Literature Review

Top News Stories of the Month Nov 2024 - TCN Podcast Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN); podcast by Chris Comeaux with Mark Cohen; 12/4/24 What if the future of Hospice and Palliative Care depends on understanding the intricacies of industry integration and regulation?  Join us for an insightful journey through November's most compelling stories that have captured the attention of Hospice and Palliative Care Today's readership. Our conversation reveals the significant impact of national events, from elections to regulatory changes, on shaping news cycles and industry priorities.  Also, rising workforce demands and political changes, such as immigration restrictions, paint a concerning picture for the future labor pool in Hospice Care. We provide a comprehensive analysis of the month's key themes that may have been missed, like tackling issues from CMS payment cuts to the Justice Department's stance on UnitedHealthcare Group's acquisition of Amedisys. This episode is a must-listen for those seeking a deeper understanding of the critical yet often overlooked issues in Hospice and Palliative Care today, and Mark delivers another excellent masterclass on creating compelling headlines. 

What are the most charitable counties in the United States? Harmony & Healing; by Davod Victor; 11/27/24 Since its inception in 2010, the Charities Aid Foundation’s World Giving Index has consistently ranked the United States among the top 10 most charitable countries in the world. It’s easy to see why: from donating money, food, clothing, and more to volunteering time to help neighbors and strangers alike, the charitable spirit has always been a deep-rooted part of American culture. Since the United States has historically been a notably philanthropic country, our team at Harmony and Healing collected and analyzed data from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to determine where the most charitable people live in the country. ... Using the most recent tax return data from the IRS, we analyzed charitable contribution and income figures to calculate the average contribution per tax return in each county, as well as percentage of each county’s income donated to charities, to identify the most charitable counties in the United States. [Click here to access their report.]

Tidewell Foundation volunteers give back during Thanksgiving Observer, Sarasota, FL; by Jay Heater; 11/29/24Those in the parking lot of the Tidewell Hospice administration building the day before Thanksgiving in Lakewood Ranch weren't focused on the "being thankful" part of the holiday. They were concentrating on the "giving back" part. The Tidewell Foundation's fifth annual Meal Drive provided more than 500 meals that were delivered through Manatee, Sarasota, DeSoto and Charlotte counties to provide, in many cases, what might be the last holiday meal a couple or family would be able to share. Morton's Gourmet Market, the Venice Yacht Club and Michael's on East made the meals possible and then volunteers packed and delivered the meals Nov. 27. Among those in the parking lot was Bradenton's Terry Dale, who was volunteering in the event for the first time. "I am trying to give back," Dale said as she was busy handing out meals to other volunteers who drove up to take care of the delivery. "Two years ago, these people (Tidewell Hospice) were a godsend." Her husband of 47 years, Bill Dale, died at that time and Terry Dale doesn't know how she would have made it through without Tidewell Hospice. She knew the importance of the food that was being sent out with the volunteers.

Blue Ridge Hospice eyes N. Va. expansion, breaks into preventative care Washington Business Journal; by Sara Gilgor; 11/27/24 Winchester nonprofit Blue Ridge Hospice is heading into 2025 with plans to accelerate its regional expansion - by broadening its services, beefing up its headcount, teaming up with other local health systems and employers, and penetrating new pockets within Northern Virginia. The organization has provided hospice and palliative care in Virginia for patients with terminal illnesses from cancer to dementia for 43 years, only recently breaking into Greater Washington via Loudoun County. But now, increasing demand in the market and challenges within the larger health care landscape have led the business to rethink both its own structure and how it delivers care to the elderly patients it serves, often not until the ends of their lives. That's why the parent organization is rebranding as Blue Ridge Care. Its patients often regret not seeking its help earlier, President and CEO Jason Parsons told me in an interview, so it's repositioning itself to care for patients well before they would ever need hospice. ... Blue Ridge, now with nearly 400 employees, is looking to add another 50 to 60 people - including doctors and nurses - to its headcount in 2025, Parsons told me. And it plans to invest between $3 million and $5 million into next year's expansion, after putting in $10 million over the last two years, he said.

Coastal Hospice joins Shore Gives More for Giving Tuesday fundraiser ABC 47 WMDT, Salisbury, MD; by Site Staff; 11/26/24 Coastal Hospice is teaming up with the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore for Giving Tuesday. They are one of many non-profits signed up for the Shore Gives More campaign. It’s an online giving event that provides non-profits the opportunity to inspire the community. Editor's note: Heads up, be on the lookout for a post from us on Monday 12/2/24 with a wide scope of ways to support our hospice and palliative care community through "Giving Tuesday."

Nutrition Shake Drive supports local hospice patientsECB Publishing, Inc.; 11/26/24 Juanice Hughes Big Bend Hospice Advisory Council Big Bend Hospice is currently seeking donations of nutrition shakes, such as Ensure vanilla, chocolate and strawberry flavors for its local patients. These shakes are essential for maintaining health and comfort during care. From some patients, this is the only nutrition they can tolerate. As one Big Bend Hospice administrator indicated, there is always a need for these shakes. There is not time that there is too much Ensure on hand, because it is an important sustenance for patients under hospice care. ... Editor's note: This is such a simple, significant, practical donation! Bravo to Big Bend Hospice! The privilege of my lifetime was for my Mom to live with us--with hospice care--through the last months of her life. Her chocolate similar-to-Ensure mini-cartons were essential to giving her crucial nutrition, in the midst of her dying. What a wonderful way to support patient (and caregiver!) care. Perhaps, this might be an 11th-hour idea for other hospices to use for December 3rd's Giving Tuesday? Thanks, Big Bend Hospice!

Hospice of Baton Rouge: New grief center opens offering vital support and healing Unfiltered With Kiran, Baton Rouge, LA; by Megan Kelly; 11/25/24 As the holiday season approaches, a time often filled with joy and togetherness, it can also be a profoundly challenging period for those experiencing grief. The Hospice of Baton Rouge has recognized this need and has transformed a property into a haven of healing: The Retreat at Quarters Lake. This newly established grief center aims to address the significant gap in resources for grieving individuals, a void that became especially apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic. “The Retreat at Quarters Lake provides hope, healing, and connectivity for the grieving through counseling, support groups, alternative grief therapies, and community education,” reads a statement on their website. The facility offers both traditional grief services, such as individual counseling and support groups, and unique, holistic approaches that include art therapy, music therapy, and pet therapy. The goal is to provide a comprehensive support system that caters to individuals of all ages and backgrounds. “We are focusing on some alternative therapies like yoga, meditation, gardening, and even fishing,” said Catherine Schendel, CEO of The Hospice of Baton Rouge. “We want to utilize the beautiful landscaping here to offer non-traditional grief support as well.” 

South Jersey organization helps families caring for ailing loved ones by delivering Thanksgiving meals Fox 29 Philadelphia; by Marcus Espinoza; 11/23/24 Haddonfield, N.J. - The holiday season and stress go hand-in-hand for many, but for some, like the Esposito family, holidays like Thanksgiving can be especially challenging. Thankfully, organizations like Samaritan step up with efforts like a food drive in South Jersey. "Samaritan for years has been delivering meals to hospice, palliative and bereaved families all around our five-county area," explained Volunteer Coordinator Lisa DiCerto. DiCerto is a long-time Volunteer Coordinator and says give back days really highlight their mission as an organization to provide not just a hot meal during Thanksgiving, but a chance for families to worry about one less thing. ... It’s a large operation full of volunteers committed to helping their neighbors. "We are delivering to about 140 different locations today," DiCerto said. Editor's note: Giving thanks year-round, Samaritan Hospice (and its other services) provides a beautiful, simple way to thank their staff: click here to view. "Fill out the form to send us a message. We welcome your thoughts about the care you and your loved one received. We’ll make sure to share it with the hospice team, palliative care professionals, or grief counselors who took care of you, your family member, or friend." 

Agrace closing in-patient care unit in Janesville WCLO, Janesville, WI; by wclonews; 11/19/24 Agrace is no longer accepting patients at its 12-bed hospice care facility on Wright Road in Janesville. After a tough 10 months struggling to recruit enough staff, Agrace made the difficult decision to temporarily close its in-patient hospice care unit in Janesville for an extended period of time. Assistant Vice President of Marketing and Communications Liz Kopling says Agrace is working to find long term solutions to meet Janesville and the Rock County community’s needs. Kopling says Agrace will continue to provide hospice care to nearly 200 Rock County patients in their homes. The closing also won’t affect administrative operations at its Janesville office, or the thrift store on Humes Road. 

Cooper Farms holds Turkey Trot [and raises more than $20,000 for EverHeart Hospice] Watt Global Media, Press Release, Oakwood, OH; 11/18/24 Cooper Farms recently held its 17th annual Turkey Trot 5K on November 2, welcoming over 400 participants in Oakwood, OH. This annual event has become a meaningful tradition, raising more than $20,000 cumulatively for EverHeart Hospice [in Greenville, OH]. In addition to promoting health and wellness among employees, the Turkey Trot has expanded to include families and the broader community, showcasing Cooper Farms' commitment to community engagement and charitable support.

Hospice of Northwest Ohio will operate ProMedica's palliative care services CBS WTOL 11, Toledo, OH; by Karmann Ludwig; 11/18/24 Hospice of Northwest Ohio will operate ProMedica's palliative care services at the start of next year, according to a press release from Hospice released Monday. The company said ProMedica's patients who remain in palliative care will be transferred to Sincera Supportive Care and Symptom Relief, one of Hospice of Northwest Ohio's services. Sincera will also take over responsibility for ProMedica's palliative care outpatient clinics, Hospice of Northwest Ohio said. 

LECOM Health opens Erie County's first specialty hospice unit Erie Times-News, Erie, PA; by David Bruce; 11/15/24 Erie County will soon have its first specifically designed medical unit for end-of-life care when LECOM Nursing and Rehabilitation Center opens its Visiting Nurses Association Specialty Hospice Unit later this month. Until now, local hospice patients who require a higher level of medical care than what can be provided at home usually lived their final days at a nursing home or hospital. The reluctance to open a dedicated hospice unit in Erie County is due to operating costs, Lin said. State laws require each unit to have a medical director and registered nurses, and the reimbursement for hospice care makes it difficult to cover those costs if there are fewer than four or five patients at a time. "Since this unit is part of the Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, we can share the medical director and registered nurses," Lin said.

Aroostook Hospice Foundation achieves $150,000 matching grant campaign goal The County, Presque Isle, ME; 11/13/24 The Aroostook Hospice Foundation is thrilled to announce the success of its recent Matching Grant Campaign, which raised an astounding $150,000 for the Aroostook House of Comfort. This achievement was made possible through the community’s generosity and a $75,000 match pledged by an anonymous donor. Launched in June, the campaign quickly gained momentum, with individuals and organizations coming together to meet the matching goal. These funds will directly support the Foundation’s mission to provide compassionate, inpatient hospice care when patient needs exceed what home hospice care can offer. Established in 2009 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Aroostook Hospice Foundation was created to establish and sustain an inpatient hospice facility for the region. After years of dedicated fundraising and  community support, the Aroostook House of Comfort opened its doors in 2018, becoming one of only four inpatient hospice facilities in Maine. Since then, it has delivered quality end-of-life care to approximately 1,000 individuals and their caregivers in partnership with Northern Light Home Care & Hospice, a Medicare-certified hospice provider. Together, they ensure patients receive comfort, dignity and compassionate support on one’s journey through  hospice, serving both the patient and their caregivers.