Literature Review

Local students stitch comfort, compassion, and dignity for hospice patients Bennington Banner, Bennington, VT; Press Release; 5/4/26 A small group of students in a dedicated class at Mount Anthony Union High School have spent recent weeks carefully crafting handmade catheter bag covers and adult bibs for patients served by VNA and Hospice of the Southwest Region (VNAHSR). Each stitch tells a story — not just of skill learned, but of empathy in action. For hospice patients, small details can make an immeasurable difference. Everyday medical necessities, like catheter bags, can feel clinical and impersonal. These thoughtfully designed covers soften that experience, offering privacy, warmth, and a sense of normalcy. 

Your kids don’t care: 9 reasons to have someone other than your children as your medical power of attorney SavingAdvice.com; by Drew Blankenship; 4/25/26 ... When it comes to naming a medical decision-maker, most parents automatically choose their children without thinking twice. But being your child doesn’t necessarily make someone the best person to make life-and-death decisions on your behalf. A medical power of attorney gives that person enormous responsibility, often during highly emotional moments when clear thinking is critical. Here are nine reasons why choosing someone other than your children may actually be the smarter (and safer) decision.

Building empathy for dementia patients The Vindicator; by Susan Wojnar; 4/24/26 As dementia rates continue to climb across Ohio — particularly in the Mahoning Valley — a new hands-on training is helping caregivers and community members better understand what it’s like to live with the condition. ... Mahoning County ranks fourth in the state for the highest percentage of seniors living with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Approximately 6,000 residents age 65 and older — about 12.1% of that population — are affected. ... In response to the growing need for caregiver support and education, Ohio Living Home Health & Hospice has introduced a new training program called Dementia Live. ...

Engaging bereaved parent educators in pediatric end-of-life workshops: A trauma-informed onboardingJournal of Pain & Symptom Management; by Kayla Solstad, Dannell Shu, Kelly McManimon, Stacy Remke, Susan O'Conner-Von, Anne Woll, Joseph M Miller, Miriam C Shapiro, Johannah M Scheurer; 3/26Recognizing that pediatric end-of-life (EOL) scenarios occur infrequently and are distressing for trainees and other healthcare team members, our group created pediatric end-of-life care skills (PECS) simulation-based workshops to improve trainee competence for these skills. We  ... provide interprofessional workshops, including trainees from the pediatric residency program, graduate school of nursing, and graduate school of social work. Since creation of the workshops, the group and curricula have benefited immensely from including the expertise of bereaved parent educators (BPEs), who have experienced the death of their own infant or child and have been integral team members ... from workshop creation through facilitation. Research shows that families who have experienced the death of a child appreciate an interdisciplinary approach to their care and communication at the EOL. When parents of pediatric patients were asked about priorities in EOL care, they highlighted the importance of communication, emotional expression and support by staff, and ready access to multi-disciplinary staff.

What to do when a dying friend refuses contact Times.News; by Sofia Alvarez; 4/13/26 The experience of facing a terminal illness is often framed as a time for reconciliation and the strengthening of bonds. However, for some patients, the reality is a profound retreat from the world. When a dying friend refuses contact from friends, it creates a complex emotional vacuum for those left behind, who must balance their desire to provide support with the need to respect a patient’s autonomy. This tension often manifests as a “silent goodbye,” where the dying individual chooses isolation over the emotional labor of maintaining relationships. 

TNMHPO Announcing Veteran Initiative Partnership (VIP)Texas ~ New Mexico Hospice & Palliative Care Organization; email; 4/1/26 If your organization supports veterans in hospice or palliative care, we’d love to invite you to be part of something meaningful. Introducing the Veterans Initiative Partnership (VIP) — a new, no-cost program designed to bring together providers, partners, and professionals committed to improving care for veterans. ...

Blending storytelling with education: Southampton author’s book sheds light on hospice and palliative care Daily Hampshire Gazette; by Sam Ferland; 3/3/26 When a loved one is dying, there is no specific script to freeze the flooding of emotions and decisions a family faces. But hospice nurse Maureen Groden believes bridges can be built through the power of storytelling to help guide families over the universal challenges faced as a loved one nears the end of life. “It’s about telling stories and listening to them too,” said Groden, who has more than 30 years of experience nursing in the Valley.

Hospice of Amador & Calaveras addresses statewide hospice fraud concerns, reaffirms commitment to ethical, community-based careLedger News; Press Release; 3/30/26 In response to recent national media coverage highlighting concerns regarding hospice fraud in California, Hospice of Amador & Calaveras (HOAC) is reaffirming its commitment to ethical, transparent and compassionate care for patients and families across Amador and Calaveras counties. ... “Hospice care is built on trust, dignity and compassion,” said Samantha M. Lukow, Executive Director of Hospice of Amador & Calaveras. “While the reports are deeply concerning, it is important for our community to know that not all hospice providers operate in this manner. The vast majority of hospice organizations, including ours, are dedicated to providing ethical, patient-centered care.” 

Gone from my sight: Barbara Karnes on what happens in the final days of life | part one Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN); podcast hosted by Chris Comeaux with Barbara Karnes; 3/25/26 Drawing from over four decades of bedside experience, Barbara shares how Hospice Care began as a movement outside the traditional medical model, rooted not in treating disease, but in caring for people and their families during life’s most vulnerable moments.  Her insights challenge modern healthcare to return to a more human-centered approach—one that prioritizes presence, education, and compassion.

How "The Pitt" can prepare you for the end of lifeKatie Couric Media; by Maggie Parker; 3/20/26 If you're sensitive to seeing death on screen, you shouldn't watch The Pitt. Set in a major city's emergency room, on the hit medical procedural, death is inevitable, and frequent. ... The way end-of-life issues are addressed on the show was carefully thought out and intentionally diverse. ... Unfortunately, it's rare for the media to portray death and dying authentically, according to Dr. Underleider's analysis of more than 141,000 scripted TV episodes from 2010 to 2020. ... This season, The Pitt takes its quest to realistically depict death to another level, with the introduction of a terminal cancer patient, Roxie, who knows what's coming and doesn't want to go home to face it. We spoke to Dr. Ungerleider about her reaction to Roxie's final moments, her experience working with the creators, what they get right about end of life, and why it matters. ...Editor's Note: Pair this with our previous posts, "HBO’s ‘The Pitt’ inspires viewers to consider organ donation, end-of-life planning" and "How ‘The Pitt' gets death right."

Haven Hospice simulations help caregivers understand dementia Levy Citizen, Chiefland, FL; by Antoniette Meyer; 3/19/26 A program offered by Haven Hospice is helping caregivers, medical professionals and community members better understand what daily life can be like for someone living with dementia. ... Through Haven’s Dementia Care Program, participants can take part in hands-on simulations designed to replicate some of the sensory and cognitive challenges people with dementia experience. During the exercises, attendees may wear specialized goggles or gloves, listen to music or attempt tasks that simulate symptoms such as vision loss, hearing impairment, reduced motor function and changes in perception. The activities are designed to demonstrate how dementia can affect memory, communication, emotions and everyday functioning.

Translating palliative care narratives into art: An arts-based knowledge translation pilot with young adult artists Palliative Care and Social Practice; by Kristina A. Smith, Philippe Blanchard, Susan Law, and Kelli Stajduhar; 2/25/26 Objectives: This knowledge translation project explored arts-based approaches for translating palliative care narrative data into creative forms, examining the feasibility of converting research narratives into accessible art forms that could facilitate engagement with death-related topics. Results: Over 25 artistic works illustrating death and dying experiences were created. The collaborative translation process revealed that undergraduate artists could effectively interpret and visualize complex palliative care narratives through diverse artistic approaches. Course evaluations and informal feedback indicated that artists found the experience meaningful and challenging, and expressed interest in further exploration of death-related topics. Editor's Note: Go to this article and scroll down past "Results" to see photos of these artworks and their descriptions.

Harbors Home Health and Hospice expands community education The Daily World; by Jerry Knaak; 3/6/26 Harbors Home Health and Hospice was selected as the recipient of more than $19,000 in donations at the March 2025 100+ Harbor Women Who Care giving event. The funds were awarded after Harbors was nominated alongside two other local nonprofits and chosen by the attendees for the organization’s commitment to caring for patients and families throughout the community. Rather than using the funds internally, Harbors leadership saw the award as an opportunity to give back through community education focused on aging and end-of-life planning.