Literature Review

Redwood Newsmakers: Hospice of Humboldt Palliative Care Program Redwood News; by Ross Rowley; 5/20/26 We’re here with Karen Ayres, nurse practitioner with Hospice of Humboldt, talking about home-based palliative care and the growing need for these services here in our community. Hospice of Humboldt started this program in 2022. ... “So we started this service called home-based palliative care,” she said. “While we are part of Hospice of Humboldt, we are one of the services they offer. We’re not hospice care, we’re palliative care. ..."

Research spotlight: characterizing patient perceptions of palliative care in surgical settings Mass General Brigham | Patient Care; by Claire Morton, MD and Zara Cooper, MD, MSc; 5/19/26 ... Question: What did you find? Generally, patients were not familiar with palliative care. If they had heard of it, they often equated it with hospice or end-of-life care, leading to misconceptions about its scope and purpose. However, our observations revealed that patients frequently initiated discussions about concerns relevant to palliative care, such as social or psychological burdens they were experiencing during their visits with surgeons. This indicated an underlying interest in these domains, even if they were not explicitly aware of how palliative care could address them. ...Question: What are the real-world implications, particularly for patients? ...

A husband’s story of end-of-life care at home MedPage Today's KevinMD.com; by Ron Louie, MD; 11/27/25... When my wife died at home, it wasn’t really a surprise. ... Over the previous few weeks, we had notified her primary care physician’s office of the need for a home hospice referral, but because of some snafu, the correct wording wasn’t used, and the paperwork stalled. ... Years before, we had already obtained a POLST (Portable Order for Life-Sustaining Treatment, our state’s “green form”), signed by a doctor, that made clear my physician wife’s choices in advanced directives: no CPR, tube feedings, or IV treatments. ... Since we didn’t have an active home hospice referral, I knew that firefighters could pronounce her death; my own license had lapsed in retirement. ... The firefighters left, but the police stayed quite awhile until they were cleared by the Medical Examiner’s office. ...Editor's Note: This caregiver story powerfully tells challenges experienced by a retired oncologist/spouse. Calling all leaders who are part of referral and admissions processes, pay attention to the problems caused by delays: firemen, police, and (not named) lack of bereavement care.

Enhancing psychosocial care at end of life: A novel simulation training programPalliative & Supportive Care; by Emilia Crnjak, Michelle Kerns, Mariah Stevens, Brianna O'Connell, Lauren Mednick; 4/26Providing psychosocial support to pediatric patients and their families at the end of life represents one of the most challenging yet vital aspects of healthcare practice. This study explored the use of simulation-based training to enhance the self-reported knowledge, skills, and comfort levels of child life specialists in providing psychosocial care during end-of-life situations. Forty-three child life specialists participated in the simulation-based training, which was combined with traditional didactic instruction, and the associated research study. Pre- and post-training surveys were used to assess impact of the training on child life specialists' self-reported knowledge of end-of-life care and comfort in providing this care. A statistically significant increase was seen in all measured aspects of self-reported knowledge and comfort in providing end-of-life care following the training.

Where do unhoused people go to die? The Denver Clarion, Denver, CO; by Hawke Baldwin; 5/4/26 ... On April 29th 9News presented its documentary “Refuge” in DU’s Anderson Academic Commons, giving viewers a glimpse into the reality of death. “Refuge” is a sad yet inspiring story that delves into end-of-life care for those both terminally ill and unhoused in Denver. ... A person featured in the film is James Patrick Hall, a Gregorian Frier and former engineer who founded Rocky Mountain Refuge, a haven for those in need of end-of-life care. The refuge is a hospice center providing home-style care for free. ... The documentary follows four unhoused and terminally ill individuals: Jennifer, Renne, James and Jose. All of whom were unable to find appropriate care anywhere else, so they turned to Rocky Mountain Refuge.

Hospice nurses are changing how we care for patients at the end-of-life South Florida Hospital News and Healthcare Report; by Karen Peterson; 5/1/26 Hospice nurses are often associated with compassion at the end of life. What is less understood is that they are also among the most clinically skilled nurses in healthcare. During National Nurses Week (May 6-12), it is important to recognize the many ways nurses shape patient care across the continuum. Hospice nursing is not a step away from acute care. It is an extension of it. ... A hospice nurse may be called to a patient’s home late at night for uncontrolled pain or severe shortness of breath .... In that moment, the nurse must assess, intervene and stabilize, while also supporting the family through fear and uncertainty. 

Virtual reality for serious illness: connecting, healing, and inducing awe | part one Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN); podcast hosted by Chris Comeaux with Kathleen Benton and Teri Yarbrow; 4/29/26 What if, even in the most limiting and uncertain moments of serious illness, a person could still experience freedom, movement, beauty, and a renewed sense of meaning? In this episode, Kathleen Benton and Virtual Reality (VR innovator Teri Yarbrow reveal how virtual reality is reshaping Hospice and Palliative Care by restoring something often lost in modern medicine—human experience.  As care becomes increasingly clinical and documentation-driven, VR creates space for patients to reconnect with meaning, beauty, and identity beyond their diagnosis.

Man in hospice had final wish of attending his 80th Kentucky Derby, and it's coming true WLKY-32, Louisville, KY; by Addie Meiners; 4/30/26 An 89-year-old Louisville native in hospice care wants to get in one final Kentucky Derby before he dies. Bob Weihe has been to 79 Derbies in a row. But in a wheelchair, unable to walk and unable to afford it, he feared his dying wish would not come true. But after a public appeal, it looks like he'll get that wish. Journalist David Begnaud shared a video online asking for help to grant it. Weihe’s passion for the Derby began in 1946 when he attended his first race at the age of 8 with his mother. ... Weihe’s wife, Barbara, has been his date to 62 Derbies, starting in 1957. ... Churchill Downs responded to Begnaud’s video, providing tickets to make Weihe’s wish come true.

Kansas veteran dies in hospice weeks after KWCH story on cancer fight, push for health benefits KWCH-12 News, Wichita, KS; by Matt Heilman and KWCH Staff; 4/28/26 A Kansas veteran whose story 12 News shared last month following the initial denial of her VA health benefits amid her cancer battle died Monday night in hospice care, her husband confirmed. Lorraina Robles, who served in the Air National Guard, most recently in Africa, fought stage 3 cervical cancer for over a year. Adding to the difficulty, her VA benefits for cancer treatment and other health benefits were denied following her return from deployment. 

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.

Hope, uncertainty, and hard truths: the complexity of goals-of-care discussions in oncology OncLive - Oncology Live; by Maurie Markman, MD; 4/10/26 ... While appreciating considerable variation in how individuals deal with their [cancer] diagnosis, as well as understanding the potential for difficult conversations regarding the specifics of available therapeutic options and anticipated statistically defined survival, it remains essential that such discussions be held. ... What is the most appropriate conclusion regarding a goals-of-care discussion? Should this patient have been offered further testing and therapy, or, based on the facts of this case, was hospice referral perhaps a more reasonable suggestion?