Literature Review

Commonwealth Hospice cuts ribbon on new office Times Leader, forty Fort, WY; by Sam Zavada; 6/10/25 Commonwealth Hospice — formerly based in Berwick — now has a presence in the Wyoming Valley. They held a ribbon-cutting and open house at their new office at the 900 Rutter Avenue building on Tuesday afternoon. The new location officially opened about two weeks ago. Residents of Luzerne County will now have access to the services provided by Commonwealth Hospice, including nursing assistance, social work and bereavement and spiritual care. Commonwealth also has a team of volunteers who can go to patients rather than vice versa.

Local community unites for 'Together in a Day' to transform homes and lives for Georgia families Media Industry Observer, EINPresswire.com, Athens, GA; Press Release; 6/11/25 In a powerful display of community solidarity, Family Hospice and the Alzheimer's Association, Georgia Chapter, are joining forces to host a "Together in a Day" community service day on June 20, 2025. This one-day volunteer effort will provide vital repairs and safety modifications to pre-selected homes, changing the lives of local Athens, Georgia, families affected by Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. The initiative aims to enable individuals living with dementia to remain safe and comfortable in their homes for as long as possible. By tackling essential home improvements, such as installing ramps and adding crucial safety features, this "Together in a Day" directly addresses both the physical and emotional needs of these families. ... For more information on available resources and upcoming initiatives, visit the Family Hospice website or the Alzheimer’s Association Georgia Chapter website.Editor's note: Bravo and thank you, Family Hospice and the Alzheimer's Association!

The healthcare customer of the future, with Marcus R. EscobedoTeleios Collaborative Network (TCN); video/podcast by Chris Comeaux with Marcus R. Escobedo; 6/11/25 In this episode of TCNtalks, Marcus Escobedo, Vice President of Communications at the John A. Hartford Foundation, joins Chris Comeaux to discuss the future of healthcare for aging populations. Marcus shares how the Foundation’s Age-Friendly Health Systems initiative transforms care for older adults through the evidence-based 4Ms framework: focusing on what matters to older adults, medication management, cognitive health, and mobility. The conversation dives into the impact of ageism in healthcare and the importance of reshaping language and practices to serve older adults better. 

Revolutionizing health in South Florida: The benefits of IV therapy and inclusive hospice care South Florida Reporter; by southfloridareporter.com; 6/8/25 ... South Florida is known for its multicultural population, making the expansion of hospice care to diverse groups particularly significant. Traditionally, certain cultural or community groups may have had hesitations or lacked access to hospice care due to language barriers, cultural misunderstandings, or lack of awareness. Increasingly, hospice organizations are focusing on outreach and education within these communities, breaking down barriers and encouraging patients and families to consider hospice as a valuable option for quality end-of-life care. 

Hospice Brazos Valley launches ‘Christmas in July’ wreath campaign Victoria Advocate, Victoria, TX; by Nick Irene; 6/9/25 Hospice Brazos Valley is bringing holiday cheer a little early this year with its first-ever “Christmas in July” fundraising campaign, aimed at raising money to support its nonprofit mission of providing free end-of-life care. ...  “We gave away over $250,000 in free care last year,” [Coleen Broussard, Hospice Brazos Valley’s director of donor relations and special events] said. “Whether it’s the last hours, days or months, we make sure families are cared for without ever worrying about a bill. That’s only possible because of fundraising efforts like this.” The “Christmas in July” campaign offers three types of Christmas wreaths for preorder. Prices vary depending on the item and the purchase date, with early orders in July costing less than those made in October. All wreaths can be picked up at either the Brenham or La Grange office closer to the holiday season.

Spotlight on medicine: Jack Black makes a splash at Sunday by the Sea Easy Reader & Peninsula; by Tony La Bruno; 6/6/25 On April 27, the stunning backdrop of Lunada Bay set the stage for the 34th annual Sunday by the Sea fundraiser, in support of the Providence TrinityCare Hospice Foundation. The day was filled with entertainment, including a Tiger Squadron flyover and a special appearance by long-time supporter Jack Black. More than 600 enthusiastic attendees gathered to savor offerings from 38 culinary participants stretching from El Segundo to San Pedro, as well as wineries and breweries from Paso Robles to Torrance. Together, they raised nearly $300,000 to benefit vital adult and pediatric hospice and palliative care programs, ensuring compassionate support for every patient and family served.

A special tribute given to a special nurse Scottsdale Progress, Scottsdale, AZ; by Lin Sue Flood; 6/7/25 One of the original founders of Hospice of the Valley back in 1977 recently received an extraordinary visit from the Arizona Nurse Honor Guard, an organization that honors fellow nurses who have dedicated their lives to the profession. “I am just flattered and overwhelmed,” said Mary Audrey Mellor, who turns 92 in July. “Hospice of the Valley has always had my heart because it’s so compassionate and caring and loving.” Friends and family gathered together at her home at Vi at Silverstone in Scottsdale as she received a Florence Nightingale coin symbolizing comfort, gentleness, courage and an unwavering devotion to duty. Nurse Honor Guard volunteer Cindy Loucel then presented her with a second gift. “We have a quilt to cover you with our love and gratitude and to recognize all those patients you covered in kindness,” she said. “May it bring you comfort, as you gave so many others comfort.”

Willamette Vital Health completes affiliation with Chapters Health System Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 6/6/25 Oregon-based Willamette Vital Health has completed its affiliation with Chapter Health System. Willamette now becomes part of Chapters Health West, an extension of Florida-based Chapters’ footprint into Nevada, California and Oregon. Chapters Health West came into being with the affiliation of four hospices with Chapters, including Nathan Adelson, California-based Hospice of Santa Cruz County and Hospice East Bay and Willamette. The organization is the second to complete an affiliation with Chapters. Las Vegas-headquartered Nathan Adelson was the first to complete in April. 

Alive welcomes local healthcare leader as new CEO Alive Hospice; Press Release; 6/4/25 Alive, Middle Tennessee’s only nonprofit provider of hospice, palliative care and end-of-life services, today announced Amir Hamad as the organization’s new president and chief executive officer. He will begin his new role on June 30. A healthcare executive with more than 20 years of experience, Hamad comes to Alive from Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital West where he served as Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer overseeing over 1,800 employees and managing operations for one of the state’s top acute care hospitals. Hamad’s hiring comes as the beloved organization is gearing up to celebrate its 50th Anniversary in November. Alive was the first hospice established in America’s heartland and the third in the nation in 1975. 

The Alliance champions community-based solutions at Senate palliative care briefing National Alliance for Care at Home, Alexandria, VA and Washington, DC; Press Release; 6/4/25 The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) played a lead role in [Wednesday's] Senate Comprehensive Care Caucus briefing, which focused on expanding access to palliative care services for patients with serious illness. The bipartisan event, hosted by Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV), John Barrasso (R-WY), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Deb Fischer (R-NE), underscored the need for innovative models that deliver person-centered care in the home and community. Hillary Loeffler, Vice President of Policy & Regulatory Affairs for the Alliance, moderated the panel discussion, guiding thoughtful conversation on access, workforce, and innovation in care delivery. 

MorseLife: Pay to nonprofit's top executives draws community, donor scrutinyThe Palm Beach Post; by Alexandra Clough; 6/3/25The controversy began in January when an anonymous letter was sent to the leadership board at the respected health care facility. To this date, it is not known — at least publicly — who authored the two-page salvo that first raised alarms about executive pay, tax law compliance and potential for a whistleblower complaint. Specifically, the letter flagged the payment of top MorseLife executives' compensation to a for-profit company called Amplifii Management LLC. Amplifii is owned by MorseLife Chief Executive Keith Myers and Chief Financial Officer Randy Wolan, according to federal and state public records.

Missoula community celebrates opening of Hope Hospice Center NBC-KULR, NonStop Local Billings, MT / Missoula, MT; by Taylor Richardson; 6/3/25 The Hope Hospice Center celebrated its opening with a ceremony in Missoula, marking a significant milestone for elder care in Western Montana. The new facility will provide critical end-of-life care for people across the region. The state-of-the-art center spans 15,200 square feet and offers 24-hour end-of-life services. It includes 12 private patient rooms, spaces for family visits, and areas for religious and cultural practices. Amanda Yeoman Melro, Executive Director of Partners Hope Foundation, expressed her excitement about the center. "I think it has exceeded our wildest dreams of what a hospice center could possibly be," she said. The facility was made possible through community fundraising efforts led by the Partners Hope Foundation, which raised more than $15 million. 

2 West Covina women arrested for alleged $4.8 million hospice care fraud CBS News KCAL, Los Angeles, CA; by Julie Sharp; 6/3/25 The U.S. Department of Justice announced that two West Covina women were arrested Tuesday for an alleged scheme to defraud Medicare of $4.8 million with false hospice care claims. One of the women who was arrested is the owner and operator of two West Covina hospices, Golden Meadows Hospice Inc., and D'Alexandria Hospice Inc., which billed Medicare for hospice services for patients who were allegedly not terminally ill.  Between Sept. 2018 and Oct. 2022, owner and operator Normita Sierra, 71, and her alleged accomplice, Rowena Elegado, 55, collected more than $3.8 million from Medicare on false claims, the DOJ said.