Literature Review

Sharp HospiceCare’s 21st annual benefit regatta raises nearly $700,000 to support new hospice home in Poway The Coronado Times, Coronado, CO; by Dani Schwartz; 9/3/24 Sharp HospiceCare’s 21st Annual Benefit Dinner and Regatta brought the San Diego community together in a remarkable display of generosity last weekend, raising a record-breaking total of nearly $700,000 to support the construction of a new hospice home in Poway. ... The funds raised will significantly contribute to the completion of Moore MountainView Hospice Home in Poway, a facility that will provide a comforting, home-like environment for patients with life-limiting illnesses. This new residence is scheduled to open in Spring 2025 and will join Sharp’s existing hospice homes in La Mesa, Del Cerro and Bonita.

Dozoretz Hospice House of Hampton Roads welcomes first patient WAVY, Virginia Beach, VA; by Markeshia Jackson; 8/29/24 For a long time, the Hampton Roads region was without a single freestanding Hospice House, but this year, that changed as the Dozoretz Hospice House of Hampton Roads officially opened its doors. Now fully accredited, it welcomed its patient Thursday. “There are people in the community that saw that there was a need for a Hospice House in Hampton Roads, and they were surprised that we didn’t have one,” said Veronica Crenshaw, senior vice president of health and innovation at Westminster-Canterbury on Chesapeake Bay and Hospice House of Hampton Roads executive director. ... “The family doesn’t have to worry about being the care provider,” she said. “They can worry about being the wife, the husband the family.” The 12-room house gives patients a place to relax. For families, there are four fully equipped suites to stay with their loved ones.

2nd Annual Walk for Hospice raises over $60,000 for the Aroostook House of Comfort The County, Presque Isle, ME; 9/19/24 The Aroostook Hospice Foundation is proud to announce that the 2nd Annual Walk for Hospice, presented by Event Sponsor McCrum Family Holdings, LLC, raised over $60,000 in support of the Aroostook House of Comfort. Held in memory of Dr. David Jones, the event was a powerful and moving tribute to those impacted by hospice care. The Foundation extends heartfelt gratitude to  everyone who contributed to the event’s success. The Walk for Hospice not only aims to raise essential funds but also to increase community awareness and celebrate the lives of those  impacted by hospice care. This year’s event saw tremendous support with 15 Trail Sponsors, 12 Community Sponsors, 22 Friend Sponsors and 10 In-Kind Sponsors, and boasted a remarkable turnout of 32 teams and 335 participants. The day offered families, friends, and colleagues a beautiful opportunity to walk, reflect, and honor their loved ones in a memorable and meaningful way.  

LifeTouch Hospice still providing end-of-life care in South ArkansasEl Dorado News-Times; by Keturah Smith; 8/28/24LifeTouch Hospice said Monday they would like the South Arkansas community to know the company remains fully operational and continues to offer care to terminally ill patients after merging with Little Rock-based Arkansas Hospice last year. "There has been some misconception in El Dorado with the closing of the hospice house," said Hannah Odell, LifeTouch provider relations representative, at the El Dorado Rotary Club meeting. "LifeTouch Hospice is very much still around." While the physical location of LifeTouch has closed, Odell mentioned their services can be provided at the nursing home, local hospital, assisted living, home or wherever care is needed. "We're contracted with South Arkansas Regional Hospital for [general inpatient care] for the most critical patients," Odell said. ...

LobsterFest raises more than $115,000 for a good cause Steamboat Pilot & Today; by Eli Pace; 8/28/24 Celebrating its 50th anniversary, the Rotary Club of Steamboat Springs served up more than 300 fresh lobsters Saturday at the Steamboat Springs Airport as Rotarians held to tradition while supporting Northwest Colorado Health’s Home Health and Hospice Services. Northwest Colorado Health is the only provider of Home Health and Hospice in the Yampa Valley, ... “In an average year, we care for more than 250 patients and provide support to their family members,” said Steph Einfeld, CEO of Northwest Colorado Health. ... The Rotarians had 310 lobsters flown in Thursday evening from Maine for the event that sells out every year, and a silent and live auction augmented table sales and sponsorships. According to the Rotary Club, this year’s LobsterFest raised more than $100,000 to support Northwest Colorado Health’s program and $15,000 for other Rotary charities.

Hospices facilities launch, renovate with growth in mind: Julia Hospice & Palliative refuels de novo plans Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 8/23/24 Pennsylvania-based Julia Hospice & Palliative (JHPC) has reignited plans to launch a de novo after experiencing pandemic-related setbacks. Dubbed Julia House, the facility will provide inpatient hospice and serve as an outpatient palliative care clinic. It will be the first hospice center in Erie County, Pennsylvania, the provider indicated. The new location will allow for improved support for serious and terminally ill patients that lack caregiver support or need higher levels of care, said Dr. Christopher Strzalka, medical director at Julia Hospice & Palliative Care. “For people who don’t have a caregiver in their home, we can put them in our facility and they can live there until their natural death, and they’ll have access to specially trained caregivers in end-of-life care,” Strzalka told local news.

Home health care agency going through changes KSAL.com; by Todd Pittenger; 8/22/24 According to Memorial Health System of Abilene, Home Health & Hospice of Dickinson County (HH&H) has covered many miles throughout Dickinson, Morris, and Marion counties for many years. ... While it was never about profit  and more about going the extra mile to take care of the people in the community, the small agency can no longer support the supply and demand of what it takes to provide these services.  They have taken a loss for several years and can no longer sustain that loss. Home Health & Hospice of Dickinson County is not closing. Their local staff is proud to be the only agency in the community that provides the kind of quality care to neighbors, friends, and family, and  will continue to do so.  HH&H has been in contact with multiple agencies that can assist patients to locate agencies or individuals who can provide these types of services and they are ready to assist. [List of resources]

Granite VNA launches virtual nurse program Eagle Times, Concord, NH; by Eagle Times Staff; 8/22/24 Granite VNA recently introduced a virtual nurse program, connecting patients with skilled home and hospice care nurses through telephone and video calls. The virtual nurses complement the agency’s field nursing team by conducting regular check-ins with their patients, reinforcing education, addressing patients’ physical and mental health needs, supporting case management and more. Granite VNA currently has three virtual visiting nurses, two who specialize in home care and one who specializes in hospice care. Similar to the agency’s field nurses, the virtual visiting nurses see multiple patients each day. “Virtual visiting nurses play a crucial role in enhancing community health and providing support to Granite VNA’s home and hospice care field nurses,” said Granite VNA Vice President of Education and Quality Tammi Mozier, MBA, PT, ATC, COS-C. 

Norway Savings Bank donates $5,000 to Hospice of Southern Maine Bangor Daily News, Bangor, ME; by BDN Community; 8/19/24 ... Norway Savings Bank is proud to be a longtime, major donor to Hospice of Southern Maine and its compassionate work, including a $5,000 contribution this month and over $180,000 in donations since 2018. “The work of the Hospice of Southern Maine staff and the dignity and comfort they provide to those they encounter commands respect and admiration,” said Dan Walsh, president and CEO of Norway Savings Bank. ... “These gifts are reflections of compassion and caring, which are the very things that center all our actions and decisions at Hospice of Southern Maine,” said Daryl Cady, CEO.

17 ways nonprofits can bolster their DEI efforts Forbes; by Dr. Ara J. Baghdasarian; 8/20/24 Nonprofits that hope to make a meaningful, lasting and widespread impact must take an intentional approach to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Doing so can help organizations better support the communities they serve while allowing diverse viewpoints to be heard and implemented. To that end, 17 members of Forbes Nonprofit Council share their top strategies for nonprofits looking to transform their DEI efforts. From understanding your target audience to emphasizing accountability, these approaches can ensure your organization's programs are accessible, inclusive and culturally sensitive.

Health group expands to Presque Isle The County, Presque Isle, ME; 8/14/24 Andwell Health Partners (formerly Androscoggin Home Healthcare + Hospice) has expanded its hospice services to Aroostook County. “As Maine’s largest non-profit home and community-based healthcare and care management organization, we are driven to meet the growing and evolving needs of individuals and families,” said Ken Albert, president and CEO, Andwell Health Partners, who has deep family roots in Aroostook County. ... Serving all ages of hospice patients, from infancy to those who have lived full lives, Andwell’s hospice services are available to individuals regardless of ability to pay.

Hospice and Palliative Nurses Foundation receives $1.2 million impact grant Hospice & Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA); August 2024 newsletter, with webpage posted 7/8/24 The Hospice and Palliative Nurses Foundation (HPNF) is thrilled to announce that it has been awarded a transformative $1.2 million impact grant from the Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center (HPCC). The Sandra Lee Schafer Impact Grant, given in memory of the late Sandra Lee Schafer, MN, RN, AOCN®, will empower HPNF to create a legacy of sustainable giving, which will impact the hospice and palliative care community for years to come. “We are deeply honored and grateful to receive this impact grant from HPCC, given in tribute of Sandy,” said Virginia (Ginger) Marshall, MSN, ACNP-BC, ACHPN®, FPCN, chief executive officer of HPNF. Sandra was an unwavering advocate of specialty nursing certification. ... Sandra served as the director of credentialing of the Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center from 2004 until her sudden passing in 2018.

Letter: Closing Cottage of the Meadow [Hospice House] is a loss for allYakima Herald-Republic, Yakima, WA; by Lee Murdock; 8/13/24, with news post from 8/5/24 [Letter] To the editor — I was devastated to learn that Cottage in the Meadow, our local hospice facility, is ending hospice care. Both of my parents were fortunate enough to spend their final days in this serene and caring environment. The difference between the overrun hospital setting with its short staffing and the compassionate, individualized care at Cottage in the Meadow was stark. This facility provided invaluable support not only to those at the end of life but also to their families. As our population ages, the need for such services will only increase. Studies have shown that hospice care can reduce healthcare costs by up to 30% compared to traditional hospital care (Journal of Palliative Medicine). Additionally, hospice care significantly reduces hospital readmissions and emergency room visits, further reducing healthcare costs (JAMA). In a healthcare system with ample profit margins, ensuring access to hospice care is the least we can do. ...Editor's Note: This letter to the editor was in response to Yakima Herald-Republic's 8/5/24 article, "Yakima's Cottage in the Meadow will close its hospice house. It will reopen as a skilled nursing facility."