The ASCENT Consortium: A new resource to support palliative care science across the lifespan
Journal of Pain and Symptom Management; by Jean S Kutner, Melissa D Aldridge, Abraham A Brody, Chris Feudtner, Kimberly Johnson, Stacy M Fischer, Susan Lysaght Hurley, Alexis Bakos, Elena M Fazio, Karen A Kehl, Sandra A Mitchell, Elizabeth A Necka, Brennan Parmelee Streck, Chandra Keller; 2/26
The ASCENT Consortium was funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in August 2025 with the goal of advancing palliative care (PC) research, evidence, implementation and practice to improve care of persons with serious illness and those who care for them across the lifespan. ASCENT aims to: (1) Develop and coordinate the national scientific infrastructure and community needed to advance PC research... (2) Generate new PC research knowledge and methodologies... (3) Foster career development and impact of the PC scientist workforce by funding career development and pilot and exploratory awards... (4) Disseminate PC research findings and facilitate subsequent implementation via a multi-pronged approach...

Hospice and palliative care during COVID-19 in New York City: Clinician-reported patient and family experiences and lessons for future crises
American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care; by Junyi Lin, Shih-Yin Lin, Daniel David, Laura T Moreines, Emily Franzosa, Abraham A Brody, Melissa D Aldridge, Dena Schulman-Green; 2/26
The COVID-19 pandemic complicated hospice and palliative care (HPC) experiences of patients and family caregivers. We sought to understand HPC professionals' perceptions of patients' and family caregivers' HPC experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City and to make recommendations for improving HPC delivery during future public health crises.

The business case for family caregiver skills training: Results from a multisite trial in the Veterans health care system
Journal of the American Medical Directors Association; by Brystana G Kaufman, Michael A Lourie, Kasey Decosimo, Cynthia J Coffman, Joshua Dadolf, Matthew Tucker, Leah Christensen, Virginia Wang, Kelli D Allen, Susan N Hastings, Courtney H Van Houtven; 2/26
Increasing caregiver training programs is valuable; however, even minimal health insurance cost-sharing can reduce access for those who need it most. We evaluated costs from the VA perspective, in which veterans and caregivers do not face high out of-pocket costs. Outside the VA, Medicare beneficiaries with care needs and caregivers do face these costs, potentially exacerbating health disparities. Integration and documentation of all caregivers in need of training is needed to support the systematic implementation of programs. Policies like the RAISE Family Caregivers Act encourage health systems to identify and provide necessary skills to family caregivers of hospitalized patients; yet, few health systems include a caregiver field in their EHR. As the need for caregiver training increases, health systems may leverage new reimbursement mechanisms to support the financial feasibility of delivering evidence-based caregiver training programs.

Effects of psychoeducation on burden, depression, and anxiety in informal caregivers of patients with dementia: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials
Western Journal of Nursing Research; by Hyeyeon Shin, Chanchanok Wandee, Kathy D. Wright, Dónal P. O’Mathúna; 2/26
As dementia rises globally, caregivers face prolonged and demanding responsibilities, increasing their risk of burden, depression, and anxiety. We aimed to identify the effectiveness of psychoeducation on burden, depression, and anxiety among informal dementia caregivers. This review clarifies the benefits of psychoeducation to inform the development of effective, targeted interventions. Psychoeducation offers dementia-related information, behavior management strategies, and caregiver support to improve mental health and caregiving effectiveness.

Building health equity for Minnesota’s Hmong community: The role and impact of the Hmong
Hmong Studies Journal; by Yeng M. Yang; 2/26
This article examines the health care experiences of Hmong refugees in Minnesota and the U.S. since the late 1970s, highlighting major public health challenges as well as notable progress reflecting their resilience. It highlights how Hmong Americans have navigated obstacles to health care such as language barriers, cultural differences, and limited access to culturally competent healthcare, while emphasizing the vital role of the Hmong Health Care Professionals Coalition (HHCPC/ The Coalition).

Identifying key components of neuropalliative care fellowship using nominal group technique
Journal of Pain & Symptom Management; by Sachi Y Gianchandani, Jocelyn M Jiao, Kwame O Adjepong, Yaowaree L Leavell, Jessica M Besbris, Neha M Kramer, Joel N Phillips, Paul M Vermilion; 2/26
There is no standardized curriculum for neurology-focused palliative care training. An adapted nominal group technique (NGT) was used to collect and rank responses to 2 key questions: "In designing the ideal dedicated neuropalliative care clinician training experience, what core components should be included?" and "When a general palliative care fellowship has a neurologist in their program, how could the program/program director potentially tailor the year to their unique needs?" For both key questions, the top-ranked responses included: dedicated outpatient neuropalliative care experience, mentorship from faculty with expertise in neuropalliative care, and a core didactic curriculum that includes neurology-specific content. Additionally, appropriateness for certification in hospice and palliative medicine was identified as crucial.

The Harvard Child Bereavement Study
Death Studies; by Donna L Schuurman, Monique B Mitchell; 2/26
The Harvard Child Bereavement Study provided critical insights into the impact of the death of a parent on children and their families. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in the homes of the participants four months after the parent/spouse died, one year after the death, and two years after the death. Three standardized measures were administered to the children, and five standardized measures were administered to the adults. Multiple findings about how bereavement changes over time for bereaved children and families were revealed; including, the impact of parental adjustment on children's well-being, the various ways children chose to remain connected to their parent who died, the healthiness of remembering the person who has died, and the value of including children in decision-making about memorialization and funerals.

[Canada] Cultural safety in practice: Providing quality health care for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children and youth
Paediatrics & Child Health; by Emilie Beaulieu, Sara Citron, Ryan Giroux, Cheyenne Laforme, Amber Miners, Brett Schrewe, Elizabeth Sellers; 2/26
In Canada, cultural safety in health care has emerged in response to the racism and systemic discrimination that Indigenous peoples often face when accessing care. Grounded in cultural humility, antiracism, and trauma-informed care, cultural safety aims to ensure that Indigenous children and youth receive equitable, quality care. Paediatric health care providers can pursue building a culturally safe practice by applying the ‘learn, self-reflect, and act’ framework. They should also consider the home environment, language, and cultural heritage of each child, youth, and family seen in practice, alongside the barriers to and facilitators of healthy living that Indigenous children and youth experience in Canada. Being mindful of health care system policies and practices—and how they affect patient care both locally and historically—is an important step toward offering culturally safe care in any practice setting.

[Italy] Vicarious post-traumatic growth in health professionals facing their patients’ end of life
European Journal of Trauma & Dissociation; by David Faggi, Gabriella Aprea, Chiara Fioretti; 3/26
This study explored forms of vicarious post-traumatic growth perceived by professionals working in EoL [end of life] care settings. The findings indicate the presence of positive transformations, consistent with the construct of vicarious post-traumatic growth, among professionals who work daily in contact with patients’ suffering and finitude. The four themes identified (care as witnessing and mission; learning to live with death anxiety; personal vulnerability and resources; and authentic communication [with terminally ill patients]. The authors discuss the results, considering clinical implications and the potential role of post-traumatic growth in protecting healthcare professionals from distress and psychological suffering due to daily contact with death and dying.

I'm not afraid of death; I just don't want to be there when it happens. ~Woody Allen