Literature Review

What is healthspan, and how can you extend yours? MSN - Everyday Health; by Sarah Klein; 11/11/25 Many people want to live as long as possible. But what about living as well as possible? Thats the idea behind extending whats called your healthspan. Healthspan is the length of time you live in good health, able to stay active, independent, and mentally sharp while doing the things you enjoy, ... 

"The Wounded Generation": Bearing the invisible scars of war CBS News; by Lesley Stahl; 11/9/25 In 1984, President Reagan commemorated the 40th anniversary of the invasion of Normandy, and paid tribute to the World War II soldiers known as "The Greatest Generation." ... But in his new book, historian David Nasaw calls them "The Wounded Generation." "They are the Greatest Generation, but they returned from war, bringing wounds home with them that are invisible; they're psychic wounds," he said. "Now we know that a lot of those wounds were PTSD. But PTSD was not diagnosed for 40 years after the return of the World War II veterans. ... Nasaw said [of his own father,] "He came home smoking three or four packs of Luckys a day. He came home with a heart condition from the war. He dies at age 61. And I had never had the chance to find out what happened in Eritrea, what he went through. So, what do I do as a historian? I can't find out his story, so I jumped in to find out the story of his generation."Editor's Note: While most World War II veterans are now gone, many of today’s hospice patients—particularly those who served in combat—carry similar invisible scars. Their psychic wounds, once unnamed, often resurface in life’s final chapter. This story also echoes in their adult children, who now seek to understand the unspoken pain that shaped their families. For more insight and support—especially regarding post-9/11 veterans—see the Wounded Warriors Project. 

Non-profit that brought beauty, joy to hospice patients closes its doors Gold Country Media, Auburn, CA; by Midori Sperandeo; 11/4/25It has been said flowers are sunshine and medicine for the soul. For 12 years, that was the mantra of volunteers for The Petal Connection, who collected donated flowers from local businesses and created lovely bouquets – a little sunshine in a bottle – for people who needed them most. The special floral deliveries were made to hospice patients and senior citizens throughout the region, in Auburn, Folsom, Lincoln, Roseville and Rocklin. During the time The Petal Connection was in existence, volunteers delivered almost 130,000 bouquets, bringing brightness to people whose outlook could often be bleak.

Influencer Kaelin Bradshaw's tragic death at age 29 shared by her husband Distractify; by Kelley Schepper; 11/3/25 Searches for Kaelin Bradshaw's cause of death surged after the TikTok creator’s tragic passing. Kaelin had documented her symptoms, diagnosis, and hospice move with unflinching honesty. She died on October 27, 2025, at the age of 29, peacefully and surrounded by family, according to her husband. ... Her last videos back that up with a clear timeline. 

How to prepare for your death [podcast] MedPage Today's KevinMD.com; podcast by KevinMD with Joseph Pepe; 10/31/25 Physician executive Joseph Pepe discusses his article, “A doctor’s guide to preparing for your death.” He shares practical and compassionate advice on planning for life’s inevitable end, from organizing essential documents and creating a “death folder” to protecting loved ones through wills, trusts, and life insurance. Joseph explains why facing mortality head-on allows people to live more freely and meaningfully. 

Health Talk: National Care at Home Month Rutland Herald, Rutland, VT; by Nicole Moran; 11/1/25 Throughout the month of November, VNA & Hospice of the Southwest Region (VNAHSR) will join organizations across the nation in recognizing and celebrating National Care at Home Month.Editor's Note: This article demonstrates great community outreach and education through local new outlets and national observances. For more visit our post, "November 2025 Healthcare Observances," and our ongoing Healthcare Observances webpage for additional dates.

Natalie’s Notes: Dad’s weekend needs events for grieving students The Post, Athens, OH; by Natalie Saddler; 10/31/25 This weekend is Ohio University’s Dads weekend, filled with events, ... throughout campus. Although many students enjoy these events, some students could be grieving a deceased loved one from afar, and this weekend may affect them negatively. ... However, the only hospice program in Athens doesn’t offer any support groups or community bereavement services. Many grieving Athens residents can’t access a proper support group, especially students with family members in hospice care. ... [A support event was created] through the Honoros Tutorial College called  AlternaDad’s.

Affirming healthcare experiences among older Black-and White-identifying gay men living with serious illness: A qualitative study in the Deep SouthAmerican Journal of Hospice & Palliative Care; by Korijna Valenti, Michael Barnett, Stacy Smallwood, Ronit Elk; 10/25Older gay men living with serious illness often face challenges related to identity, disclosure, and relational recognition in healthcare settings [and] these challenges are particularly acute in the Deep South, where affirming care remains inconsistent, and disparities persist. Three main themes were identified [in this study]: (1) Experiences of Inclusion and Visibility, (2) Positive Communication, and (3) Sharing Sexuality and Effect on Care. Clear communication, honesty, and opportunities to ask questions were critical in navigating medical decisions. Discussions of sexual orientation were context-dependent and often shaped by perceptions of safety. Recognition of chosen family members, particularly partners, was central to participants' sense of dignity and affirmation in care.

WHO strengthens palliative care across the eastern Mediterranean to improve quality of life fundsforNGOs; Press Release; 10/29/25 The Seventy-second session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean marked a historic step forward for health systems in the Region, as Member States endorsed resolution EM/RC72/R.4 on palliative care. The decision represents a transformative commitment to support individuals living with life-limiting illnesses, chronic conditions, and frailty, ensuring that care extends beyond treatment to dignity and compassion. ... [While] 2.4 million people in the Region need palliative care each year, less than 1% currently receive it. ... The resolution calls for countries to integrate palliative care into national health strategies, guarantee access to essential medicines such as oral opioids, and incorporate palliative care education into health professional training.

After her son’s painful death, a Cheshire mother highlights Connecticut’s pediatric hospice gap New Haven Register, Norwalk, CT; by Cris Villalonga-Vivoni; 10/26/25 Carolyn Torello believes that no parent should outlive their children, yet that became her reality. ...  As his condition worsened, the family faced his impending death without the support of pediatric palliative or hospice care. No provider, she said, seemed to know how to help or where to begin. He died at 15 years old in 2021. ... In 2020, an estimated 7,800 children in Connecticut were living with complex medical conditions that limited their life expectancy and could have benefited from palliative or hospice care, according to data from the National Survey of Children's Health. ... Torello thinks that if Michael had access to hospice care, he could have died with greater dignity, and their family could have focused on simply being together. ... Efforts to create a more formalized pediatric palliative care system have been underway since 2024, led by a state-commissioned working group that will make recommendations to the legislature on potential reforms.

Should an AI copy of you help decide if you live or die? Doctors share top concerns of AI surrogates aiding life-or-death decisions. Ars Technica; by Ashley Belanger; 10/20/25 For more than a decade, researchers have wondered whether artificial intelligence could help predict what incapacitated patients might want when doctors must make life-or-death decisions on their behalf. It remains one of the most high-stakes questions in health care AI today. But as AI improves, some experts increasingly see it as inevitable that digital “clones” of patients could one day aid family members, doctors, and ethics boards in making end-of-life decisions that are aligned with a patient’s values and goals.

Letters 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.

From her hospice bed, Sister Grace Miller watches her new homeless shelter come to life WXXI News NPR, Rochester, NY; by Gino Fanelli; 10/15/25  The last mission of Sister Grace Miller is set to come to life through a partnership with the Open Door Mission. La Madonna Della Strada, or “The Lady of the Streets,” will operate a new low-barrier overnight shelter for men on West Main Street. The shelter has capacity for up to 25 people. Folding cots dot the floor of the space in a grid, and the space also includes a full kitchen and bathrooms. The building’s signage reads “Sister Grace’s Homeless Shelter.” Miller, who currently is in hospice care, first announced plans to launch a new shelter in 2023 ...