Literature Review

Hospice clinicians' approaches to terminal restlessness: A qualitative analysisJournal of Pain & Symptom Management; Andy Jan, Molly Turnwald, Susan Maixner, Thomas O'Neil, Lauren Gerlach; 1/26Terminal restlessness is frequently observed in hospice, yet it lacks a consistent definition, diagnostic framework, and treatment approach. Five themes emerged [from this study]: (1) Diagnostic challenge-clinicians reported difficulty distinguishing terminal restlessness from delirium, pain, or medication side effects; (2) Common symptom profile-agitation, confusion, hallucinations, and constant movement; (3) Temporal association with active dying process-terminal restlessness was viewed as a sign of imminent death; (4) Ruling out reversible causes-pain, urinary retention, or other modifiable factors; and (5) Treatment variability-approaches varied, though most clinicians were more comfortable using sedating medications once death was perceived to be imminent.

Programs that pair older-adult mentors with medical students aim to overcome ageism Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC); by Bridget Balch; 2/4/26 ... About 1 in 5 people over age 50 report having experienced age discrimination in a health care setting, according to a 2015 study. It’s an issue that researchers at Yale School of Public Health estimate costs the health care system $63 billion a year and can have serious negative effects on the physical and mental health of those discriminated against. As the proportion of the population over age 65 is increasing rapidly, some medical schools have developed senior mentoring programs that pair medical students with older-adult mentors to help overcome stereotyping and ageism, and to give older adults opportunities to engage with and give back to their communities.

“This is what loneliness looks like”: A description of a high-risk population of palliative and oncology patients American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine; by Tamia Ross, MSPH, Ruwanthi Ekanayake, BA, Lucy Rabinowitz Bailey, MPH, Kain Kim, MD, and Emily Pinto Taylor, MD; 1/9/26 Background: Loneliness exacerbates symptom burden and reduces quality of life in serious illness. Social prescribing–linking patients to non-clinical community activities–offers a novel approach to address loneliness in palliative care. Results: Most patients were older, non-Hispanic Black women experiencing financial strain, food insecurity, and transportation barriers. Anxiety exceeded depression severity; mood disorders, loneliness, and social isolation were leading referral reasons.

Sheinelle Jones honors nurses who cared for her late husbandTODAY with Jenna & Sheinelle; YouTube segment from tv show; 2/4/26 TODAY's Sheinelle Jones pays special tribute to the nurses and caretakers who looked after her husband Uche Ojeh while in hospice and not only made the time he had left more comfortable, but also supported her and the whole family during their most difficult moments. "The only reason I even have the strength to talk about it, is because I believe that they're our heroes. They deserve all the love and attention we can give them," she says. Then, the care team, Jazzie Stickle, Denise James Wright, Nykyra Owens, Chanel Duff and Jessica Goldstein, get a special surprise.Editor's Note: This segment on TODAY with Jenna & Sheinelle honored Uche's birthday, the first birthday Sheinelle and her family are experiencing since his death from brain cancer in May 2025. Hudson Valley Hospice provided hospice care, and beautifully represented the best of hospice care's philosophy and care. In addition to nurses and aides, Sheinelle especially thanked Uche's speech pathologist who helped him voice "I love you." I invite you to watch this and be inspired:  Sheinelle Jones' late husband Uche relearned to say 'I love you' in hospice. And she has the video.

Galactic Symphony thrills young hospice patient Lovin' Life; by Lin Sue Flood; 2/1/26 A quiet backyard suddenly burst into song with the stirring brass of John Williams Star Wars theme recently, transforming a regular afternoon into a Galactic Symphony. For 26-year-old Anthony Castle, a lifelong Star Wars superfan, it was like watching the magic of the big screen come to life. Through a unique partnership between Hospice of the Valley and the Phoenix Symphony, six professional musicians arrived at Anthonys home to perform a private medley. To the delight of Anthony who proudly wore his Baby Yoda T-shirt several of the performers arrived in character, dressed as Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker.

How to responsibly use AI in palliative care and hematologic malignancies CancerNetwork; podcast by Ram Prakash Thirugnanasambandam, MBBS; 2/2/26 In a conversation with CancerNetwork®, Ram Prakash Thirugnanasambandam, MBBS, discussed the evolving roles that artificial intelligence (AI)–based tools may play in palliative care and the management of different hematologic malignancies. ... According to Thirugnanasambandam, implementing AI into one’s workflow may help accurately predict disease subtypes and burdens among patients with leukemia, lymphoma, or multiple myeloma. ... Thirugnanasambandam also discussed some of the ethical considerations surrounding the growth of AI-based tools, highlighting information privacy concerns and potentially biased datasets as notable issues with these platforms. Although AI may assist with decision-making, Thirugnanasambandam stated that it ultimately cannot replace a human’s nuanced clinical judgment and empathy.

Blaming younger doctors for setting boundaries ignores the broken system The Podcast by KevinMD; podcast hosted by KevinMD with Christie Mulholland; 1/31/26 Palliative care physician and certified physician development coach Christie Mulholland discusses her article “5 things health care must stop doing to improve physician well-being.” Christie challenges the pervasive narrative that younger physicians lack work ethic and argues that their boundary-setting is a rational response to an untenable system. ... Christie explains the double standard where new technology is an investment but physician wellness is expected to prove immediate financial return. 

Awards and Recognitions: January 2026

[Sweden] Palliative medicine physicians' experiences using the Numeric Rating Scale for pain assessment in patients with advanced cancer: a qualitative study BMJ Open; by Lisa Martinsson, Margareta Brännström, Per Fransson, Sofia Andersson; 1/6/26 This study aimed to describe palliative medicine physicians' experiences performing pain assessment using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS)-one of the most widely used pain assessment tools-for patients with cancer receiving specialised palliative care. ... The tool may seem simplistic, but, ... the physicians found interpreting the assessments challenging for the whole team. This complexity should be incorporated into future healthcare education and training within the palliative care area, where patients often have chronic pain conditions in combination with cognitive impairment. Future research needs to focus on developing reliable pain assessment methods for patients who are cognitively impaired because of the cancer.

MedPAC signals need to bolster Medicare physician payments AMA - American Medical Association; by Tanya Albert Henry; 1/27/26 Influential body backs added 0.5% Medicare pay update but backtracks on linking doctor payment to practice-cost inflation. ... The influential Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) voted in January to address inadequate payment for Medicare physician services under current law, once again underscoring a longstanding policy failure that is widely recognized but remains unresolved. MedPAC voted to recommend an additional 0.5% update on top of the updates specified in current law—0.25% and 0.75%—and will forward that recommendation to Congress. 

How do I tell my patient they’re dying? Medscape; by Lisa Mulcahy; 1/27/26 Ruth Parry, PhD, still remembers a conversation she mishandled as a junior National Health Service stroke rehabilitation physiotherapist many years ago. ... Since then, Parry has analyzed nearly 100 video consultations between practitioners and patients with poor prognoses in stroke and head injury and with terminal diagnoses. Her research explores a critical clinical dilemma: How do doctors navigate the delicate balance of providing fair, accurate information about dire prognoses while respecting a patient’s feelings and personal choices?

Briana Kohlbrenner: End-of-life care is under threat - as demand for hospice grows, workers say staffing and pay must keep paceVTDigger, Vermont; commentary by Briana Kohlbrenner; 1/27/26 As demand for hospice grows, workers say staffing and pay must keep pace. University of Vermont Home Health and Hospice (UVMHHH) is at a crossroads. As Vermont’s population ages, the demand for hospice care is growing. ... We are asking for fair and transparent pay scales, safe staffing and equity within the UVM Health system. Though we wear the same logo on our badges, we are paid less than our counterparts in other parts of the UVM Health system. A new nurse starting at UVM Home Health and Hospice earns $6.72 less per hour than a new nurse at the UVM Medical Center.