Literature Review

Is there a role for artificial intelligence in end-of-life care for persons with dementia? Perspectives of and recommendations by caregivers and hospice staff Oxford Academic / Innovation in Aging; by Oonjee Oh, Debra Parker Oliver, Karla Washington, George Demiris; 9/26In this study, we explored families’ and staff’s acceptance of AI in hospice dementia care and generated actionable recommendations for AI designers in supporting end-of-life care for persons with dementia... Participants described AI tools as potentially helpful for obtaining information, monitoring patients, managing medications and appointments, providing companionship, and conducting logistical tasks... The uniqueness of hospice, encompassing its humanistic nature and emphasis on families as part of the care unit, also emerged as a key factor impacting attitudes towards AI use... Families and frontline staff should not be considered merely as end users, but as key stakeholders whose needs and expertise should shape the direction of AI applications.

[Germany] Unmet needs of heart failure patients across the different domains of palliative care – A qualitative interview studyHeart & Lung; by Chiara Pfeffer, Felix Schoenratha, Lennart Tügend, Anahita Khamseh, Susanne Jöbges, Johann Ahne, Asita Behzadie, Moritz Blum; 9/26Currently, palliative care provision for patients with heart failure (HF) is limited and usually not tailored to the specific needs they might have. In this study, we sought to gain a better understanding of the needs and expectations expressed by patients with HF regarding palliative care. Participants expressed needs and expectations across all eight domains of palliative care. Some needs were specific to HF, e.g. for more HF expertise among all healthcare providers. Other needs were more generally associated with serious illnesses, e.g. long term access to psychological counselling for patients and caregivers, help with coming to terms with limited life expectancy, or provision of information in accessible language. Patients with HF express a host of unmet needs, many of which could be addressed by palliative care.

Saturday newsletters focus on headlines and research - enjoy!

Circle of Life to acquire Washington Regional Hospice  Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 9/24/26 Arkansas-based hospice provider Circle of Life will acquire Washington Regional Hospice, with the deal expected to close before the end of September. The acquired hospice is currently owned by the Washington Regional Health System. Financial terms were undisclosed. Current patients will receive uninterrupted services through the transaction process. “Our organizations have very similar service areas, and as nonprofit healthcare providers, there was a natural fit in bringing the hospice services together under Circle of Life,” Catherine Grubbs, CEO of Circle of Life, told Hospice News in an email.

Central Mass. man guilty of stealing patients’ opioid pills Mass Live; by Mike Grimala; 9/24/26 A man who worked at a Central Massachusetts hospice facility pleaded guilty to stealing patients’ opioids and taking them himself. Andrew Milgrim, a 41-year-old Gardner resident, pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of tampering with a consumer product, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.  From 2024 to 2025, Milgrim diverted Oxycodone from patients at a hospice and memory care provider in Leominster, prosecutors said. Instead of dispensing Oxycodone pills that were prescribed to dementia patients, Milgrim consumed the pills himself.

ACG Hospice opens new Sylacauga location SylacaugaNews.com, Sylacauga, AL; by Sylacauga News Digital Team; 9/23/26 “We are here for a reason” was the message from ACG Hospice Vice President of Operations Michelle Harden as she introduced local, regional, and national company representatives during a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Sylacauga for the organization’s newest location in the Victorian Village. “Our hospice is a ministry,” Harden explained. “Our team is dedicated to becoming a true part of the community of Sylacauga.

Anderson Family Care launches, addresses systemic gaps in end-of-life care businesswire, Nashville, TN; Press Release; 9/24/26 Anderson Family Care, a mission-driven end-of-life care organization founded by healthcare industry veterans, today announced its official launch to bridge the gap in how patients, caregivers and healthcare providers experience the final chapter. Founded to address the persistent industry challenge of late hospice referrals and fragmented provider communication, Anderson Family Care serves as the parent company of an integrated, dual-brand model offering advanced technology navigation, earlier goals-of-care conversations as well as high-touch, bedside care delivery. 

Honoring 9-2-5 Day (9/25): Dolly Parton teams with Kelly Clarkson for "9 to 5" remake

Healthcare private equity: a look into 2026 — session recap JD Supra; by Angela Humphreys; 9/23/26At the 2026 Nashville Healthcare Council Sessions on September 14, Angela Humphreys and Wyatt Ritchie delivered a comprehensive look at the healthcare private equity landscape, covering M&A trends, sector dynamics, buyer psychology, and the regulatory environment shaping deals heading into 2027. The overarching message: the M&A market is open, but the bar is high.

Rehearsing the end Reader; by Ali Hickerson; 9/23/26 I'm covering all my bases,” says Rob, wearing a Cubs shirt, on the grounds of Rosehill Cemetery on July 18. After a doctor told him to get “his things in order” following his diagnosis of incurable bone marrow cancer last year, he began working with the Chicago Death Doula Collective, one of several resources he’s turned to for support. He’s one of the nine people picnicking at Rosehill on a Saturday afternoon, as part of a cemetery picnic series the Chicago Death Doula Collective has hosted there monthly this summer. ... Rob says he needed a community like Bianchi’s to deal with the reality of his cancer, ... After spending so much time in the cancer ward, Rob longed to hear stories of the people sitting around him—to humanize the topic, “laugh, cry, or make jokes about it,” and reflect on the preciousness of time.

Taxpayer-funded health care programs hit with $17.5 billion in fraud in one year Before It's News; 9/23/26 Fraud in taxpayer-funded health care programs like Medicare and Medicaid is so pervasive that the government identified a breathtaking $17.5 billion in scams in just one year, according to an analysis conducted by the U.S. Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), ... The crimes occurred in all 50 states, as well as Washington D.C, and U.S. territories including Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. A lengthy report made public this month identifies the largest number of offenders in California (3,141), followed by Florida (1,378), New York (989) and Minnesota (946) with some of the scams involving criminal networks connected to foreign entities.