Cottonwood Hospice will hold a Holiday Grief Support Group Series Nov. 4, 2025, through Jan. 13, 2026, at JCH&L Fairbury Clinic Conference room, 2200 H St.

Sessions will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. every other Tuesday starting Nov. 4. Sessions are set for Nov. 4, Nov. 18, Dec. 2, Dec. 16, Dec. 30 and Jan. 13, 2026.

There is no cost, and the sessions are open to anyone who has lost a loved one in the past year.

Pre-registration is requested for planning purposes. Please call Cottonwood Hospice at 402-228-8501.

Jefferson Community Health & Life is part of a movement to improve health care for older adults, contributing to a goal of continuing to expand and grow age-friendly care.

As part of the Age-Friendly Health Systems initiative, The John A. Hartford Foundation and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, in partnership with the American Hospital Association and the Catholic Health Association of the United States,​ are helping health care organizations implement a set of evidence-based interventions specifically designed to improve care for older adults.

Collaborative learning opportunities across the movement bring together health care teams committed to sharing data and improving together. All teams strive toward reliably implementing age-friendly best practices across hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, home health agencies and primary and specialty care settings.

JCH&L now joins an international group of more than 5,200 health systems working to tailor care to patients’ goals and preferences and to deliver care that is consistently of the highest quality.

“JCH&L has always been on the forefront of patient care, and that’s why we are participating in this vital movement. We look forward to both sharing our best practices and learning what’s working for others providing age-friendly care,” said Holly Wolff, CEO of JCH&L. “The Age-Friendly Health Systems initiative is an important part of our overarching vision to provide every older adult with the best care possible.”

The initiative is based on a series of practices focused on addressing four essential elements of care for older patients:

• What Matters: Know and align care with each older adult’s specific health outcome goals and care preferences, including, but not limited to, end-of-life care, and across settings of care.
• Medication: If medication is necessary, use age-friendly medications that do not interfere with What Matters to the older adult, Mobility, or Mentation across settings of care.
• Mentation: Prevent, identify, treat, and manage dementia, depression, and delirium across settings of care.​
• Mobility: Ensure that older adults move safely every day in order to maintain function and do What Matters.

Age-Friendly Health Systems is an initiative of The John A. Hartford Foundation and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), in partnership with the American Hospital Association (AHA) and the Catholic Health Association of the US (CHA). For more information, visit www.ihi.org/agefriendly.

FAIRBURY, Neb. – Jefferson Community Health & Life has been recognized with a prestigious 5-star rating from the National Rural Rating System (NRRS) — a top-tier honor that celebrates excellence in rural healthcare delivery across the United States.
This distinguished award reflects the hospital’s steadfast dedication to providing exceptional care, earning high marks in patient satisfaction, quality outcomes, and overall performance. The NRRS 5-Star Rating highlights hospitals that go above and beyond in serving rural communities, often under challenging conditions where resources can be limited but compassion and commitment run deep.
“This recognition is more than just a rating — it’s a reflection of the trust our patients place in us every day,” said Holly Wolff, CEO. “We’re incredibly proud of our team for the care, skill, and heart they bring to every patient interaction. This 5-star designation affirms what we already know — that our community receives outstanding care, close to home.”
The NRRS star system was developed to showcase excellence among rural and critical access hospitals that may not qualify for traditional CMS star ratings due to smaller patient volumes. However, these facilities are still evaluated using rigorous standards, including data from certified patient satisfaction surveys (HCAHPS) and clinical quality indicators.
“This award is a reflection of the unwavering dedication and deep compassion these hospitals bring to rural healthcare,” said Brock Slabach, COO of the National Rural Health Association. “In communities where access can be limited and challenges are complex; these teams continue to deliver excellence with heart.”
Jefferson Community Health & Life is proud to serve Jefferson County and the surrounding area, offering 24-hour emergency care, surgical services, acute and swing bed care, family medicine clinic, behavioral health, outpatient specialists, long-term care, home health, occupational health, and a community fitness center. JCH&L has been a cornerstone of health and healing in the region since 1963. With a mission to provide exceptional care to every customer every time, JCH&L remains committed to meeting the needs of its community with compassion, innovation, and integrity.
This 5-star rating not only celebrates past accomplishments — it sets the tone for continued excellence and trust in rural healthcare.
Learn more about the NRRS and the Five-Star Rating System at FiveStarRatings.org.