Literature Review
Awards and Recognitions: July 2025
08/10/25 at 03:25 AMAwards and Recognitions: July 2025
After losing his wife, 92-year-old man turns grief into comfort for others
08/10/25 at 03:20 AMAfter losing his wife, 92-year-old man turns grief into comfort for other Spectrum News 1 - Greece, NY; by Seth Voorhees; 8/4/25 The loss of a spouse can be devastating. A Rochester area man is turning his personal grief into comfort for others. The gesture has special meaning for families of people in hospice care. Howard Jones has always dabbled in art. At 92, the Kodak retiree has made painting his full-time job. ... [His wife through 68 years,] Estella spent her final weeks at Hildebrandt Hospice Care Center, where staff noticed Howard Jones would pass the time by painting rocks. Someone told him the story of the cardinal, and how some believe their appearance is a sign that a departed loved one is near. ... [Now, he paints] “every day, eight hours a day,” said Jones. ... “It’s all a matter of getting the bird to look right,” he said. ... “My hope is always that when someone takes one of the stones out of the basket, they can feel the emotion that went into painting it,” said Jones. Since he began keeping track in February, Howard Jones says he’s painted over 500 cardinals. “And that's kept me going,” he said.Editor's Note: This demonstrates beautifully the "instrumental style of grieving" (identified by Ken Doka and Terry Martin in Grieving Beyond Gender) where men (and women) tend to grieve through actively doing something, in contrast to verbal and emotional expression. We described this more in our post, To Be or To Do? Women and Men's different styles of grieving.
2025 CAHPS Honors Elite and Honors award winners
08/10/25 at 03:15 AM2025 CAHPS Honors Elite and Honors award winnersMatrixCare by ResMed; retrieved from the internet 8/1/25 54 CAHPS Honors Elite Award Winners and 214 CAHPS Honors Award Winners are listed. These national recognitions are presented by HealthCare First, a part of MatrixCare. These awards are based on satisfaction scores from the Hospice Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) survey. "Honors Elite" status is awarded to those hospices that score above the national performance score on 100%, or all twenty-four, of the evaluated questions.Editor's Note: We celebrate these significant achievements and thank you for the quality, expert care you provide each day! We recognize that this list is presented by MatrixCare and may not represent organizations served by other CAHPS Hospice Survey Approved Vendors.
Study reveals how medication side effects can lead to dangerous medication cycles in adults 65+
08/10/25 at 03:10 AMStudy reveals how medication side effects can lead to dangerous medication cycles in adults 65+ McKnights Long-Term Care News; by Donna Shryer; 7/31/25 When doctors treat drug side effects as new illnesses, older adults may be prescribed even more medications — a cycle known as a “prescribing cascade.” A new study says this prescribing cycle can increase the risk of harm. Guest Editor's Note, Drew Mihaylo, PharmD: Practicing clinical vigilance regarding medication utilization is essential at any stage of illness. Prescribing cascades are common, under-recognized and often harmful. Approaching the emotional topic of medication change must be done with compassion and sensitivity tied to patient specific goals of care. Creativity to this end has been a focus of mine for sometime now as a clinical pharmacist serving serious illness patients nationally.
BREAKING NEWS: CMS FY 2026 Hospice Wage Index FINAL Rule posted in Federal Register
08/10/25 at 03:05 AMBREAKING NEWS: CMS FY 2026 Hospice Wage Index FINAL Rule posted in Federal RegisterCenters for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS); released 8/1/25, 4:15pm EDTAt 4:15 pm on Friday, August 1, the Federal Register posted CMS-1835-F, the FY 2026 Hospice Wage Index final rule.
Medicare and Medicaid: 60 years of health care reform
08/10/25 at 03:00 AMMedicare and Medicaid: 60 years of health care reform Medicare Rights Center; by Jisoo Choi; 7/30/25 On this day 60 years ago, Medicare and Medicaid were signed into law, creating a national health insurance program for older adults, people with disabilities, and people with limited incomes. In the first three years, Medicare and Medicaid enrolled nearly 20 million beneficiaries; today, Medicare has an enrollment of over 68 million and Medicaid, over 71 million. The programs, established amidst sustained public pressure and organizing by labor unions and older adults, have been and remain very popular: recent polling shows 82% of American adults hold a generally favorable view of Medicare, and 97% consider Medicaid to be important to people in their local communities.
Closing the gap: Addressing social determinants of health and racial disparities in hospice care
08/10/25 at 03:00 AMClosing the gap: Addressing social determinants of health and racial disparities in hospice care Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN); by Alyson Cutshall; 8/4/25... While Americans’ health trajectories are inevitable at the time they become eligible for hospice services, SDOH (Social Determinants of Health) still play a major role for the patients and families our field is privileged to serve. ... [To] fully impact health equity, we must be cognizant of other examples of SDOH, such as racism and implicit bias. Unfortunately, our collective field has not been as successful in addressing access to hospice care across differing racial and ethnic groups. ... Certainly, there are some pockets of improved access. One Teleios member organization, Ancora Compassionate Care, recognized the alarming disparities within its community and set about to create change. Ancora leaders recognized that the Black community in their service area typically placed high trust in their religious leaders. To better understand their needs and preferences regarding end-of-life care and services, Ancora embarked on a "listening tour" to gather feedback and insights from these religious leaders. Using the wisdom imparted, Ancora adapted their care delivery to be more inclusive to the Black community. As such, the organization is making incremental improvements in lessening the racial divide in access to hospice care.
Today's Encouragement 8/10/25
08/10/25 at 03:00 AMThe two most important days in your life are the day you were born and the day you find out why. ~Mark Twain
[Netherlands] Voluntarily stopping eating and drinking as a self-chosen path for end of life
08/09/25 at 03:55 AM[Netherlands] Voluntarily stopping eating and drinking as a self-chosen path for end of lifeWorld Medical Journal; Gert van Dijk, Veelke Derckx, Alexander de Graeff; 6/25Moving into the future, it is likely that doctors and other healthcare providers will be confronted more often with patients who would like to explore options for controlling their end of life care. They should correctly inform patients about the various clinical care options, including VSED [voluntarily stopping eating and drinking], and carefully guide them in the event of a decision to choose VSED. If healthcare providers have conscientious objections in providing care to people who choose VSED, then care must be transferred to a healthcare provider who is willing to provide the necessary care.
Palliative delays associated with increased length of stay in older traumatic brain injury patients
08/09/25 at 03:50 AMPalliative delays associated with increased length of stay in older traumatic brain injury patientsThe Journal of Trauma & Acute Care Surgery; by Sarah A Hatfield, Parima Safe, Cleo Siderides, Anjile An, Cassandra V Villegas, Nicole Goulet, Robert J Winchell, Elizabeth Gorman; 7/25Trauma Quality Improvement Program guidelines recommend early goals of care discussions (≤72 hours) for older patients with severe injuries. Patients (55 years or older) with moderate to severe TBI [traumatic brain injury] ... were retrospectively identified at a level I trauma center (2020-2022). Conclusions: Delayed PI [palliative intervention] is associated with increased LOS [length of stay] in older TBI patients, with no survival difference compared with early PI. Palliative interventions should be introduced early to reduce morbidity in patients with potential poor prognosis.
Sex and racial/ethnic differences in end-of-life care in decedents with lung cancer in Texas
08/09/25 at 03:50 AMSex and racial/ethnic differences in end-of-life care in decedents with lung cancer in TexasJournal of Palliative Medicine; by Myrna Katalina Serna, Efstathia Polychronopoulou, Aimee Rodriguez, Anjali Ramachandran, Margaret Goodrich, Sean O'Mahoney, Mukaila Raji, Yong-Fang Kuo; 7/25The lung cancer five-year survival rate is lower for Texans compared with the national average. We assessed sex and racial/ethnic differences in end-of-life care among decedents with lung cancer in Texas [and found that] ... males had more health care utilization and less hospice enrollment. Non-Hispanic Blacks and Hispanics had more health care utilization and less hospice enrollment ... Billed ACP [advance care planning] was low across all groups.
End-of-life course and subspecialty palliative care involvement for children on mechanical circulatory support: Five-center retrospective cohort study from the United States, 2015–2020
08/09/25 at 03:40 AMEnd-of-life course and subspecialty palliative care involvement for children on mechanical circulatory support: Five-center retrospective cohort study from the United States, 2015–2020Pediatric Critical Care Medicine ; by Vazquez Colon, Zasha; Robinson, Lorelei; Lopez-Colon, Dalia; Joong, Anna; Waldman, Elisha; Delgado-Corcoran, Claudia; May, Lindsay J.; Cousino, Melissa K.; Peng, David M.; Lukich, Stevan; Blume, Elizabeth D.; Machado, Desiree S.; M. Moynihan, Katie; 7/25Objectives: To characterize end-of-life (EOL) care and subspecialty palliative care (SPC) involvement in children with heart disease supported on mechanical circulatory support (MCS), including ventricular assist devices (VADs) and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Most pediatric deaths after MCS occur soon after discontinuation of devices while receiving invasive therapies in ICUs. SPC teams were involved in less than half of the cases, with only 21% being consulted early. SPC was associated with more ACP [advance care planning] and less CPR at EOL.
Creating user personas to represent the needs of dementia caregivers who support medication management at home: Persona development and qualitative study
08/09/25 at 03:35 AMCreating user personas to represent the needs of dementia caregivers who support medication management at home: Persona development and qualitative studyJMIR Aging; by Anna Jolliff, Priya Loganathar, Richard J Holden, Anna Linden, Himalaya Patel, Jessica R Lee, Aaron Ganci, Noll Campbell, Malaz Boustani, Nicole E Werner; 7/25Caregiver-assisted medication management plays a critical role in promoting medication adherence and quality of life for people living with Alzheimer disease or related dementias (ADRD). Caregivers in this study demonstrated a range of characteristics and values that informed their approach to medication management. They used a combination of technology-based strategies and strategies situated in their physical environments to manage medications. The personas created can be used to inform interventions, such as digital tools, that address caregivers' unmet needs.
End-of-life care planning among older Vietnamese and Filipino Americans: A qualitative analysis
08/09/25 at 03:30 AMEnd-of-life care planning among older Vietnamese and Filipino Americans: A qualitative analysisJournal of Gerontological Social Work; Carson M. De Fries, My Ngoc To, Peiyuan Zhang, Emerson Ea, Fei Sun, Bei Wu, Sue E. Levkoff, Kaipeng Wang; 7/25Racial and ethnic disparities in end-of-life (EOL) care planning persist, particularly due to limited knowledge of culturally sensitive practices among older Vietnamese and Filipino Americans – two of the largest Southeast Asian American subgroups. Thematic analysis ... revealed a shared belief in the importance of EOL care planning in both groups, driven by the desire to honor personal wishes, reduce burden on family, and minimize conflict. Participants also expressed distrust in healthcare systems and emphasized the influence of family dynamics on EOL decisions. Notable differences emerged: Vietnamese participants more often described cultural practices that encouraged open conversations about death, while Filipino participants cited cultural taboos that hindered such discussions.
Working through grief: Exploring the relationship between organizational support on employee engagement, satisfaction, and loyalty
08/09/25 at 03:15 AMWorking through grief: Exploring the relationship between organizational support on employee engagement, satisfaction, and loyaltyTransdisciplinary Journal of Management; Katie N. Hansen; 7/25For most people, work and grief are unavoidable, meaning the majority of employees will work while grieving. Over the past several decades, employer grief responses have been more strategic than human-focused, leaving the bereaved under-supported. The most significant finding [of this study] is a decline in how engaged, loyal, and satisfied employees feel post-loss. Statistical analysis confirms that bereavement leave, reintegration accommodations, and provided support impact employee engagement, loyalty, and satisfaction, with positive and moderate to high associations existing between several variables. Finally, the results suggest the quality of an employer’s response and support for grieving employees remains insufficient, as the majority of respondents felt the need to take leave in excess of the bereavement leave provided, were not granted flexible work accommodations, and post-loss workloads did not meet their needs.
Ethics of overtreatment and undertreatment in older adults with cancer
08/09/25 at 03:05 AMEthics of overtreatment and undertreatment in older adults with cancerBMC Medical Ethics; by Clark DuMontier, William Dale, Anna C. Revette, Jane Roberts, Ameya Sanyal, Neha Perumal, Eric C. Blackstone, Hajime Uno, Mary I. Whitehead, Lewis Mustian, Tammy T. Hshieh, Jane A. Driver, Gregory A. Abel; 7/25This modified Delphi study convened a panel of experts in biomedical ethics and reached consensus that the principles of beneficence, non-maleficence, and autonomy are related to our previously proposed definitions of over- and undertreatment in older adults with cancer. The panel also reached consensus that, in most cases, it is unethical to make a treatment recommendation without (1) formal assessment of patient frailty (e.g., via a geriatric assessment) and (2) the opportunity for a patient to share their values, goals, and/or preferences. The panel did not reach consensus regarding the relationship between justice and over-/undertreatment; however, the panel concluded that justice applies to undertreatment when an oncologist withholds potentially beneficial cancer treatment in an older patient based on their age alone.
Today's Encouragement 8/9/25
08/09/25 at 03:00 AMNow that I'm older, I catch myself thinking...I wish I had done things differently.But the truth is, I did what I thought was right at the time.I was doing the best I could with what I knew.And that deserves grace, not regret. ~Facebook
[Italy] End-of-life cancer patients’ dignity perception before and during COVID-19 pandemic
08/09/25 at 03:00 AM[Italy] End-of-life cancer patients’ dignity perception before and during COVID-19 pandemicAmerican Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine; by Andrea Bovero, Francesca Cotardo, Erika Tuberosa, Sara Carletto, Francesco Oliva; 8/25The safety and restriction regulations implemented to contain the COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted people’s quality of life compromising the perception of dignity. Preserving dignity for end-of-life patients remains a paramount objective in palliative care. This study aimed to compare dignity levels in terminal cancer patients between pre- and during-pandemic periods... Existential Distress, Loss of Purpose and Meaning, Physical Symptoms and Dependency, Social Support PDI subscales and PDI Total score were higher in the during-pandemic group... Social isolation and other restrictions put in place to contain the COVID-19 pandemic may have had a negative impact on the perception of dignity in cancer patients at the end of life.
Estimating the number of services & patients receiving specialized palliative care globally in 2025
08/09/25 at 03:00 AMEstimating the number of services & patients receiving specialized palliative care globally in 2025 Journal of Pain and Symptom Management; by Stephen R Connor, Eduardo Garralda, Vilma A Tripodoro, Carlos Centeno; 7/28/25 online ahead of print ... In 2025, the estimated number of specialized palliative care service delivery teams worldwide reached approximately 33,700 - representing a 32.7% increase from the 25,000 identified in 2017. Service delivery expanded across all WHO regions except Africa. The estimated number of patients served rose from 7 million in 2017 to approximately 10.4 million in 2025. This figure represents roughly 14% of the total global need for palliative care. ... Despite notable growth in service availability, significant disparities persist, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. While over half of the need appears to be met in high-income countries, only 4.4% is addressed by specialist provision in low and middle-income countries.
Long COVID and returning to work: A hard and frustrating road
08/08/25 at 03:00 AMLong COVID and returning to work: A hard and frustrating road Medscape; by Sara Novak; 8/5/25 ... Around 16 million workers have been affected nationwide by long COVID. Many who initially contracted the virus as a result of their jobs are left with the additional burden of proving that they acquired the condition in the workplace. Without it, they may be unable to file a claim for workers’ compensation insurance, which provides benefits to employees who are injured or become ill on the job.
CIOs’ top 16 emerging technologies
08/08/25 at 03:00 AMCIOs’ top 16 emerging technologies Becker's Health IT; by Giles Bruce; 8/4/25 Emerging technologies such as AI continue to command CIOs’ attention. Here is the emerging tech prioritized by IT chiefs, according to a global survey of more than 200 CIOs by market researcher Futurum published July 28:
Flight of the Dove celebrates 20 years of riding with purpose
08/08/25 at 03:00 AMFlight of the Dove celebrates 20 years of riding with purpose Laurens County Buzz, Laurens County, SC; 8/6/25 Not even the rain could dampen the spirit of this year’s Flight of the Dove, as 255 cyclists from South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia took to the roads on Saturday, August 2, raising an impressive $52,415 for VIA Health Partners – Laurens County [South Carolina]. ... Tom Atwood, Vice President of Philanthropy said, “The cause is worth every mile, and we’re incredibly grateful to everyone who braved the rain to make the 20th anniversary ride a success.” ... Riders were offered multiple route options—14, 30, 50, and 62 miles—as well as a 50-mile “challenge” course with added elevation.