Literature Review
How to talk to your loved ones about end of life wishes
10/22/25 at 03:00 AMHow to talk to your loved ones about end of life wishes Those Nerdy Girls; by Rebecca Raskin-Wish; 10/17/25 It’s important to have discussions about what you want the end of your time on earth to look like and have a healthcare proxy and an advance directive in place. When my sister and I were teenagers, my mom sat us down, and in a potentially more dramatic fashion than the moment called for, she said, “Girls, my death could happen any moment, and we need to talk about it.” ...
Why caring for a parent is hard for doctors
10/22/25 at 03:00 AMWhy caring for a parent is hard for doctors MedPage Today's KevinMD.com; by Barbara Sparacino, MD; 10/19/25 I can sit with patients and families and talk about hospice, dementia, or end-of-life care without hesitation. Years of training as a physician and geriatric psychiatrist have prepared me for those conversations. But when my own parent needed care, all that training suddenly felt useless. Medical knowledge didn’t shield me from fear or guilt. It didn’t stop the second-guessing that came with every decision. It didn’t help me navigate the family disagreements about “what Mom would have wanted.” In that moment, I wasn’t the physician. I was the daughter, and that was far more complicated. Why caring for our parents feels different ...
Study: Nearly two-thirds of nursing home residents were exposed to med combos linked to potential drug-drug interactions
10/22/25 at 03:00 AMStudy: Nearly two-thirds of nursing home residents were exposed to med combos linked to potential drug-drug interactions McKnights Long-Term Care News; by Foster Stubbs; 10/17/25 About 62% of nursing home residents experienced one or more drug-drug interactions (DDI) between 2018 and 2020, according to an October study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. Researchers examined 485,251 Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries 66 years or older living in nursing homes with observable Medicare Part D prescription drug data. Data were drawn from Medicare claims linked to Minimum Data Set 3.0 clinical assessments.
The power of music, art, and pet therapy in hospice care
10/22/25 at 03:00 AMThe power of music, art, and pet therapy in hospice care 607NewsNow, Ithaca, NY; by Maddie Cavataio; 10/10/25 Hospice care isn’t only about easing physical pain, it’s also about nurturing the mind and spirit. Creative and alternative therapies like music, art, and pet therapy are helping patients find comfort, connection, and moments of joy during one of life’s most challenging times. Music therapy can have a profound effect on mood, memory, and relaxation. ... Art therapy provides another outlet for self-expression. ... Pet therapy adds yet another dimension of comfort. ... Many patients light up when a friendly animal visits, offering unconditional love and a welcome distraction from medical routines. ... These holistic therapies remind us that hospice care is about living fully, right up to the end.
GeriPal Live! at NPCRC Foley Retreat: Dio Kavalieratos, Prasanna Ananth, Alexi Wright
10/22/25 at 03:00 AMGeriPal Live! at NPCRC Foley Retreat: Dio Kavalieratos, Prasanna Ananth, Alexi WrightGeriPal podcast; by Eric Widera, Alex Smith, Dio Kavalieratos, Prasanna Ananth, Alexi Wright; 10/16/25Today we join you from beautiful Banff, Alberta, Canada at the National Palliative Care Research Center (NPCRC) annual Kathleen Foley retreat... On today’s podcast, we invited Dio Kavalieratos, Prasanna Ananth, and Alexi Wright to join us to talk about three articles that spoke to them. Prasanna chose an article by Abby Rosenberg about being fired in palliative care... Dio chose an article about the economic benefits of palliative care internationally, a call to action... Alexi chose an article about cancer care in prison.
Lancaster woman sentenced to home detention for role in hospice fraud
10/22/25 at 03:00 AMLancaster woman sentenced to home detention for role in hospice fraud MSN, Lancaster, CA; 10/16/25 A Lancaster woman was ordered Wednesday [10/15] to serve 12 months of home detention and pay a $100,000 fine for her role in a hospice fraud scheme that netted more than $3.2 million from Medicare. Callie Jean Black, 66, was convicted in March at the conclusion of a four-day bench trial in Los Angeles federal court of four counts of soliciting and receiving remunerations for patient referrals, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
An age-old fear grows more common: ‘I’m going to die alone’
10/22/25 at 03:00 AMAn age-old fear grows more common: ‘I’m going to die alone’ Miami Herald; by Judith Graham, Kaiser Health News; 10/17/25 This summer, at dinner with her best friend, Jacki Barden raised an uncomfortable topic: the possibility that she might die alone. “I have no children, no husband, no siblings,” Barden remembered saying. “Who’s going to hold my hand while I die?” ... It’s something that many older adults who live alone — a growing population, more than 16 million strong in 2023 — wonder about. ... More than 15 million people 55 or older don’t have a spouse or biological children; nearly 2 million have no family members at all.
Health Data Analytics Institute (HDAI) deploys innovative use of LLMs for summarizing and supporting patient preferences at a leading cancer center
10/21/25 at 03:00 AMHealth Data Analytics Institute (HDAI) deploys innovative use of LLMs for summarizing and supporting patient preferences at a leading cancer center Bluegrass Live; by PR Newswire, Boston, MA; 10/20/25 An innovative new protocol called Better Real-time Information on Documentation of Goals of care for Engagement in Serious Illness Communication (BRIDGE-SIC) is being launched today at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. BRIDGE-SIC uses Health Data Analytics Institute (HDAI) large language models (LLMs) to extract and summarize patients' goals of care conversations and their risk stratification tools for patient selection. The AI summaries identify and summarize prior goals of care conversations documented in patients' medical records and share them with inpatient and outpatient clinicians when patients with cancer are admitted to the hospital.
GeriPal Live! at CAPC: Karen Bullock, Kim Curseen, Matt Gonzales
10/21/25 at 03:00 AMGeriPal Live! at CAPC: Karen Bullock, Kim Curseen, Matt GonzalesGeriPal podcast; by Eric Widera, Alex Smith, Karen Bullock, Kim Curseen, Matt Gonzales; 10/9/25Eric and I had the pleasure of doing a GeriPal Live! Podcast as the closing keynote for the recent Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC) National Assembly in Philadelphia PA. For this podcast, we invited 3 guests to each select an article of interest to them, and engage in a discussion about the article, including questions from the CAPC attendees in the audience. Matt Gonzales used AI to select an article by Ravi Parikh on algorithm based nudges to default patients with advanced cancer into a palliative care consult... Kim Curseen selected an article by Harry Han in JPSM that surveyed palliative care fellowships... Karen Bullock selected a letter she first authored in response to Ira Byock’s white paper on a path forward in hospice and palliative care.
How to support a loved one through cancer treatment
10/21/25 at 03:00 AMHow to support a loved one through cancer treatmentNPR; by Marielle Segarra; 10/7/25I finished treatment for cancer a little over a year ago. Around that time, I was finally feeling well enough to take a trip and I went to Arizona for a few days to be in nature, see some cactuses. My friend, Zoe Saunders, texted me while I was there. She knew someone else whose friend had the same kind of cancer that I did. So Zoe asked me what advice did I have. As someone who just finished treatment, what was helpful and what wasn't? I sent her this voice memo...
Should doctors show more empathy?
10/21/25 at 03:00 AMShould doctors show more empathy?Pain News Network; by Carol Levy; 10/6/25So many of us have complained, rightly so, about doctors not listening to us. They often ignore our words... Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, a teaching hospital in Boston, has taken steps to incorporate empathy into the doctor-patient experience. The hospital’s patient intake forms have two questions designed to build empathy. The first is “How would you like to be addressed?”... The second question is “What is your main concern for this visit?"
How pop culture influences choices around death, dying
10/21/25 at 03:00 AMHow pop culture influences choices around death, dying Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 10/20/25 The popular media that people consume, including television shows, can influence their end-of-life decision making. This is according to new research from End Well, a nonprofit dedicated to the belief that all people should experience the end of life in a way that matches their values and goals. The study examines whether pop culture storylines that involve death and dying influence viewers’ behavior when it comes to advance care planning.
HCA rebrands 35-plus sites in South Carolina
10/21/25 at 03:00 AMHCA rebrands 35-plus sites in South Carolina Becker's Health IT; by Giles Bruce; 10/16/25 Over 35 sites of care in South Carolina have rebranded under the HCA Healthcare name. The Nashville, Tenn.-based health system said the new names will make it easier for patients to understand that the facilities, which have been part of HCA for decades, are connected. “By consolidating under the HCA Healthcare name, we’re reinforcing our collective commitment to the communities we serve,” said Hugh Tappan, president of HCA Healthcare’s Charleston, S.C.-based South Atlantic Division, in an Oct. 14 news release. ... The new hospital names include: ...
The results are in: Palliative care professionals share how they’re doing in 2025
10/21/25 at 03:00 AMThe results are in: Palliative care professionals share how they’re doing in 2025CAPC blog; by Rachael Heitner; 10/8/25CAPC’s second annual Palliative Pulse survey offers insight on how palliative care professionals across the country are feeling this year and what they’re focused on—see how they responded... This year, 854 palliative care professionals participated in the Palliative Pulse survey... Top concerns for the coming year:
How leaders can learn to listen: Emotional intelligence and aligned purpose can transform the way teams communicate and get results
10/21/25 at 03:00 AMHow leaders can learn to listen: Emotional intelligence and aligned purpose can transform the way teams communicate and get results Comstock's Magazine; by Laurie Lauletta-Boshart; 10/20/25 ... Jessica Kriegel, who has a Ph.D. in human resources development and educational leadership and management, ... worked with Joshua’s House Hospice, a Sacramento nonprofit organization that provides hospice care to terminally ill homeless men and women, to determine the best way to hire employees who would stay long term. “They were looking to attract the right talent, but also wanted to retain that talent and make sure they were motivated and fulfilled in their work,” says Kriegel. Instead of a culture fit, Kriegel and her team advanced a purpose fit, where the organization’s purpose and the personal purpose of those they hired were aligned.
Driving sales and admissions success in hospice care
10/21/25 at 03:00 AMDriving sales and admissions success in hospice careTranscend Strategy Group; 10/13/25Behind every referral, every admission and every family supported by hospice care is a story. It is the story of providers working against the clock, of families making overwhelming choices, and of staff navigating the delicate balance between operational realities and the urgent need for compassionate care. Hospice admissions and sales are not merely about numbers or processes – they represent moments when trust, urgency and compassion converge.
Tumor infiltration of major blood vessels, not metastasis, may be primary cause of cancer death
10/21/25 at 03:00 AMTumor infiltration of major blood vessels, not metastasis, may be primary cause of cancer deathMedical Xpress; UT Southwestern Medical Center; 10/16/25The ultimate cause of death from cancer may not be metastatic disease, as researchers have long surmised, but an infiltration of tumors into major blood vessels that cause blood clots and multiorgan failure, a one-of-a-kind clinical study led by UT Southwestern Medical Center suggests. These findings, published in Nature Medicine, could spur interventions that extend the lives of patients with advanced cancers. "The big question we were trying to answer: What kills cancer patients? Why do they die one specific day rather than six months earlier or later?" said Matteo Ligorio, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Surgery and in the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Don't count the days ...
10/21/25 at 03:00 AMDon't count the day; make the days count. ~ Muhammad Ali
Rural Health Transformation Program must consider care at home, Alliance tells CMS
10/21/25 at 02:00 AMRural Health Transformation Program must consider care at home, Alliance tells CMS McKnights Home Care; by Adam Healy; 10/17/25 As stakeholders compete for funding from the Rural Health Transformation Program, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ $50 billion rural healthcare grant initiative, home care providers are asking for their cut. “The RHTP represents a chance to reshape rural health systems around a continuum of care that extends beyond hospital walls,” Steve Landers, MD, chief executive officer of the National Alliance for Care at Home, said Wednesday in a letter to CMS. “The National Alliance for Care at Home strongly urges CMS to view home-based care not as an adjunct, but as an essential partner in the transformation of rural health delivery.”
Study examines biological causes of cancer deaths: Tumors invading large blood vessels may be to blame, UTSW researchers say
10/20/25 at 03:00 AMStudy examines biological causes of cancer deaths: Tumors invading large blood vessels may be to blame, UTSW researchers say UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX; by Newsroom; 10/16/25 The ultimate cause of death from cancer may not be metastatic disease, as researchers have long surmised, but an infiltration of tumors into major blood vessels that cause blood clots and multiorgan failure, a one-of-a-kind clinical study led by UT Southwestern Medical Center suggests. These findings, published in Nature Medicine, could spur interventions that extend the lives of patients with advanced cancers.
[England] Ambulance team uses advanced ultrasound to help frail patients avoid hospital trips
10/20/25 at 03:00 AM[England] Ambulance team uses advanced ultrasound to help frail patients avoid hospital trips Emergency Services Times; by James Devonshire; 10/16/25 The East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST) is using cutting-edge medical technology to help elderly and end-of-life care patients receive treatment in their own homes, reducing the need for hospital admissions. The service’s advanced practice (urgent care) team has introduced point of care ultrasound (POCUS)—a portable diagnostic tool previously reserved for critically ill patients—to assess bladder and urinary conditions safely and effectively in community settings. Using the handheld Butterfly ultrasound device, paramedics can perform scans and interpret results via software on iPads, allowing for faster and more accurate diagnoses.
Letters without limits: Linda McDaniel
10/20/25 at 03:00 AMLetters without limits: Linda McDaniel The Johns Hopkins News-Letter; by Max Siauw and Linda McDaniel; 10/18/25 Letters Without Limits, founded by students at Johns Hopkins and Brown University, connects volunteers with palliative care and hospice patients to co-create “Legacy Letters.” These letters capture memories, values and lessons that patients wish to share, preserving stories that might otherwise be lost. By honoring these voices and preserving legacies, Letters Without Limits hopes to affirm the central role of humanism in medicine, reminding us that every patient is more than their illness and that their voices deserve to be heard. As you read these powerful Legacy Letters, we invite you to pause, reflect and recognize the beauty in every life.
Uruguay's legislature votes to legalize euthanasia, a first for South America
10/20/25 at 03:00 AMUruguay's legislature votes to legalize euthanasia, a first for South America CBS News; by Associated Press; 10/16/25 Uruguay's senate passed a law decriminalizing euthanasia on Wednesday, putting the South American nation among a handful of other countries where seriously ill patients can legally obtain help to end their lives. It makes Uruguay the first country in predominantly Catholic Latin America to allow euthanasia via legislation. Colombia and Ecuador have decriminalized the practice through Supreme Court decisions. ... Fierce debates and spirited activism around the practice has gripped the region in recent years. ... The law, which moved forward in fits and starts over the last five years, cleared its final hurdle on Wednesday as 20 out of 31 senators voted in favor.