Literature Review

Expert panel updating NCHPC’s Palliative Care Clinical Practice Guidelines Hospice News; by Kevin Ryan; 4/1/26 The National Coalition for Hospice and Palliative Care (NCHPC) has chosen a panel of 33 palliative care experts to develop the 5th edition of the Clinical Practice Guidelines for Quality Palliative Care. Originally created in 2004, through the National Consensus Project, the guidelines established the first national, evidence-based standards for the palliative care field. The guidelines have been updated four times since 2004 and have been endorsed by more than 90 health and professional health care worker organizations.  

Social Media Watch 4/3/26

Integrating palliative care: The power of silence in oncology Oncology Nursing News; by Angela Thomas, MSN, APRN, AGPCNP-C, ACHPN; 3/31/26Integrating palliative care principles into oncology requires the ability to allow silence to create a space where patients can process difficult news and feel truly seen. According to Angela Thomas, MSN, APRN, AGPCNP-C, ACHPN, these intentional pauses validate the patient’s experience and provide a necessary emotional release. By sitting in silence, providers acknowledge the gravity of the patient’s situation, which Thomas identifies as a core “heart issue” learned from palliative care and successfully integrated into the oncology setting. In a recent interview with Oncology Nursing News, Thomas, of Texas Oncology, discusses how practitioners can incorporate these techniques into their daily practice. 

Neenah pastor finds deeper calling after brother’s hospice journey WFRV Green Bay, WI; by Breanna Reinhart; 3/30/26 For the Reverend Niveen Ibrahim Sarras, walking with people through their final moments of life is more than a calling. It’s deeply personal. ... For years, Sarras has guided families through grief, offering prayers and presence at the end of life. But last summer, she found herself navigating that journey from a different perspective. Her brother, Odeh, traveled from Palestine to visit after a long battle with cancer. Just days later, doctors delivered devastating news. “The doctor, after having a CT scan, told me my brother was dying, and I shouldn’t let my brother go back,” Sarras said. Her family turned to hospice care, ... Through language barriers, cultural differences and grief, a team of local caregivers stepped in to help. What followed was a shared experience of compassion and learning. “I just want people to know that with hospice we are there to support you wherever you are at, no matter the cultural background,” said ThedaCare hospice nurse Briana Eggert.Editor's Note: To what extent does your hospice put this into action—supporting persons “no matter the cultural background”? Whatever your strengths, where are your cultural gaps, and how can you better align commitments with action through training, access to translated materials, interpreters, and community partnerships?

New program and book examine best practices around end-of-life care for people living with Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias (ADRD) Hospice Foundation of America, Washington, DC; by Lisa Veglahn;3/25/26 Hospice Foundation of America (HFA) will present its 33rd annual Living with Grief® educational program, Best Practices in Hospice Care for Advanced Dementia, addressing optimal care for the fastest growing segment of the hospice population. The program will be held live via Zoom on April 14, 2026, from noon—2 pm ET. According to the National Institutes of Health, researchers estimate that 42% of Americans over the age of 55 will at some point develop a form of dementia, all of which are terminal illnesses. ... In addition to the upcoming program, HFA has published a new volume of scholarly and personal work, Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia: A Guide for Hospice Clinicians, edited by Kenneth J. Doka and Amy S. Tucci. The book offers valuable insights and practical approaches to delivering compassionate, person-centered end-of-life care to individuals with dementia and their loved ones. Editor's Note: Hospice Foundation of America has long defined standards for hospice education, and once again leads at a pivotal moment as dementia impacts Baby Boomers' end-of-life care. From their early satellite broadcasts that convened clinicians nationwide to today’s expansive reach, HFA has consistently translated complexity into practical, practice-changing insight. This work challenges us not only to learn, but to lead—bringing greater clarity, skill, and compassion to those living with dementia and those who walk beside them.

Oncology-embedded supportive care and end-of-life outcomes: a comparative study of hospice-eligible Muslim patients with cancer and non-cancer diagnoses Supportive Care in Cancer; by Manahil Imran, Basel Ghurm Alshehri, Muhammad Ali Akhtar, Raafey Imran, Umar Iqbal, Maryam Imran, Aaliyaan Iqbal, Ibrahim M. Imran, Ibrahim T. Malik, Tabindeh Jabeen Khalid, Mohsin Iqbal, Belal Mohammad Sharaf, and Imran Khalid; 3/24/26 ... Conclusions: An oncology-embedded supportive care model in a Muslim-majority setting was associated with earlier transitions to comfort-focused care and less aggressive end-of-life interventions among hospice-eligible cancer patients. The contrast with non-cancer patients highlights the importance of structured supportive care integration and demonstrates that models adapted to cultural and religious contexts can effectively support comfort-focused care.

Palliative care should be integrated into cardiology therapy earlier, says study Medical Xpress; by Inka Väth; 3/25/26 An international group of authors has called for a shift in cardiovascular care. ... For clinical practice, the group of authors therefore recommends a stronger structural integration of palliative care content into cardiology. This includes interdisciplinary care teams, shared treatment models, and more intensive training in internal communication and symptom management. Palliative care should also be given greater consideration in medical education. ... Palliative care should be the standard in cardiology, not the exception. After all, the success of sustainable cardiology will not be measured solely by how long people live, but by how well they can live.

End-of-life care planning for individuals with special needsJD Supra; by Chamblis, Bahner & Stphel, P.C.; 3/23/26 Takeaways

It’s time to let stereotypes about older adults die McKnights Home Care; by Liza Berger; 3/6/26 They say there is strength in numbers. If that is true, the nation’s roughly 67 million baby boomers should not be afraid to speak up about how to talk to and refer to older adults. It’s time they did.  I was reminded of this after reading a smart post by Anthony Cirillo, a caregiving expert. In the post, he talked about how people (younger ones primarily) casually make ageist comments without realizing the harm they cause. Cirillo gives the examples of a young adult referring to him as “Pops” and another asking him if he knows how to use an iPhone.Editor's Note: One of the worst memories for me about my dad's last week of life was the way a physical therapist spoke to my dad--our gentle, gentle-man-ly giant of a man in both character and stature. Fortunately, I was a strong advocate and asked him (in her presence), "Dad, am I saying it right?" Even in his vulnerable state, he voiced, "Yes. ... Yes." There was no apology. No follow-up. Years later, I invite you to pair these descriptions with our 2025 post, "Honey, Sweetie, Dearie: The perils of elderspeak." 

What we get wrong about comfort at the end of life: Jennifer Martnick Cleveland.com, Cleveland, OH; by guest columnist Jennifer Martnick; 3/22/26 When people hear the word comfort in the context of serious illness or the end of life, they often picture something passive. A quiet room. Soft blankets. And a sense that medical care has somehow stepped back. That misunderstanding is one of the most persistent myths in health care. Comfort care is not about doing less. In many ways, it requires more skill, more attention and more presence than almost any other kind of medicine. At Reserve Care (formerly Hospice of the Western Reserve), comfort care means active, expert care delivered by clinicians trained to manage pain, ease symptoms and support the emotional and spiritual needs of patients and families facing serious illness.

Centering end-of-life care around what matters most: Goal-of-care discussions drive earlier hospice access Cleveland Clinic; features Laura Hoeksema, MD, MPH, FAAHPM; 3/10/26 Hospice experts help those with incurable disease maintain autonomy, reduce trauma and gain symptom relief. Yet studies show that the median length of stay in hospice before death is roughly 19 days. What can care teams do to ensure that patients and their families have access to this appropriate end-of-life care? As the Medical Director of Cleveland Clinic Hospice, Laura Hoeksema, MD, MPH, FAAHPM, and her team support physicians and patients in navigating this journey. ...

Hospital workers are revealing the heartbreaking regrets patients had on their deathbeds, and I'm at a loss for words BuzzFeed Staff; by Liz Richardson; 3/16/26 You may have heard about people's last words, but if there's anything even more haunting, it's the regrets they have on their deathbed. And, as you can imagine, those who work closely with dying patients have heard some unforgettable final regrets that stick with them for years. ... Several users shared the striking and heartbreaking regrets their patients shared, and wowww, it will hit you hard. Here's what they had to say: ... Editor's Note: This article reflects a more popularized perspective than we typically feature, but it raises themes that are deeply familiar in serious illness and end-of-life care. Hospice and palliative care teams are trained to meet these moments with presence, skilled communication, and interdisciplinary support—helping patients and families explore reflection, meaning, and connection in ways that extend far beyond the headlines.