Literature Review

Hospice AI - Summarize national and state hospice utilization trends over the past 10 yearsHospice & Palliative Care Today staff; 9/15/25Today we asked ChatGPT to summarize hospice utilization trends over the past decade. One "key takeaway" was that growth is slowing nationally, suggesting hospice has matured in penetration, though opportunities remain in underutilizing states. Click here for the 4-page detailed summary, including AI-generated charts. Of note, while the AI-generated charts were correct, the accompaning text was incorrect - reinforcing the need for humans to double-check output!

Holistic nursing in BSN programs: A patient-centered approach Nevada State University; 9/9/25 ... Holistic care in nursing reflects a broader vision, encouraging nurses to see patients as whole people rather than conditions to be managed. Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs are responding by weaving holistic care into both coursework and clinical experiences. From teaching cultural sensitivity and ethics to encouraging self-care, these programs prepare nurses to build stronger relationships with patients while promoting healing on multiple levels. The result is a patient-centered approach that benefits individuals, families, and communities alike.

Federal long-term care advisory commission proposed McKnights Long-Term Care News; by Kimberly Marselas; 9/14/25 A National Advisory Commission on long-term care would be created under a bill introduced Thursday [9/11] that is intended to provide recommendations to Congress over the next decade. US Sens. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and John Boozman (R-AR) said the commission would address a growing number of issues for seniors and others in need of long-term help with activities of daily living. The bipartisan Supporting Our Seniors Act directs a 12-member commission to assess and provide recommendations to Congress on improving service delivery, financing, workforce adequacy, and other issues related to access and affordability.

Fulfilling end-of-life dreams: A scoping review of bucket lists in palliative and hospice care Palliative Supportive Care - Cambridge University Press; by Swasati Handique, Michael Bennett and Scott D Ryan; 9/12/25 Results: Four major themes were established using thematic content analysis: (1) impact on holistic well-being, (2) role of family in wish fulfillment, (3) cultivation of gratitude, and (4) collaborative leadership in wish fulfillment. In wish fulfillment, the results significantly pointed to the need for more intricate evaluation among patients and interventions that cover beyond the physical aspect. Significance of results: Palliative and hospice care settings should work toward securing sustainable funding for structured wish-fulfillment programs to address existing accessibility gaps and further enhance the holistic nature of care in these settings. Editor's Note: For hospice organizations that can receive donations, setting up a Wish/Bucket LIst fund makes for a meaningful, easy-to-demonstrate ROI on donated gifts. You need to have some type of discretionary review/approval process in place, with assurances of confidentiality when important to the person and/or family.

The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary. ~ Vince Lombardi

Senior health, home health & hospice stocks Q2 highlights StockStory; by Kayode Omotosho; 9/10/25 ... Looking ahead, the industry is positioned for tailwinds from an aging population, increasing chronic disease prevalence, and a growing preference for personalized in-home care. Advancements in remote monitoring and telehealth are expected to enhance efficiency and care delivery. However, headwinds such as labor shortages, wage inflation, and regulatory uncertainty around reimbursement could pose challenges. Investments in digitization and technology-driven care will be critical for long-term success. The 7 senior health, home health & hospice stocks we track reported a mixed Q2. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 2%.

SCAN continues to expand PACE business amid regulatory hurdles Becker's Payer Issues; by Jakob Emerson; 9/9/25 With its second Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly center now open in South Los Angeles, SCAN Group is pressing ahead with a care model that faces steep regulatory challenges. The new 33,000-square-foot facility in Compton will provide low or no-cost medical, social and in-home services for seniors eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. The center builds on myPlace Health’s first PACE site, which opened near downtown Los Angeles in 2024. The two centers now serve 136 members, with enrollment expected to exceed 150 in the coming months. 

[New Zealand] 'Cuddle beds' for terminally-ill hospice patients BBC News, New Zealand; by Jack Silver; 9/5/25 A hospice in Guernsey has installed seven "cuddle beds" for patients with life-limiting or terminal illnesses. The beds, which cost £17,000 each, widen to allow patients to lie next to and embrace their love ones or pets. Les Bourgs Hospice, in St Andrews, said the beds brought "comfort, dignity, and human connection" to patients and their families. Rob Jones, from Les Bourgs, said the beds would help with the hospice's mission to "support people at one of the most difficult times of their life."

Over 240 advocates rally in DC for the future of care at home: National Alliance for Care at Home hosts Inaugural Advocacy Week on Capitol Hill National Alliance for Care at Home, Alexandria, VA and Washington, DC; Press Release; 9/12/25 More than 240 care at home care advocates from across the country met with over 275 congressional offices this week to discuss key legislative and regulatory priorities for expanding access to home-based care services. The meetings were part of the 2025 National Alliance for Care at Home’s inaugural Advocacy Week. Alliance Advocacy Week brings together leaders, advocates, and supporters to unite as one voice for care at home, driving positive legislative change and shaping the future of care to ensure broader access to the life-changing home care services for all Americans. 

Research digs into costs, opportunities in hospice, palliative care Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 9/9/25 Researchers have recently uncovered significant financial trends taking shape in hospice and palliative care. Issues examined relate to cost-effectiveness, Medicare Advantage spending patterns, caregivers’ financial challenges and the cost-effectiveness of palliative care.

Caregiving under the Medicare Hospice Benefit JAMA Internal Medicine - Viewpoint Aging and Health; by Helen P. Knight, MD; Richard E. Leiter, MD, MA; Harry J. Han, MD; 9/8/25 As palliative care physicians, we frequently refer patients to hospice care. When we do so, we often worry about them. How will they and their families manage custodial care—the day in, day out, physical and financial demands of caregiving—on top of navigating the inherent challenges of end of life? We know that high-quality hospice agencies provide patients and their families with invaluable support for symptomatic, emotional, and spiritual needs. But in the US, due to constraints of Medicare reimbursement, hospice agencies provide only limited custodial care support; this lack of assistance often is an unwelcome surprise to our patients and families and profoundly shapes their end-of-life experience.

Husband and wife have emotional reunion after a year apart while dealing with dementia People; by Sam Gillette; 9/4/25 "We are humbled to help turn final wishes into treasured memories," a hospice official says of Everett Linton and his wife. ... An 88-year-old former truck driver from Cincinnati was able to hitch a ride to see his wife for the first time in almost a year, leading to an emotional reunion. “I'm ridin', I'm going to see my wife,” Everett Linton told a reporter from ABC affiliate WCPO from the passenger seat of a semi-truck. The nostalgic ride and reunion on Aug. 22 were organized by his care facility, Luminary Hospice Cincinnati, and the facility where his wife, Patricia, is staying, Majestic Care of Fairfield Assisted Living in Fairfield, Ohio.