemic subsequently impacting their psychological and emotional well-being. Conclusion: Hospice staff compromised aspects of their personal life and family responsibilities during the pandemic to carry out their role at work. Workplaces and organisations should aim to support hospice staff more broadly to help with managing work-related pressures and balancing personal commitments in future emergency periods.Editor's note: Use this evidence-based research with your Emergency Disaster Preparedness Plans. Click here for the CMS.gov Emergency Preparedness Rule. Click here for Wisconsin's CMS Emergency Preparedness Rule Toolkit: Hospices.

Jackson County nurse braves floodwaters to reach isolated hospice patient Fox 56, Jackson County, KY; by Corey Elam; 4/4/25 When deadly flooding cut off access and phone service for a Jackson County hospice patient on Friday [4/4/25], a healthcare worker teamed up with emergency management teams to care for her patient. According to Hospice Care Plus, after finding out her patient was isolated and couldn’t be reached by phone, Nurse Makale Fox worked with Jackson County Emergency Management (JCEM) to find a way to get to her. “With the support of Jackson County Emergency Management, Makale ... was able to safely navigate through the flooded area and reach her patient, ensuring they received the comfort and care they deserved,” Hospice Care Plus wrote. The hospice care nonprofit thanked Makale for her unwavering commitment, as well as JCEM for making it possible for her to get to her patient. [Continue for photos and more ...]

Mannford nursing home quickly evacuated seniors as wildfire neared2 News Oklahoma, Mannford, OK; by Douglas Braff; 3/15/25Our crews have seen selflessness on full display in Mannford after March 14’s wildfires. ... As the wildfire was approaching nearby neighborhoods, staff at Cimarron Point Care Center in Mannford had to act quickly to get the 44 seniors living there out of harm’s way. “There are lots of things that need to be done, and it takes a lot of teamwork,” Frank Sullivan [the owner of CPCC] pointed out. ... Luckily, he said local authorities gave him an early heads up so the nursing home would have time. ... While most residents were transported by school bus, he noted, “Several had to be transported by ambulances. Some of 'em are on hospice ... and their condition is dire.”

Hospice caregiver spends days with family during Arkansas winter storm NBC News KARK - Maumelle, AR; by Neal Zeringue; 2/20/25 In icy conditions, many would not risk going up and down the steepest hills, but in-home care workers have. One in Maumelle even stayed away from home for days to be with a family on top of a dangerous hill. ... [Nelda] Michael’s husband has dementia and has had in-home care for 15 months. He needs constant attention. Because of the ice, nurses with Arkansas Hospice could not see him Wednesday, but on Thursday they were determined to give him care. However, Morgan Bartley and Michelle Kelley’s cars slid down the hill on one side of the road the Michaels live on top of. KARK 4 News found them stuck and helped them up from the other end of the road. “We were prepared to park our vehicles at the bottom and hike a mile up. Anything to get to him and to her,” Bartley said. [Click on the title's link to continue reading.]

Chesapeake Life Center offers healing for those experiencing loss after DCA tragedy Southern Maryland News Net, Chesapeake, MD; 2/10/25 The Chesapeake Life Center will offer “Healing Our Community: Navigating Grief in the Aftermath of the DCA Tragedy” to support those affected by the Jan. 29 tragedy at Reagan National Airport. Chesapeake Life Center’s trauma-informed grief counselors will lead this healing workshop from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22, at Hospice of the Chesapeake’s center at 2505 Davis Road, Waldorf, Maryland. The session offers a supportive space for community members to connect with others who share in their loss. Together, they can learn about grief and healthy coping strategies, participate in activities to express and process emotions and create a remembrance keepsake. Adults will meet separately from the children and teens to ensure age-appropriate conversations. 

In the wake of California fires, a hospice opens its arms to help a community heal Pasadena Now, Pasadena, CA; 2/8/25 A Los Angeles hospice organization announced Thursday it has extended its expertise in grief counseling to help residents process the collective trauma of the recent destructive wildfires. In the Arms of Grace Hospice, based in Los Feliz, will begin offering free weekly drop-in support groups for those affected by the Eaton and Palisades fires starting February 4. The open-format sessions at St. Gregory Church in Pasadena will be led by Dr. Ani Karayan, PhD, a clinical psychologist with more than two decades of experience in trauma-informed care. “The fires have caused significant disruption in the lives of many in the community,” said Kevin Tutunjian, president of In the Arms of Grace Hospice. “We wanted to create a safe and supportive space that validates the complex and nuanced emotions this community is going through.”

Garlock: How to prepare children for hardships and tragedies The Citizen; by Dr. Victor Garlock; 2/4/25 All of us must face hardships and tragedies. How well we are able to get through difficult times is a major factor affecting the overall quality of our lives. Sometimes these challenges arrive individually, as in a sudden serious illness, an accident, or the death of a loved one. Sometimes — as in last fall’s devastating floods in North Carolina or the recent wildfires in Southern California — entire communities must find a way to move forward. ... Resilience is the capacity to recover from challenges and adversity. Tragic optimism is the determination to remain optimistic and find meaning and purpose in the face of tragedy. [With children:]