Literature Review

Valentine’s Day Raffle results show love in action myMotherLode.com, Jackson, CA; by Tracey Peterson; 2/25/25 Hospice of Amador and Calaveras took advantage of the Valentine’s Day holiday to raise money to support its mission of compassionate end-of-life care. The non-profit charity held a “Take a Chance on Love” Valentine’s Day raffle and hauled in more than $13,000 due to the generosity of community members and organizations, which has ensured that everyone, regardless of their ability to pay, can access vital hospice services, shared hospice officials. “We are incredibly grateful for the overwhelming support we received for our Valentine’s Day raffle,” said Samantha Lukow, Executive Director. “The funds raised will directly impact our ability to provide free, high-quality end-of-life care to those in need within our community. This remarkable achievement truly reflects the compassionate spirit of Amador and Calaveras counties.”

[UK Hospice Fundraiser] Over 5,000 Christmas trees recycled to help local parks Manchester News, United Kingdom; by Manchester City Council; 2/26/25... In partnership with local charity Just Helping, who fundraise for Francis House hospice, the We Love Manchester charity and St Ann’s hospice, we raised £117, 675 for local hospices and charities as well as saved a an estimated 84, 944kg on CO2 emissions.  Editor's note: This recycling Christmas trees fundraiser is a popular community engagement fundraiser for many hospices. The work is done mainly by volunteers. Articles we posted this past season include the following:

Baber Hospice Home to close The Messenger, Fort Dodge, IA; by Bill Shea; 2/26/25 The Paula J. Baber Hospice Home will close at the end of next month, but UnityPoint Health — Fort Dodge will continue providing hospice care to patients in their own homes and in long term care facilities. “This is not the end of hospice care,” said Leah Glasgo, the president of UnityPoint Health — Fort Dodge. She said the decision to close the home was driven by the fact that most hospice patients are now cared for in their homes or in long term care facilities. “We are committed to meeting patients where they want to be and they want to be at home,” she said. As the number of hospice patients being served at home or in care facilities grew, the number of those patients in the Baber home dropped.

Hospice provider Navian Hawaii receives $4.3M gift from Weinman Foundation Pacific Business News; by Janis Magin; 2/25/25 Navian Hawaii formerly known as Hospice Hawaii has received a $4.3 million gift from the Weinman Foundation that the Honolulu based nonprofit is calling transformational. The donation from the foundation founded by the late Barrie and Virginia Weinman will allow Navian Hawaii to expand its residential care services ... [Access to the full article is behind a paywall.]Editor's note: Congratulations to Navian Hawaii for this significant--yes--"transformation" gift. 

Caroline’s Thrift holds annual gifting ceremony The Pajaronian, Santa Cruz, CA; by Todd Guild; 2/20/25It has been 15 years since Caroline’s Thrift opened, and since that time owner Christine Licker has donated tens of thousands of dollars to local nonprofits. On Feb. 9, Licker held her annual gifting ceremony, during which she handed out checks to 37 organizations totaling $575,500. That brings the total she has given out to more than $4.5 million. She says her inspiration in opening the store was her daughter Caroline, who died at 16 after receiving support from four nonprofits. In her first year, she gave away $40,000, a number that grew to $120,000 the next year. The gifts, she says, are both a way to say 'thank you' and to help the organizations with their mission. ... [This year's list of recipients includes: ...]

Hospice of the Chesapeake Advanced Cardiac Care Program seeks to reduce hospital visits Southern Maryland News Net; Press Release; 2/20/25Hospice of the Chesapeake, in collaboration with the American Heart Association (AHA) and the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI) announces the Advanced Cardiac Care Program to address one of the nation’s largest killers of Americans – heart disease. Each year, more Americans die from heart disease than any other condition, including cancer. Heart disease is also a leading cause of hospitalization: patients with congestive heart failure alone account for more than one million inpatient admissions annually. By offering heart disease patients the right educational resources, we empower them to take control of their health,” Hospice of the Chesapeake Vice President of Medical Affairs & Hospice Medical Director Dr. Sonja Richmond said. “The resources available through the Advanced Cardiac Care Program can help patients and caregivers better manage their condition, reducing the likelihood of hospital visits and improving their quality of life.” ... Carole Fisher, President of NPHI [said,] “Far too many die alone in a hospital or nursing facility, when instead our hospice teams could care for them wherever they reside and they could enjoy a far higher quality of life surrounded by loved ones.”Editor's note: Links to Hospice of the Chesapeake; AHA'sHospice Care" webpage; NPHI's Advanced Cardiac Care.rogram.   

Hospice finance 101 and the gift of mortalityPost Independent; by Peter Schoomaker, Homecare & Hospice of the Valley CFO; 2/19/25... [Practical information about hospice expenses, like labor and mileage reimbursement with. "For our agency, we estimate our clinicians will drive more than 250,000 miles in 2025, slightly more than the distance from the Earth to the Moon."] And now a more personal note … I am grateful for the last seven years of my career working in hospice care. Most importantly, I am grateful for the opportunity to integrate into the clinical experience of hospice. When I shadow an admission visit or attend the hospice interdisciplinary meeting, I am reminded that hospice is a world of YET (You’re Eligible Too). The only thing that separates me, and our hospice patients, is time. My relative physical strength will eventually shrink. My mental faculties will fade. And there is a large possibility, at some point in my life, that I will depend almost entirely on others to help with most activities of daily living. This is true for all of us. ... ... Recognizing this truth opens a path to humility. A path to step away from the ego, even for a moment, and really let go. ... When I reflect on this, I realize what a gift our mortality is. To know that our choices matter because we never know much time we have left. A sincere thank you to all our hospice, homecare and private duty clinicians — and our administrative teams that support them. It is genuinely noble work.Editor's note: "A sincere thank you" to Peter Schoomaker, Homecare & Hospice of the Valley CFO

Harley Owners Group & Community make splash for JRMC Hospice NewsDakota.com, Jamestown, ND; by Steve Urness; 2/18/25 The spirit of generosity and adventure was alive and well at the 19th annual Polar Pig Walk the Plank & Chili Cook-off, held Feb. 1 at Stutsman Harley-Davidson. ... This year, Polar Pig reached an incredible milestone—surpassing $300,000 raised for JRMC Hospice since its inception. ... This year alone, $19,405 was raised, directly benefiting the care provided by the JRMC Hospice team. Braving the winter air, dozens of participants in a wide variety of costumes took the plunge, leaping into the water in the name of hospice care. Spectators cheered as JRMC team members, community members and families joined in the fun, embracing the cold for a cause. The event also featured a chili cook-off and silent auction.Editor's note: We don't know the temperature for this North Dakota polar plunge on Feb 1. However, the weather on Thu 2/20 in Jamestown, ND is -8°.  Bravo to these brave souls!

Founding Friends of Treasure Coast Hospice Safari Nights roars to success: Annual gala raises $198k for Youth and Family Grief Support Programs Stuart/Martin County Chamber of Commerce, Stuart, FL; Press Release; 2/10/25 The Founding Friends of Treasure Coast Hospice (FFOTCH) welcomed guests to a magnificently decorated “jungle” at its Safari Nights fundraising gala, held on January 11, at Harbour Ridge Yacht and Country Club in Palm City. The sold-out event raised $198,000 to support Treasure Coast Hospice’s Youth and Family Grief Support Programs. ... Foundation Director Agnes Palmer, CFRE [said,] “The success of Safari Nights is a testament to the unwavering commitment of the incredible volunteers who are dedicated to ensuring resources that provide comfort, hope and healing are available to those who are grieving in our community.” ... The 200-plus members of the volunteer group have raised nearly $5,000,000 to support the organization.

[Updated] Trump administration suspends hospice Special Focus Program Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 2/14/25 The Trump Administration has suspended implementation of the hospice Special Focus Program. Finalized in the 2024 home health payment rule, the program is designed to identify poor performing hospices, mandate quality improvement and in some cases impose additional penalties. However, stakeholders in the hospice space have contended that the agency’s methodology for selecting hospices for the program is deeply flawed. Notice of the suspension appeared [Friday, 2/14] on the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) website.

Hospice leaders applaud CMS’s decision to reevaluate Special Focus Program, call for meaningful reforms National Alliance for Care at Home, Washington, DC and Alexandria, VA; Press Release; 2/14/25 Effective February 14, 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has ceased the implementation of the Hospice Special Focus Program (SFP) so that CMS may further evaluate the program. This decision is a positive move acknowledging that the current approach is not working as intended. The hospice community has long advocated for strong oversight and patient protections, but the SFP, as implemented, was deeply flawed, unlawful, and harmful to the very patients it was meant to protect. A multi-state coalition of hospices and hospice associations took legal action in January to challenge the program, citing its misrepresentation of hospice compliance records, misleading data, and jeopardized access to high-quality end-of-life care. The flawed algorithm behind the SFP failed to distinguish fraudulent providers from reputable ones, disproportionately penalized well-established hospices, and ignored repeated warnings from congressional leaders and industry stakeholders. ... Now that CMS is reassessing its approach, there is an opportunity to ensure that oversight efforts truly enhance patient protections without restricting access to trusted hospice providers. The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) and the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI) remain committed to protecting access to high-quality hospice care and ensuring that regulatory oversight is fair, transparent, and aligned with congressional intent. ... [Click on the title's link to continue reading.] 

Avow completes $35,000 training grant provided by FutureMakers Coalition Florida Weekly - Fort Myers Edition, Fort Myers, FL; 2/12/25 Avow recently completed the Healthcare Leadership course as part of a $35,000 grant awarded by FutureMakers Coalition at Collaboratory. Made possible by nearly $23 million in federal funding from the Economic Development Administration’s Good Jobs Challenge, FutureMakers Coalition connects those who need to reskill and/or upskill any, including underemployed and unemployed, Southwest Florida residents with training for industry-recognized credentials and, ultimately, careers with local employers committed to this partnership.

Our Hospice Jennings County Gala nets $65K Bridge - WKJD, North Vernon, IN; by LND Staff; 2/12/25 The 27th Annual Our Hospice Jennings Gala, held last Saturday in the Barn at Willow Crossing, raised over $65,000 to support compassionate hospice care services for Jennings County residents. The evening’s success marks a significant milestone for Our Hospice to provide the highest quality compassionate, end-of-life care to community members regardless of their ability to pay. Over 200 community members, healthcare professionals, and business leaders attended this year’s event. “The overwhelming generosity displayed at this year’s gala reflects our community’s deep commitment to ensuring that every family in Jennings County has access to dignified hospice care when they need it most,” said Steph Cain, President of Our Hospice.