Literature Review

CDC Releases 2025/2026 flu vaccine recommendations LeadingAge; Press Release; 9/3/25 The Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) at the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) on August 28, 2025 approved recommendations for flu vaccines for the 2025/2026 flu season. ... A key concern for LeadingAge members is whether COVID vaccine will be available for adults working in LeadingAge member communities who may choose vaccination, as it is widely believed that Medicare and private insurances will likely cover vaccines only for populations for which the shot is recommended. ... At this time, a flu vaccine is recommended for all individuals over the age of 6 months, with high-dose or adjuvanted flu vaccines recommended for individuals aged 65 years and older. Flu season is considered to run October 1 – March 31 each year ...

How to move a parent with dementia against family resistance—and stay legal Advisorpedia; by Carolyn Rosenblatt; 9/3/25 The phone call came to Dad’s daughter (FD) at 6 AM. Again. This time, it was the night caregiver reporting that her father had fallen while trying to get out of bed. She had jumped up and tried to stop him but she could only get to him in time to break his fall. ... The caregiver was exasperated. She needed more help and SW did not provide it. It was the third incident in two weeks, and FD knew something had to change.

When I go, I'm going green KFF Health News; by Paula Span; 9/8/25 More Americans are choosing burials in which everything is biodegradable. ... “Do you see a lot of interest in green burials?” I asked the friendly town cemetery commissioner who was showing me around. “I don’t think we’ve had a traditional burial in two years,” he said. “It’s all green.”

Irish man uses ChatGPT for sore throat advice, later diagnosed with stage 4 cancer TimesNow; by Ashima Sharda Mahindra; 9/1/25 A 37-year-old Irish man from Kerry sought advice on ChatGPT on chronic sore throat and swallowing difficulties – and was ultimately diagnosed with stage 4 esophageal adenocarcinoma, a rare and aggressive throat cancer. Warren Tierney said ChatGPT had reassured him that cancer was “highly unlikely,” which led him to a delay in seeking professional medical care. Months later, Warren was diagnosed with cancer, which has a five-year survival rate between five and ten per cent globally.

Update on malpractice claimsLinkedIn; by Elizabeth Hogue; 9/3/25New analysis by Claggett, Sykes and Garza Trial Lawyers shows that registered nurses (RNs) and physicians continue to top the list of health professions most likely to be sued for malpractice... While the total number of malpractice suits has decreased by almost 20% in ten years, the severity of claims has risen... Home care nurses, including those providing hospice and palliative care, were the most vulnerable to professional liability claims of all nursing specialties... [The article includes factors that may contribute to increases in claims against home health nurses and strategies that nurses can use to protect themselves from malpractice claims.]

Christmas for Lorie: Carmel neighborhood lights up August NBC WTHR-13, Carmel, IN; by Scott Swan; 8/21/25 On a warm August night, Christmas lights are twinkling on a street in Carmel. "One of our favorite traditions on Windbush is to decorate every house as much as possible," said neighbor Emily Clem. We may be 125 days away from Christmas, but for the family in this house, the beauty of the holiday needs to happen now. "When I saw the lights go up last Thursday or Friday, my heart sunk because I knew what it was," said Brady Young, who lives nearby. Lorie Graves, a 50-year-old wife and mom, is on home hospice as she battles ovarian cancer. "We did the Christmas decorations in the front yard because we have a very special neighbor right down the road who is battling cancer," said Shane Best. ... And so did the neighbors.

VA end-of-life care honors Veterans and comforts families: Choosing the right placeVA News; by Sarah M. Tolstyka; 8/29/25End-of-life care is one of the most personal decisions a Veteran and their family will ever make. VA offers hospice services across a variety of settings—including its own Community Living Centers (CLCs), contracted community nursing homes and home hospice agencies. While each Veteran’s needs are unique, the setting in which hospice care is provided can profoundly shape the experience. One invaluable resource in this decision-making process is VA’s Bereaved Family Survey, which measures family satisfaction with end-of-life (EOL) care. The data consistently show families report higher satisfaction with VA CLC hospice care than with community-based hospice. Currently, 87% of families rate VA CLC EOL care a 9 or 10 on a 0–10 scale, compared to 81% for community hospice care. These findings reflect clinical excellence and VA’s commitment to honoring Veterans through every stage of life... Families frequently recall the small but meaningful details of VA care, like the Honor Walk or Final Salute, a ceremonial procession to honor a Veteran’s death. “The Walk of Honor is something I will always remember,” one family member shared. Another noted, “He was brought back to VA and, as my son said, ‘He was given back his dignity.’ I can’t even begin to say how wonderful VA is.”

Grateful leukemia patient thanks care team, paints butterfly mural Sentara, Norfolk, VA; by Kelly Anne Morgan; 8/27/25 ... Six years ago, Kressel was diagnosed with myelofibrosis, ... It was an emergency admission, and she remained in the hospital [for 70 days], receiving over 150 blood transfusions, several bone marrow biopsies, and a splenic embolization. ... When she was discharged from the hospital, Kressel began working on a butterfly mural composed of three large canvases. The butterflies symbolize hope for patients and families experiencing hospice and end-of-life comfort care, said Kressel. ... Recently, Sentara Norfolk General Hospital rededicated nine rooms on the oncology floor to house hospice patients. ... In August, Kressel was joined by family, friends, and her care team as she presented the mural to the unit. ...

The VA as a beacon of innovation in serious illness careCTAC blog; by Tom Edes; 8/27/25In this time of federal service reorganization, we are called to remember what history has taught us: innovation rooted in both compassion and evidence can transform care for people with serious illness. Few institutions embody this lesson better than the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). For decades, the VA has stood as both a care provider and an innovator, serving Veterans of all ages living with chronic diseases and disabilities... The VA’s story is not just about the past; it is about what is possible for the future of American health care if we choose to invest in it.

Social workers’ role in improving hospice live discharge processes Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 8/26/25 A lack of standardized care coordination is challenging the ability for patients and families to receive support following a live discharge from hospice. Deeper integration of social work services may help address the issue. This is according to findings from a recent study published in the Journal of Gerontological Social Work, which examined different methodologies for preparing patients, family caregivers and providers for hospice-initiated live discharges from social worker perspectives. 

Spokane hospice chaplain’s new book challenges comfort clichés at life’s endThe Spokesman-Review (Spokane, WA); by Mia Gallegos; 8/25/25“Hospice Chaplain: Interrupted” examines how caring for the dying transforms the caregiver, exploring the profound discomfort and unexpected revelations that emerge when chaplains sit with patients at life’s end. Written by the Rev. Scott Kinder-Pyle, a hospice chaplain and Presbyterian ordained minister in Spokane, the collection of poems following an introductory essay challenges some of the typical mechanisms pursued by those who accompany people within their final moments of life.

Are patients with advanced cancer receiving treatment aligned with their goals?Medical Xpress; by Wiley; 8/25/25New research indicates that many patients with advanced cancer report receiving treatment focusing on longevity over comfort, even when their goal is the opposite. The findings are published in Cancer. Treatment of serious illnesses generally aims to optimize longevity and quality of life, but in some cases, these goals are at odds with each other. Therefore, clinicians must strive to understand each individual's objectives so that patients do not receive burdensome treatments that go against their wishes.