Literature Review

Local author shares a message of hope to caregivers in Newnan Parkinson's support groupThe Newnan Times-Herald, by Gary May; 1/22/24Hughes wrote "Parkinson's Caregivers - Yes, There is HOPE!" about her experiences over 23 years caring for her husband Carlton, who had Parkinson's disease. Her mission is to encourage and support both caregivers and their loved ones as they transition through the stages of the progressive disease, from diagnosis, to daily living, to the advanced stages and finally, to hospice care.

Hillman Foundation issues RFP for Serious Illness and End of Life program

A psychologist offers advice on 'being there' for aging parentsForbes, by Mark Travers; 1/22/24As our parents age, we find ourselves on a challenging emotional journey, one that often remains unspoken but deeply felt. It’s the journey of anticipatory grief, a complex mix of emotions and thoughts that arise as we witness our parents becoming older, weaker and more frail. This concept, often overshadowed by post-loss grief, is equally devastating.

Myotonic dystrophy type 1: palliative care guidelinesBMJ Supportive & Palliative Care, by Derek Willis, Tracey Willis, Claire Bassie, Gail Eglon, Emma-Jayne Ashley, and Chris Turner; 1/22/24Palliative care for adults with neuromuscular conditions is an emerging field. Previous guidelines regarding myotonic dystrophy and palliative care have only mentioned end-of-life care and little else. The following guidelines have been written using national experts as a description of best practice as part of the Dystrophia Myotonica National Care Guidelines Consortium.Requires subscription or purchase

Hospice of the Valley launches living will campaignAhwatukee Foothills News, by Lin Sue Flood; 1/23/24National research shows that only about a third of Americans have created a living will or advance healthcare directive. ... Three nonprofit organizations — Mercy Care, Hospice of the Valley and Contexture — are launching a community education campaign to ensure that Arizonans’ wishes are honored. ... Choose Your Person is an awareness campaign urging all adults to choose someone to be their healthcare power of attorney. 

Policy experts on cost, accessibility, other details in Assembly GOP medical marijuana planWisconsin Examiner, by Baylor Spears; 1/22/24The proposal by [Wisconsin] Assembly Republicans would create the Office of Medical Cannabis Regulation in the Department of Health Services. The office which would maintain a registry of patients and caregivers who could purchase medical cannabis products from one of five state-run dispensaries. Access would be limited to patients with certain medical conditions, and available products would include oils, edibles and pills but exclude anything smokeable.

Race, ethnicity, and cancer type influence which patients access hospice careOncology Nurse Advisor, by Jennifer Larson; 1/19/24... [A] researcher from a comprehensive cancer center in North Carolina conducted a clinical literature review to investigate research outcomes of hospice use in the United States. ... A total of 17 quantitative studies, published between 2017 and 2023, was included in this review. Notable differences by cancer type were found. ... The analysis also showed disparities in hospice use by race and ethnicity.

New dementia-focused payment model emphasizes caregiver supportHospice News, by Holly Vossel; 1/18/23Without family caregivers, most hospice and palliative care patients would be unable to receive care in the home. Now, some emerging payment models are including caregiver support as a key component. 

Role matters in understanding 'quality' in palliative care: a qualitative analysis of patient, caregiver and practitioner perspectivesBMJ Open, by Laura M Holdsworth, Karleen Giannitrapani, Raziel C Gamboa, Claire O'Hanlon, Nainwant Singh, Anne Walling, Charlotta Lindvall, Karl Lorenz; 1/17/24Objectives: To compare the discussions from two panels on the concept of palliative care quality for patients with advanced cancer, exploring the priorities reflected in each group's perspectives.

Top ten tips palliative care clinicians should know about providing care for people with disabilitiesJ Palliat Med, by Dorothy W Tolchin, Claire Rushin, Ben Tolchin, Chloe Slocum, Jordana L Meyerson, Susan M Havercamp, Tamra Keeney, Andrea W Schwartz, Kristen Schaefer, Melissa Ross, Michael A Stein, Christopher A Jones, William E Rosa, Forrest A Brooks/ 1/17/24Palliative care (PC) clinicians are well poised to help people with disabilities (PWD) live well in the context of serious illness. PC prioritizes person-centered care with a focus on function, autonomy, and quality of life. This approach aligns with principles of high-quality care for PWD.Requires subscription Editor's Note: See 

Hollywood's portrayal of cancer in movies fuels misconceptions, new study findsPR Newswire; 1/17/24... Researchers reviewed more than 100 films released between 2010-2020 and found several key findings about films' lasting impact on public perception of cancer treatment, prevention and care options. Key findings from the study include:

Study shows 'alarming' sharp increase of colon cancer in younger AmericansThe National Desk, by Jamel Valencia; 1/17/24Colorectal cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in men and the second in women under the age of 50, according to the American Cancer Society's annual report on cancer facts and trends. It indicated that colon cancer moved up from being the fourth leading cause of cancer death in both younger men and women two decades ago to first in men and second in women. Breast cancer leads in women under 50 with 2,251 deaths in 2021.