Literature Review

How does Parkinson’s progress? End-stage symptoms and what to expectMass General Brigham; by Todd M. Herrington, MD, PhD; 4/7/26 The journey with Parkinson’s disease looks extremely different from person to person. ...

How to navigate a multigenerational team in health careHomeCare; by Kimberly Skehan & Jennifer Kennedy; 4/2/26 For the first time in history, five generations are working side by side in today’s organizations. Each cohort brings distinct experiences, values, communication styles and expectations. In health care, these differences influence not only workplace culture but also how care is delivered, received and supported. Understanding generational differences is no longer a soft skill. It is a strategic competency tied directly to quality, compliance, workforce sustainability and patient experience. The 5 Generations:

“I just feel alone and by myself”: how adolescents experience loneliness when their parent has cancer BMC Public Health; by Lydia Mckeown, Martin Dempster, Jenny Groarke & Lisa Graham-Wisener; 3/31/26... Adolescents experiencing parental cancer report intrapersonal loneliness and interpersonal loneliness across their peer group and family life. Healthcare professionals should identify if patients have young dependent children early on so they can support parents to provide age-appropriate information about cancer to their young people and signpost parents to relevant support for their children. Editor's Note: This need becomes even more urgent when a parent is dying. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Hospice Conditions of Participation reference “family” 423 times—an intentional reminder that hospcie care extends beyond the patient. Supporting parents as they support their children is both essential and expected.

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.

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." 

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. ...

Alliance submits comment letter on the Department of Education’s notice of proposed rulemaking, ‘Reimagining and Improving Student Education’ (RISE) National Alliance for Care at Home, Alexandria, VA and Washington, DC; Press Release; 3/3/26 The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) has submitted a response to The Department of Education’s proposed rule, titled Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE).  While the Alliance appreciates the Department’s aim of promoting fiscally responsible spending, the comment letter expresses concern that the proposed rule’s narrow definition of professional degree, and the resulting exclusion of nursing, physical therapy, physician assistant, occupational therapy, and social work advanced degree programs, would have a unintended consequence for the healthcare workforce and the millions of Americans who depend on care delivered in the home.

Thyme Care launches Integrated Social Support model, bringing proactive oncology social work to 8 million Americans upon diagnosis PR Newswire, Nashville, TN; by Thyme Care; 3/5/26 Thyme Care today announced the public launch of its Integrated Social Support (ISS) model, a redesigned approach to oncology navigation that positions licensed master's-level social workers as the first to intervene when members experience barriers to navigating their cancer. The announcement coincides with National Social Work Month in March, recognizing the essential role social workers play in improving health outcomes. An estimated 44% of individuals affected by cancer experience psychosocial burdens, which are associated with poorer health, clinical, and economic outcomes for patients and caregivers. Thyme Care's ISS model flips the approach by making licensed social workers one of the first points of contact for social, emotional, and practical needs, assessing members from day one and throughout their journey ...

Developing a tool to advance person-centred care in hospice: The little things are the big thingsPalliative Care and Social Practice; by Mary Ellen Macdonald, Sophia Salmaniw, Lisa McNeil-Campbell, Anne Frances D’Intino, Lynette Sawchuk, Cyndi Corbett, Logan Lawrence; 2/23/26 Person-centred care has become the cornerstone of quality palliative and end-of-life care. Yet, there is a dearth of both practical guidance and tools to operationalize how to ensure palliative end-of-life care is optimally person-centred. Noting this lacuna, a new hospice in Eastern Canada developed and piloted their own tool, called the SELFY (Share, Explore, Learn and Focus on You!), the intention being to standardize their institution’s commitment to high-quality person-centred hospice care.

‘Don’t play God’ in end-of-life conversations Medscape; by Medscape's editorial team; 3/5/26 For many clinicians, the most difficult words to utter are not a complex diagnosis but a simple admission: “We have reached the end of what medical care can do to make your loved one better.” An ICU/emergency room (ER) nurse with 30 years of experience says avoiding this reality can “prolong the dying process” rather than an extension of meaningful life — and called “false hope in the next procedure, next drug, next consultation” the “cruelest thing a well-meaning caregiver can do.”