Literature Review

Kamloops Hospice's Messages of Love Campaign runs all month long Castanet - Kamloops.net, Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada; by Eagle Anderson, 2/9/25 Kamloops residents are being invited to stop by a cafe, grab a cup of coffee and share some positive words as part of Kamloops Hospice’s Messages of Love Campaign, which is running all month. Four local eateries — 5 Bean Brew Bar (Sahali), The Vic, Cafe Motivo, Yew Street — and the Kamloops Hospice will each provide sticky notes, pens and a board for posting. “It’s essentially an awareness campaign,” Kamloops Hospice’s Fund Development Lead Sarah Irvine said. ... Participants are encouraged to write a positive message on each note. They can then keep the note, stick it to a board or give it away. Messages can be written to friends, family, community groups, lost loved ones and even to themselves.

'We’re seeing these struggles.' Rainbow works to support end-of-life caregivers Daily Jefferson County Union, Jefferson, WI; by Hannah Brock; 2/10/25 Rainbow Community Care is facing a growing need in Dodge and Jefferson counties: the overwhelming burden placed on caregivers, both family members and healthcare workers, as they navigate end-of-life care. “There’s this need in the community to support caregivers, where whoever they are,” said Carol Brown, president and CEO of Rainbow Community Care. The backbone of the healthcare system isn’t just hospitals or insurance plans—it’s the unpaid, often invisible labor of family caregivers. ... The newest initiative, the respite care program, is being designed to give caregivers much-needed breaks. Many family caregivers go months—or even years—without a full night’s rest, a doctor’s visit for themselves, or even an afternoon off, according to Rainbow Community Care. To help address this, Rainbow Community Care secured the necessary funding for the program. 

Learning from death: New memoir If We Never Meet Again imparts lessons from working with hospice patientsThe MarCom Journal, Charleston, SC; by Globe Newswire; 2/6/25While the topic of death is generally considered taboo, English teacher turned hospice administrator Matthew Cornett believes there is much to be learned from death. After becoming an empty nester, Cornett left the classroom behind and began a second career in hospice care. And the more time he spent with people as they approached the end of their life, the more he realized that their deaths had meaning. And what emerged from those final moments was something profound. Hoping to make others feel more comfortable when it comes to preparing for and talking about death, he presents a memoir of his journey into the world of hospice care. In If We Never Meet Again, Cornett chronicles his experiences providing compassion and support to hospice patients while adjusting to his new role. Finding inspiration in his patient’s “death stories,” he found himself on an unexpected path of self-discovery. Cornett’s personal reflections on these intimate and emotional interactions encourage readers to reconsider how they view death and dying.

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.”

Arkansas Hospice names Brian Bell new President and CEO Arkansas Money & Politics (AMP); by AMP Staff; 2/7/25 Arkansas Hospice announced Thursday that Dr. Brian W. Bell, M.D., FAAHPM, will take over as president and CEO for Arkansas Hospice’s Family of Care on March 10.  He joined the company in 2016 and is currently the chief medical officer. He will replace Judith Wooten, who announced her retirement last year. Wooten will stay on through April to ensure a smooth transition. Bell has worked in hospice care since 2006 and is board-certified in family medicine and hospice and palliative medicine. He is one of only people in the state with the designation fellow of the Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. 

4 phrases successful leaders intentionally use to motivate their teams Forbes; by Dr. Cheryl Robinson; 2/1/25 ... Great leaders understand that their words can shape company culture, influence behavior and impact employee engagement; it’s about delivering messages with clarity and intent. The tone, phrasing and timing of communication can energize a team or deflate morale. A well-placed word of encouragement can spark motivation, while careless criticism can hinder progress. Whether providing constructive feedback or navigating tough conversations, leaders who speak with intention create a culture where employees feel valued and driven to contribute their best. ... 4 Phrases Successful Leaders Use:

Carlos T. Graveran to Lead Bridginglife as Assistant Vice President of Hospice and Palliative Care ServicesNewswise press release; by LifeBridge Health; 2/3/25[Maryland] BridgingLife, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing high-quality palliative and hospice services, today announced that Carlos T. Graveran will join the organization as assistant vice president of Hospice and Palliative Care Services, effective February 10. Previously known as Carroll Hospice, BridgingLife is a nationally recognized hospice program that has been providing end-of-life and palliative care services for nearly 40 years.

Regional Hospice celebrates 10 years of compassionate care at inpatient Center For Comfort Care & HealingThe Newtown Bee; 2/2/25[Connecticut] Regional Hospice marked a momentous milestone in January with the tenth anniversary of its Center for Comfort Care & Healing, a one-of-a-kind facility that has redefined end-of-life care in Connecticut... ToniAnn Marchione, LRT (M), BS, president and CEO of Regional Hospice, notes Regional Hospice has been providing care in the community for more than 40 years. “When we opened our doors to the Center a decade ago, our former president & CEO, Cynthia Emiry Roy, MS, LCSW, CHA, who was the visionary, along with our board members and others, created more than just a hospice facility — the idea was to build a true home where patients and their loved ones could find comfort, dignity, and peace,” Marchione said.

Immigration policies’ ‘chilling effect’ on the hospice workforce Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 2/5/24 The White House recently issued several executive orders that have ramped up the nation’s immigration enforcement policies. The health care sector may be facing a host of staffing and operational challenges as the regulatory moves unfold, according to Hannah Liu, manager of immigration advocacy at Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC). A tightening of immigration policies has come with “concern, panic and confusion” across diverse communities nationwide, Liu stated. “As the effects of these hostile immigration policies play out, patients may also face the life-or-death situations that arise from interruptions in care caused by staffing shortages,” Liu told Hospice News in an email. “Immigrants in the health care industry may fear the possibility of arrest and detention, including in workplaces like hospitals, palliative care facilities and clinics.” 

Francis formally appointed Community Hospice CEO Oakdale Leader, Oakdale, CA; Press Release; 2/5/25 Community Hospice and Health Services (CHHS) Board of Directors recently announced the appointment of Mathew Francis as President/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) effective Feb. 1, 2025. Francis assumed the Interim CEO role in October 2024. As President/CEO, Francis is responsible for the overall and day to day operations of all aspects of Community Hospice and Health Services, and its affiliate organizations, Community Hospice and Health Services Foundation, and CHI Management, Inc. ... Community Hospice and Health Services (CHHS) is a nonprofit, community-based agency, serving the greater Central Valley since 1979.

What leaders can learn from the California wildfires Modern Healthcare; by Robert Stone, CEO of City of Hope, Duarte, CA; 1/31/25 When wildfires threatened City of Hope comprehensive cancer center near Los Angeles in recent weeks, hundreds of our leaders and staff – many with homes in the path of the blaze – rushed to campus at 2:30 in the morning to prepare to evacuate more than 200 hospitalized cancer patients. City of Hope, one of the largest research and treatment organizations in the U.S., cares for people with highly complex medical conditions. On the night the wildfires threatened our campus, our patients included people receiving CAR-T immunotherapy, novel clinical trials, and undergoing bone marrow transplants. ... Our healthcare partners in the region were also impacted by wildfires in varying ways. Every health system we spoke with prioritized the safety of not only their own patients and staff but ours as well.  ... What stands out from this middle-of-the-night experience and the days that followed are important lessons that can only emerge from an organization where people are deeply connected to the mission.

Owners of McHenry Village restaurant have partnered with nonprofit [hospice] to open Modesto cafe The Modesto Bee, Modesto, CA; by Dominique Williams; 2/3/25 ... Cafe Verona opened to the public Monday inside Community Hospice & Health Services, a Modesto nonprofit. It is operated by executive chef Jaime Alderete and his wife, Edwarda, owners of Verona Cucina Italiana in McHenry Village and Verona18 in Copperopolis. ... The cafe is open for breakfast and lunch. Its business hours are weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.