Literature Review

Good Samaritan: Kimberly Romey brings warmth and peace to Benefis Peace Hospice NBC, Billings, MT; by Joee Taylor; 4/28/25 At Benefis Peace Hospice, Kimberly Romey is more than just a housekeeper. She is a source of comfort and care for patients and their families. Romey, who is responsible for maintaining cleanliness throughout the hospice, is known for her personal connections with patients. "My job is to take care of this place. I clean the whole building, bathrooms, patient rooms. I sit and I visit with patients. If there's something that's not health care wise that I can get them, I'll get them," Romey stated. Her dedication goes beyond her job description. "It's good to be here for people that, you know, this is their last stay, and to make them comfortable and to make them happy and to do things for them; it's very rewarding," she said. Latoya Reovan, the director of Benefis Peace Hospice, witnesses Romey's commitment daily.Editor's note: Thank you, Kimberly, Latoya, and NBC of Billings for this empowering story, with powerful teachable moments. Calling all executive leaders: Do you know the housekeepers in your hospice inpatient facilities? At a minimum, do you intentionally greet and thank them with warmth and authenticity? What hospice-oriented culture do you foster? Read more of Kimberly Romey's descriptions about her role, "Because to me, this isn't just my job. I love being here." 

Wings of remembrance: NorthBay butterfly release memorial focuses on healing hearts The Reporter, Fairfield, CA; by Robin Miller; 4/26/25Under a sky painted in soft gray, the air a cool 60-degres, families and friends gathered quietly Saturday morning for a moment both tender and powerful. They had come to NorthBay Health Hospice & Bereavement memorial butterfly release — an event born from love, loss, and the enduring process of healing. ... Before the release, Darren Paulson, a hospice chaplain with Kaiser Permanente, stepped forward to speak. ... “Each of you came here with someone,” he said, “a companion you didn’t ask for and didn’t want: grief.” He spoke of a culture uncomfortable with sorrow, one that urges us to hide our tears and move on too quickly. But grief, he reminded them, doesn’t follow a schedule.

Closing the hospice care coverage gap in Florida Naples Daily News, Naples, FL; by Nichole Goble; 4/20/25 For too many Floridians living with serious illness, accessing high-quality hospice care remains a challenge. Families are left struggling to find the support they need, and patients are forced to navigate complex medical decisions without adequate guidance. In Florida, this gap is especially pronounced, leaving thousands without the specialized care that could improve their quality of life. Caregiver Action Network (CAN) is dedicated to advocating for caregivers and their loved ones. ... Living in a rural area, bringing in hospice support to the home ensured that family could more easily be with him on a continuous basis. ... This year, CAN has engaged over 65,000 caregivers across the state of Florida to better understand their priorities when it comes to hospice care and the benefits of integrated health systems, with over 28,000 of those being in Hendry, Lee, Pinellas, Glades, and connected counties.

Death matters: Is there really no place like home when it comes to dying? Sequim Gazette, Sequim, WA; by Jeanette Stehr-Green Volunteer Hospice of Clallam County; 4/16/25 While not everyone has the chance to decide where they will die, most Americans say that given the choice, they would prefer to die at home. For most people, home is familiar and comfortable. It is more private than a room in a hospital or nursing facility, and more likely to allow intimate gatherings with family and friends. In the home, the dying person and their caregivers are more in control, deciding when to have visitors, eat, drink, or take medications. ... Planning, realistic expectations, and adequate support are key to keeping a dying person at home. Consider the following steps: ... Home might not be best ...

VNA Hospice NWI celebrates some of its most dedicated volunteers at Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast NWI.LIFE, Valparaiso, IN; by Philip Bolton; 4/7/25 On the morning of Saturday, April 5, VNA Hospice of Northwest Indiana hosted its annual Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast at Christ Lutheran Church in Valparaiso. Volunteers who assist with VNA’s many services, including hospice and palliative care, the Medical Guardian help button program, the We Honor Veterans program, the Phoenix Center for Grief, and VNA Meals on Wheels of Porter County, were recognized. ... Matthew Naillieux, a VNA Hospice NWI volunteer, has proudly worked with the organization for 20 years. “Everything VNA Hospice NWI does is good for the community,” Naillieux said. ... "Usually, we’re volunteering at different locations at different times, and we aren’t able to get together like this very often." ... During the award presentation segment of the event, volunteers were recognized for milestone achievements. These included awards for achievements like 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 years of service ... [Continue reading ...]Editor's note: Reminder that April is National Volunteer Month; April 20-26, 2025 is National Volunteer Week.

Our newsletter's "Observances" calendar Hospice & Palliative Care Today; by Joy Berger; 4/9/25 We invite you to use our newsletter's "Observances" calendar, with information for numerous annual observances, like National Volunteer Month (April) and Week (April 20-26), National Nurses Month (May) and Week (May 6-12), National Nursing Assistants Week (June 12-18), and much more. To find at anytime, go to our webpage's "Resources" tab; click on "Observances." Do you have edits to suggest? Freely email me.

Most people pursue a toxic type of purpose in life—but if you do this instead, ‘there is no way to fail’ CNBC Make It; by Dr. Joran Grumet, contributor/hospice medical director; 4/4/25 It took me many years and quite a bit of emotional heartache to realize a life-changing fact: When it comes to purpose, bigger is not better. Most of our anxiety stems from what I call “big P” Purpose, which is overly focused on the outcome or destination. ... [Dr. Grumet describes what he calls "big P" Purpose vs. "little P" Purpose.] I’ve found that most people end up pursuing the former, toxic type of purpose. It’s the easiest kind to choose, because it means meeting society’s expectations and following in the footsteps of the herd. The harder decision by far is to do the internal work to discover what really lights you up — and find a way to pursue it in the world. This all takes effort, but it’s worth it. ... Little P purpose embraces an abundance mentality. There is room for everyone — I mean everyone — to pursue that which brings them inner joy and happiness. This pursuit will never rely on whether someone else is succeeding or failing. ... [Continue reading ...]

The evolution of work: How Gen Z is reshaping leadership and workplace culture Forbes; by First Place For Youth - Jayme Catalano; 4/2/25 As Generation Z enters the workforce in growing numbers, they are bringing fresh perspectives and expectations that are reshaping the traditional workplace. This digital-native generation, born between 1997 and 2012, is driving significant changes in management styles, work environments, and organizational values. Their influence is prompting companies to adapt, evolve and innovate, creating a new paradigm for the future of work.

Terri Schiavo's death 20 years ago sparked lingering debate about death and politics USA Today; by Marc Ramirez; 3/31/25 Monday [March 31st marked] 20 years since the death of Terri Schiavo, whose landmark case became the symbol of the "right to die" movement, generated political controversy and sparked public outcry as her husband and family members took their fight over her fate to the courts. Schiavo died on March 31, 2005, after a dragged-out legal and political battle ... The case thrust discussions about end-of-life care into the public consciousness, a topic that continues to provoke heightened emotions among Americans. “It became the most reviewed, debated end-of-life case in history,” said Arthur Caplan, who heads the division of medical ethics at New York University’s Grossman School of Medicine. [Continue reading ...]

Hospices must ‘evolve’ to better support next generation of caregivers Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 3/31/25 Individuals in the millennial and generation Z (Gen Z) age groups represent a swelling proportion of today’s family caregivers. They face unique challenges when providing support for hospice patients compared to others, recent research has found. ... Understanding the competing, complex priorities of these generations is pivotal for hospices’ ability to deliver quality care, according to Nicole McCann-Davis, senior client advisor and research director at Transcend Strategy Group. [Continue reading ...]

Saying goodbye to Dad MidlandsLife; by Jeff Becraft; 3/27/25 I know my last article talked about my Dad moving on to Higher Ground, but while it is still fresh on my mind, I’m going to delve into the process of saying goodbye.  Perhaps it will resonate with someone who has already been down this path… or maybe someone who will be going down this path. I know that many people have been on a longer road than what I am going to describe. I won’t try to cover everything and there are some very significant things that are left out because of space; I will be simply giving my perspective on the overall experience of the last days. [Continue reading ...]Editor's note: If you have to dive into only one article today, this is the one. If you have experienced the vigil of a loved one's final days, this likely gives voice to your journey: "Each day we thought was going to be Dad’s last. It was certainly a time of changing emotions." If you have not experienced this, read to learn common rhythms and themes, dissonances harmonies, and final release into death. Thank you Jeff Becraft for your meaningful reflection.

Trellis Supportive Care to host day of support for caregiversThe Chronicle, Winston-Salem, NC; by WS Chronicle; 3/22/25 Trellis Supportive Care is hosting a day of support for caregivers, free of charge and open to the public.  The program, “Caring for You: A Day of Support for Family Caregivers,” is set for Friday, April 4, from 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at the Intergenerational Center for Arts and Wellness in Winston-Salem. This full-day program is both a retreat and educational day for caregivers. “We understand that caregivers are often unable to attend events such as this, therefore, we are removing that barrier,” shared Jacob Gordon, director of community programming with Trellis Supportive Care. For those responsible for caring for an adult family member, Trellis is arranging respite care in coordination with local partner agencies so that caregivers can attend.   ... “We hope this provides an opportunity for people to regroup, rejuvenate, and leave with valuable tips for moving forward as a caregiver,” shared Gordon.   

Mt. Hood Hospice to present third Grief Made Visible art exhibit in April Sandy Post, West Linn, OR; by Brit Allen; 3/23/25 Aside from in-home hospice services, Mt. Hood Hospice offers numerous other resources to the community, regardless of income or if they have any other ties to the organization. Among them are grief support groups that utilize art as a tool of healing. As a result of these groups, 16 artists will have the art that they created in these groups on display at AntFarm Café & Bakery, 39140 Proctor Blvd., throughout the month of April, from April 3-30, while the cafe is open. ... “This art show creates a space that normalizes talking about mental health and grief,” said Mt. Hood Hospice Bereavement Services Director Laura Lirette. “In a culture where grief is often experienced alone and behind closed doors, our hope is that this exhibit will invite conversations about grief and supporting grievers.”