Compassion Crossing, LLC

08/17/2026

Is your hospice ready for the FY 2027 notification rule, or will your IDG be scrambling to catch up before an audit finds the gap first?

Every Medicare hospice election now requires a written Patient Notification of Non-Covered Items, Services, and Drugs. Not on request. Every single time. CMS removed the old trigger, and relatedness determinations are clinical judgment calls, not checkbox exercises. Get one wrong and you risk claim denials, QIO complaints, or a documentation gap an auditor finds before you do.

The Related or Not Related toolkit gives your team what they need to move fast: a 16-page clinical guide with a four-question decision flowchart, five real case studies pulled from actual clinical scenarios, and an editable patient notification form built to match 42 CFR 418.24 point by point. Your IDG can start training this week, not next quarter, and your compliance officer can review a form that already meets every requirement under the rule.

Whether you are getting ahead of this change or already behind it, close the gap now, before your next survey does it for you.

Get the toolkit and start training your team today: https://www.compassioncrossing.academy/hospice-coverage-compliance

08/17/2026

When Home Hospice Hurts: Caregivers, Mental Health, and the Quiet Power of Death Doulas

Home hospice lets patients stay where they feel safest, yet family caregivers often carry crushing emotional, physical, and financial strain. This article explores the mental health impact of home hospice caregiving and shows how death doulas offer practical, compassionate support that works alongside hospice, not instead of it.

https://compassioncrossing.info/when-home-hospice-hurts-caregivers-mental-health-and-the-quiet-power-of-death-doulas/

Home hospice can extend life, but caregivers often pay with their mental health. Learn how death doulas ease the burden at every step.

08/15/2026

Death Over Coffee or Tea - Free Event in Berea, Kentucky - Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/death-over-coffee-or-tea-tickets-1995037624239

Death Over Coffee: An Open Conversation on Death and Dying

Join us on Saturday, August 29th, from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Just Love Coffee in Berea for a free-flowing conversation about death, dying, and everything in between.

You have probably heard of a "death cafe." Since 2004, people around the world have gathered in coffee shops to talk openly about mortality, grief, and the questions we usually keep to ourselves. This event follows that same spirit. It is not therapy, and it is not a grief support group. It is a safe, judgment-free space where you can show up, sip your coffee, and talk about a topic most of us avoid until we can no longer avoid it.

Peter Abraham, BSN, RN, EOLD, will facilitate the conversation. Peter is a registered nurse and certified end-of-life doula who has spent his career supporting people through serious illness, dying, and grief. He will guide the discussion, but this is not a lecture. There is no agenda, no service to sell, and no pressure to share more than you want to. This is purely an open forum to learn, ask questions, and connect.

Expect honest, unscripted conversation. You might hear someone share a story about losing a parent, ask what happens in the final days of life, or wonder how to talk to their kids about death. Others may want to discuss funeral planning, advance directives, or fears they have never spoken aloud. Every question is welcome.

If the room goes quiet, we will pull from the Death Deck, a set of thoughtful prompt cards built to spark honest dialogue. Think of it as a tool for connection, not a script to follow.

This event runs on your schedule. Come for the full four hours or drop in for twenty minutes. There is no obligation to participate, speak up, or stay any longer than feels right for you. Slip in, listen for a while, and slip back out whenever you need to. Nobody will take attendance, and nobody will ask why you left.

One important note: attendees are responsible for purchasing their own drinks and food directly from Just Love Coffee.

Whether you are grieving a loss, caring for an aging parent, working in healthcare, or simply curious about a topic our culture rarely discusses, you are welcome at this table. Bring a friend, bring your questions, or bring nothing but yourself and an open mind. Death touches every one of us. Talking about it out loud, over a good cup of coffee, might be exactly what you need.

08/14/2026

The Chasing Hope 5K at Whitehall State Park on 9/11/26. Please share this with your friends and family. We are looking for both runners and sponsors. This inaugural race aims to help end the stigma and foster hope for su***de prevention and mental health in our communities! Let’s light up the night together and help raise funds for accessible mental health care and a more supportive, connected community.

The race features a water lantern launch on the pond at 6:00 PM, and the 5K race and 1 Mile Hope Stride begin at 7:00 PM. All donations raised from the race support the Behavioral Health Department at Baptist Health Richmond.

08/14/2026

The Rapid Rise of Death Doulas and What End-of-Life Doula Schools Rarely Tell Prospective Students

Thousands of people are paying thousands of dollars to become death doulas, drawn in by a growing movement and schools that promise a meaningful career. What many students don't hear until after they've paid: there are almost no jobs, most families can't afford to hire you, and the work itself is legally non-medical.

https://compassioncrossing.info/the-rapid-rise-of-death-doulas-and-what-end-of-life-doula-schools-rarely-tell-prospective-students/

Death doulas are rising fast. But most training schools skip the hard truths about scope, job scarcity, and who can afford to hire you.

08/12/2026

When Everyone Knows Best: How Mixed Messages Break Down Family Caregiving

When two or more family members try to care for a chronically or terminally ill loved one, mixed messages can destroy trust, delay decisions, and drain everyone. This article names the top challenges and offers practical solutions to help your family form a unified front.

https://compassioncrossing.info/when-everyone-knows-best-how-mixed-messages-break-down-family-caregiving/

When family caregivers send conflicting signals, loved ones suffer. Discover the top challenges and proven solutions to unify your care team.

08/10/2026

What Happens When You Can’t Speak for Yourself: The Advance Care Plan Every Adult Needs

Most people think advance care planning is for the elderly or the seriously ill. It is not. Accidents, strokes, and unexpected health crises can strike at any age. An advance care plan puts your wishes in writing before a crisis takes away your ability to speak for yourself. Here is what you need to know.

https://compassioncrossing.info/what-happens-when-you-cant-speak-for-yourself-the-advance-care-plan-every-adult-needs/

Every adult 18 and older needs an advance care plan. Learn what it includes, why it matters, and how a specialist can help you prepare.

08/08/2026

Nebulized Morphine: A New Approach to Managing Shortness of Breath in Hospice Care

Nebulized morphine provides significant relief for patients with severe breathlessness, especially in end-stage pulmonary diseases. Learn about its application, dosage, and benefits in hospice care.

https://compassioncrossing.info/nebulized-morphine-a-new-approach-to-managing-shortness-of-breath-in-hospice-care/

Explore how nebulized morphine offers effective relief for dyspnea in hospice care, focusing on its benefits and practical application.