Literature Review

Thyme Care expands serious illness program, giving patients with advanced cancer a dedicated clinical home and fewer avoidable hospitalizations PR Newswire, Nashville, TN; Press Release; 11/5/26 Thyme Care, the nationally recognized oncology company, today announced it is scaling its Serious Illness program to meet growing demand among patients living with serious illness, ... Thyme Care's Serious Illness program closes that gap with continuous, specialist-informed support alongside a patient's oncology care, often reaching patients who might not otherwise receive palliative care until much later in their illness. 

Alzheimer's and hospice awareness month Central Oregon Daily News; by staff; 11/4/26 November is Alzheimer's and Hospice Awareness Month. Simeon Rose and Macy McGregor with Bristol Hospice in Bend remind us that Alzheimer's is not the same thing as dementia. Dementia is an umbrella term that covers several types of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. While memory loss is a common symptom of Alzheimer's disease, it's not the only symptom; it may also affect things like cognition, movement, language, and vision.

Can AI patients make better human communicators? Dartmouth grants put it to the test Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine; by Susan Green; 11/2/26 Working toward a shared vision of diverse and innovative learning opportunities, the Geisel Academy of Educators & Scholars has collaborated with the Center for Learning & Professional Development at Dartmouth Health to create a grant program facilitating innovations in AI simulations using the AI Patient Actor platform created at Dartmouth. The grants support educators interested in turning innovative ideas into educational programs while advancing scholarship and research. ... Academy co-directors Max Vergo, a palliative care physician at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC), and Thomas Thesen, a professor of medical education and director of the medical school’s digital health and AI curriculum, are guiding the project teams use of the AI Patient Actor.

National Hospice and Palliative Care Month: Air ambulance specialist offers perspective on end-of-life transportation support Cision PRWeb, Albuquerque, NM; Press Release by AirCare1; 11/1/26 ... Air transport allows a medically stable hospice patient to travel long distances to be near family, either at home or in a facility closer to loved ones. ... Patient wishes sometimes include a change of place. A medical flight for a hospice patient can transport them from a hospital to their home in another state, avoiding the strain of a long drive or a commercial flight. Departure happens only once the patient is stable, so the trip becomes a planned step in care. Families weighing an air ambulance for end-of-life transport should make an informed decision before choosing a provider. The type of air transport matters. Jets handle long-range trips, while helicopters suit shorter distances, so they must weigh up the type of transport. An air ambulance should also carry the equipment needed to act as an intensive care unit in flight, helping patients receive appropriate care while in transport.

Austin nonprofits and philanthropists making a difference Modern Luxury, Austin, TX; by The Editors; 10/26/26 In Austin, generosity runs deep. Meet the individuals and organizations who lift lives across the city and invite all of us to share in the rewarding work. ... Project Transitions, a nonprofit founded in 1988 that provides housing, recuperative care, and hospice for people living with HIV, operates a 61-unit supportive housing community called Burnet Place. Austinite Terry Eaton, the president and chief curator of Eaton Fine Art, recently collaborated with Austin artists to curate a pro bono art collection there, extending more than two decades of support ahead of World AIDS Day, Dec. 1. projecttransitions.org 

Miss Brevard, St. Francis Hospice launch flag campaign for veterans Hometown News, Melbourne, FL; by D. Warren; 10/25/26 Miss Brevard County Florida 2026 Kayleigh Mollycheck is partnering with St. Francis Hospice Foundation on a countywide campaign to provide American flags to veterans served by St. Francis Hospice. Through “Stars, Stripes & Service: 1,000 Flags for Veterans,” community members, businesses and organizations can sponsor a flag with a $20 donation. Each flag will be presented to a veteran served by St. Francis Hospice and their family as a symbol of gratitude and respect for their military service. With more than 70,000 veterans living in Brevard County, this initiative is more than a fundraiser.  

Arkansas man renews his vows to wife as his last wish KFSM 19 CBS, Bentonville, AR; by AJ Mendez; 10/22/26 Bryan and Terri Rose renewed their vows Wednesday, marking the first time a “Wish Upon a Wedding” event took place in Arkansas. Wish Upon a Wedding is a program similar to ‘Make a Wish’ that grants couples where one person has a terminal illness their last wishes. Bryan has Stage 4 colon cancer and was admitted to hospice earlier this week. Even through his terminal illness, he wanted to make sure his promises to Terri were restated.

Before the holidays, Glenview families are invited to learn how to start the conversations they keep putting off Newsnet, Glenview, IL; by EIN Presswire; 10/20/26 For many families, the holidays are when they finally notice it. A parent who seems more tired, a few new dents on the car, a house that isn’t quite being kept up the way it used to be. And then everyone goes home without saying anything. ...

The #1 thing to never say to someone when their pet passes away, according to experts The Telegraph, Macon, GA; by Aleksandar Mishkov; 10/18/26 Most people who say the wrong thing after a pet dies are truly trying to help and offer their support. They may try to find a phrase to use that sounds comforting—like maybe something they said that worked when a distant relative passed or when a coworker lost a parent—but instead, it may actually make someone who has lost a pet feel worse without the person realizing they’ve made the grieving person feel that way. ... "At least."  Whenever you say “at least” as in “at least they lived a long life,” “at least they’re not suffering anymore” or “at least you have other pets,” you are not being as comforting as you think you’re being.Editor's Note: For many of us, our first experiences of death and grief are when a family pet dies. This can transfer directly to our language and beliefs about people. Reflect back to the death of a beloved pet in your life. At that painful time, how were you supported best? Worst? What connections do you see in your communications about loss and grief?

Social work roles and ethics in U.S. medical aid in dying Health & Social Work; Cynthia Helen Nover; 9/26This article fills a gap in the literature by discussing U.S. social work roles and MAiD [medical aid in dying] through an ethical decision-making framework and suggests social work roles, ethics, and risks of MAiD. Mandatory reporting expectations for U.S. social workers may cause confusion with MAiD, so it is important to distinguish between harm to self and MAiD (which is legal in 12 states and the District of Columbia) for hastening death. Relevant ethical expectations include self-determination, social justice, dignity and worth of a person, informed consent, and competence. Terms related to MAiD, including voluntary stopping of eating and drinking, and the current U.S. legal context for social work practice in this area are also described herein.

A perfect strike: hospice resident relives glory days as professional bowler with special trip to Wayward Social Time-Republican; by Robert Maharry; 10/3/26 Barbara Rothman, a current resident at Iowa River Hospice, has lived an extraordinary life: she served in the U.S. Army and helped to design and create outfits for the soldier shows, and she also enjoyed a career as a professional bowler in the Newark, N.J. area many years ago. So when it was time to plan a special surprise for her through IRH's "Making Moments Matter" program, the answer was simple: she just wanted to go bowling one last time. [See inspirational photo]

Educating the hospice workforce on pediatric concurrent care: A national workshop approachJournal of Pain & Symptom Management; by Rakhshanda Ramzan, Lisa C Lindley, Logan Hoover, Jia Liang, Markeya Martin, Salina Temesghen, Meaghann S Weaver; 9/26Medicaid insures most children at the end of life and mandates concurrent hospice and curative care coverage. Uptake remains inconsistent, partly due to hospice workforce unfamiliarity with the benefit and concerns about compliance. A brief virtual workshop shifted hospice workforce perceptions of pediatric concurrent care, revealing gaps in baseline understanding and increasing awareness of implementation challenges. Findings informed development of a Pediatric Concurrent Care Toolkit and suggest that practical implementation resources, policy guidance, and family-centered communication tools may be needed to improve uptake and access to concurrent care.

Hispanic Heritage Month 2026: resources for hospice and palliative care