Literature Review
Alzheimer’s definitions, biomarkers, and antibodies: Halima Amjad, Barak Gaster, and Heather Whitson
03/22/26 at 03:30 AMAlzheimer’s definitions, biomarkers, and antibodies: Halima Amjad, Barak Gaster, and Heather WhitsonGeriPAL podcast; by Alex Smith, Eric Widera, Halima Amjad, Barak Gaster, Heather Whitson; 3/12/26It’s an era of breakthroughs in Alzheimer’s research, yet for many clinicians, it’s also a time of profound uncertainty. We are currently navigating competing definitions of the disease, multiple new biomarkers coming on market seemingly every week, and the clinical rollout of new amyloid antibodies. How do we translate this rapid-fire science into daily practice? On this week’s GeriPal podcast... we dive deep into:
Will Scotland be the first [in the UK] to legalise assisted dying?
03/22/26 at 03:25 AMWill Scotland be the first [in the UK] to legalise assisted dying? BBC News; by James Cook, Scotland editor; 3/16/26 For more than a year, Scottish politicians have been grappling with matters of life and death as they debated one of the most contested bills in the history of devolution. Tuesday's (3/10) final Scottish Parliament vote on the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill is seen as too close to call. But, if it passes, Scotland could become the first nation in the UK to legalise assisted dying. ... Critics of the bill have called it dangerous and say MSPs should focus instead on improving end-of-life care. ... [Supporters of the bill have] said the result was a "bulletproof" bill which amounted to "the toughest and most comprehensively-safeguarded" such legislation in the world.
[Spain] Queen Letizia supports universal access to palliative care
03/22/26 at 03:20 AM[Spain] Queen Letizia supports universal access to palliative care Aragon Health Research Institute | Biomedical Research Center; Press Release; 3/16/26 Her Majesty Queen Letizia received a delegation from the Spanish Society of Palliative Care (SECPAL) with representatives from all essential professional profiles in palliative care. During the meeting, they conveyed to Queen Letizia the current situation of palliative care in Spain as well as the important challenges that persist ... Queen Letizia showed her sensitivity and commitment towards ... those facing advanced illnesses or who are at the end of their lives, and conveyed to SECPAL her support for initiatives aimed at strengthening the development of palliative care in Spain. ... Faced with this reality, SECPAL handed the queen over a decalogue [ten-point plan] which outlines the priorities for the development of palliative care in our country, such as ensuring that there are sufficient resources and appropriately trained teams at all levels of care.
Hospice fraud explodes in California after state ‘crackdown’: 742 flagged providers, $105 million overbilled, and ghost offices
03/22/26 at 03:15 AMHospice fraud explodes in California after state ‘crackdown’: 742 flagged providers, $105 million overbilled, and ghost offices California Globe; by Megan Barth; 3/11/26 California investigative reporter Christian Hartsock, in collaboration with California State Assembly woman Alexandra Macedo for the California Courier, released a breaking undercover investigation just days ago, exposing dozens of suspicious hospice and home healthcare agencies in Los Angeles. Their on-site visits revealed hundreds of companies registered to crumbling buildings with no ramps, no handicap parking, disconnected phones, and signs reading “Out to Lunch.” Hartsock’s footage highlights how over $3.5 billion in Medi-Cal fraud has been identified in Los Angeles County alone, with 31% of all U.S. hospices registered there despite only 2% of the nation’s aging seniors residing in the area.
Call for applications: Investigator in Residence Program
03/22/26 at 03:10 AMCall for applications: Investigator in Residence ProgramASCENT press release; 3/2/26The Advancing the Science of Palliative Care Research Across the Lifespan (ASCENT) Consortium invites applications for its 2026 Investigator in Residence Program. The goal of this program is to increase the number of palliative care investigators, expand the range of institutions where palliative care research is performed, and develop scientific and leadership capabilities leading to future successful grant proposals, both through ASCENT and extramurally. Applications due Thursday, March 26 at 5:00 pm PT.
Alliance concerned by MedPAC’s misguided 2026 home health and hospice payment recommendations
03/22/26 at 03:05 AMAlliance concerned by MedPAC’s misguided 2026 home health and hospice payment recommendations National Alliance for Care at Home, Alexandira, VA and Washington, DC; Press Release; 3/13/26The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) is deeply concerned by the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission’s (MedPAC) March 2026 Report to Congress: Medicare Payment Policy. MedPAC’s congressionally mandated report provides analysis and recommendations on various Medicare programs, including home health and hospice. The Commission’s findings focus on payment adequacy, access to care, quality, financial performance, and projections for 2026 and beyond. The Alliance previously expressed concern in response to MedPAC’s vote in January 2026.
MedPAC: March 2026 Report to Congress
03/22/26 at 03:00 AMMedPAC: March 2026 Report to CongressMedPAC Reports; 3/12/26Medicare Benefit: National health care spending grew rapidly in 2023 and 2024, by 7 percent in each of these years. By 2024, national health care spending totaled $5.3 trillion. Health care spending has made up an increasing share of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) over time, rising from about 13 percent of GDP in 2000 to 18 percent in 2024. Medicare spending grew more rapidly than national health care spending in 2023 and 2024 (by 9 percent and 8 percent, respectively), in part due to changes in Part D financing that shifted more of the cost of prescription drug coverage from beneficiaries to the federal government. By 2024, Medicare spending totaled $1.1 trillion—equivalent to 21 percent of national health care spending and 3.8 percent of GDP. (Please see the full report here for additional detail.)
Sunday newsletters
03/22/26 at 03:00 AMSunday newsletters focus on headlines and top read stories of the last week (in order) - enjoy!
It is not the critic who counts...
03/22/26 at 03:00 AMIt is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat. ~Theodore Roosevelt, Speech at the Sorbonne, Paris, April 23, 1910
The Harvard Child Bereavement Study
03/21/26 at 03:45 AMThe Harvard Child Bereavement StudyDeath Studies; by Donna L Schuurman, Monique B Mitchell; 2/26The 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.
Identifying key components of neuropalliative care fellowship using nominal group technique
03/21/26 at 03:40 AMIdentifying key components of neuropalliative care fellowship using nominal group techniqueJournal 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; 2/26There 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.
Building health equity for Minnesota’s Hmong community: The role and impact of the Hmong
03/21/26 at 03:35 AMBuilding health equity for Minnesota’s Hmong community: The role and impact of the HmongHmong Studies Journal; by Yeng M. Yang; 2/26This 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).
Effects of psychoeducation on burden, depression, and anxiety in informal caregivers of patients with dementia: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials
03/21/26 at 03:30 AMEffects of psychoeducation on burden, depression, and anxiety in informal caregivers of patients with dementia: A systematic review of randomized controlled trialsWestern Journal of Nursing Research; by Hyeyeon Shin, Chanchanok Wandee, Kathy D. Wright, Dónal P. O’Mathúna; 2/26As 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.
End-of-life antibiotic stewardship: Perspectives from the ESCMID Study Groups for antimicrobial stewardship and infections in the elderly
03/21/26 at 03:25 AMThe business case for family caregiver skills training: Results from a multisite trial in the Veterans health care system
03/21/26 at 03:20 AMThe business case for family caregiver skills training: Results from a multisite trial in the Veterans health care systemJournal of the American Medical Directors Association; 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; 2/26Increasing 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.
The legal, constitutional, and ethical aspects of medical assistance in dying in the state of New York
03/21/26 at 03:15 AMHospice and palliative care during COVID-19 in New York City: Clinician-reported patient and family experiences and lessons for future crises
03/21/26 at 03:10 AMHospice and palliative care during COVID-19 in New York City: Clinician-reported patient and family experiences and lessons for future crisesAmerican 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; 2/26The 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.
Supporting family caregivers’ clinical communication skills: Adapting a cancer caregiver communication model for dementia caregiving
03/21/26 at 03:05 AM[Italy] Vicarious post-traumatic growth in health professionals facing their patients’ end of life
03/21/26 at 03:05 AM[Italy] Vicarious post-traumatic growth in health professionals facing their patients’ end of lifeEuropean Journal of Trauma & Dissociation; by David Faggi, Gabriella Aprea, Chiara Fioretti; 3/26This 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.
Today's Encouragement
03/21/26 at 03:00 AMI'm not afraid of death; I just don't want to be there when it happens. ~Woody Allen
Saturday newsletters
03/21/26 at 03:00 AMSaturday newsletters focus on headlines and research - enjoy!
[Canada] Cultural safety in practice: Providing quality health care for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children and youth Free
03/21/26 at 03:00 AM[Canada] Cultural safety in practice: Providing quality health care for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children and youth FreePaediatrics & Child Health; by Emilie Beaulieu, Sara Citron, Ryan Giroux, Cheyenne Laforme, Amber Miners, Brett Schrewe, Elizabeth Sellers; 2/26In 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.
The ASCENT Consortium: A new resource to support palliative care science across the lifespan
03/21/26 at 03:00 AMThe ASCENT Consortium: A new resource to support palliative care science across the lifespanJournal 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; 2/26The 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...