Literature Review

The sliver of light after losing a child: Personal perspective - a child's loss can provide elusive and rare gifts. Psychology Today; by David R Patterson PhD, ABPP; by 11/10/25 I have often said that working with patients who are dying has brought an ironic, but transient, feeling of exhilaration to my life. Most care providers who work in hospice will explain to us that people who are aware of their impending mortality have a sense of being in the present that those of us who are not so close to that inevitability can only admire from a distance. ... I don’t know whether this resonates with other parents that have lost a child, but I can say that a very clear impact of my son’s loss has been to become acutely aware of my own mortality. ... After living with my son’s death for three years, I am only just beginning to grasp the lessons that his death is teaching me.

Hospice of the Valley launches support group for people with mild cognitive impairment Lovin' Life; by Lin Sue Flood; 11/2/25 Living with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) can be an isolating experience, but a new program from Hospice of the Valley offers a welcoming space for connection and support. GATHER is a peer-led group where individuals diagnosed with MCI can share their experiences, navigate emotions, and discover new coping strategies together. ... GATHER provides a safe environment for members to lead their own discussions. Unlike traditional support groups, members are empowered to guide conversations toward topics that are most relevant to them. This novel format models successful programs in Europe. 

[Scotland] Spiritual and cultural influences on end-of-life care decision-making: A comparative analysis of the Arab Middle East and the United KingdomCurrent Opinion in Supportive & Palliative Care; by Hanan Hamdan Alshehri, Chris McParland, Hibah Bahri, Bridget Johnston; 10/25Spiritual and cultural factors shape end-of-life decision-making in the Arab Middle East and the United Kingdom. Arab cultures emphasize dignity through faith and family, leading to collective decisions, while the United Kingdom focuses on individual autonomy. Both allow withdrawal from futile treatment to alleviate suffering, but Arab approaches are more family centric. Additionally, spirituality in Arab cultures is often collective and religious, compared to the personal and secular practices common in the United Kingdom.

Four nurses in two weeks assaulted at Essentia Hospitals: Nurses say violence is a consequence of unsafe staffing and inaction Minnesota Nurses Association, Brainer, MN; Press Release; 10/28/25Nurses with the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) are once again outraged and deeply concerned after two more violent assaults on nurses at Essentia Health. A nurse at Essentia Health St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Brainerd was attacked by a patient last Thursday, followed by another assault at the same facility over the weekend. The latest incidents come less than two weeks after two nurses were injured at Essentia Health St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth. Four nurses assaulted in under two weeks reflects a dangerous pattern in Essentia facilities—one that nurses have been warning about for years.Editor's Note: Continue reading for preventable actions and red flags, "True safety comes from care-based prevention." These were hospital settings; the home care settings your staff and volunteers enter provide much higher risks with less control. Ask your direct care staff for examples of professional situations that were unsafe. Office-based leaders, you might be surprised. Examine your workplace violence policies, procedures, trainings, incident reporting, and follow-up.

Peaceful acceptance of illness among older adults with advanced cancer Journal of Pain and Symptom Management; by Sule Yilmaz, Elizabeth Gilbride, Sofiia Hryniv, William Consagra, Supriya G Mohile, Eva Culakova, Beverly Canin, Arul Malhotra, Rachael Tylock, Judith O Hopkins, Jane Jijun Liu, Jamil Khatri, Marissa LoCastro, Maya Anand, Allison Magnuson, Kah Poh Loh; 10/23/25 Context: Peaceful acceptance of illness is associated with lower psychological distress and increased engagement in advance care planning among adults with advanced cancer. Limited data exist on factors influencing illness acceptance in older adults. ... Conclusion: Patient psychological health, perceived prognosis, and caregiver education were linked to PEACE. Triadic interventions addressing these factors may enhance end-of-life care for older adults with advanced cancer.

Pumping irony: When the hospice is inhospitable Experience Life; by Craig Cox; 10/22/25 ... University of Michigan researchers, reviewing the health records of some 139,000 hospice patients diagnosed with dementia, found that nearly half of them were given benzodiazepines, a class of drugs designed to relieve agitation and anxiety. ... The results, in many cases, were deadly. ... “For patients who are not actively dying, patients and families may prioritize preserving cognition, communication, and function — goals that may be compromised by sedating medications,” she writes. “This further underscores the need for dementia-specific hospice interventions to help offer scalable, nonpharmacologic approaches, to equip hospice clinicians with effective alternatives.”

Ensuring safe, effective transitions to hospice Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 10/22/25 Trust, coordination among staff and speedy processes are essential to hospice referral management. This is according to new research from Transcend Strategy Group. For the consulting firm’s most recent Insights Report it conducted in-depth interviews with hospice admissions and business development professionals to identify recurring themes, barriers and opportunities. ... “We have to remember that for the person calling this is probably one of the worst days of their life — if it’s a family member, or if they’re calling on behalf of themselves — and they need help urgently,” Tony Kudner, chief strategy officer for Transcend Strategy Group, told Hospice News.

‘I Prayed for Him’: Faith, Mystery, and Meaning in MedicineMedscape; by Eric Spitznagel;10/15/25Harold Koenig, MD, remembers the first time he didn’t just talk about spirituality with a patient but let it shape his care... Koenig found himself doing something unusual. “I prayed for him every day and told him I was praying for him,” he said. “This meant a lot to him.” Although he had prayed for patients in the past, Koenig never admitted as much openly in a hospital setting... Doctors are starting to talk openly about that spiritual dimension of their work.

What we get wrong about death, according to end-of-life workers Yahoo Lifestyle, originally appeared on HuffPost; by Monica Torres; 10/10/25 The one big thing that people have in common is that we all will die, and we likely will experience the death of someone we love, too. ... That’s why it can help to hear the insights of people who see death all the time, because understanding it now can help us better process grief about others and feel more at ease when thinking about our own mortality. ...

Gerontological nursing essentials for BSN students: Meeting aging population needs Nevada State | RN to BSN; 10/9/25 An aging population is transforming healthcare delivery, and nurses are increasingly called to address the complex needs of older adults. For students pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), learning the essentials of gerontological nursing provides the foundation to deliver compassionate, effective care. This specialty emphasizes not only clinical expertise but also communication, cultural competence, and advocacy for patient dignity. Explore what defines this field, the role of an adult gerontology nurse practitioner, and the pathways available to see how they can shape the future of elder care. Editor's Note: How is your organization supporting career growth for all staff members? While this article focuses on the RN-to-BSN pathway with a gerontological nursing emphasis, consider expanding professional development opportunities across your entire workforce—clinical and non-clinical alike. For example: 

Studying connection at life’s end: Dean’s distinguished research fellowship captures social realities of dying individuals Royal Purple - founded 1901, La Crosse, WI; by UW-La Crosse University Marketing & Communications; 10/6/25 ... The project was sparked in late 2024 when [senior Maddi Jo] Baumann approached [faculty menot Angela] Geraci with an idea rooted in personal experience and public health urgency. Inspired in part by the U.S. Surgeon General’s advisory on the loneliness epidemic, Baumann wondered: What happens socially to people who are dying? Key findings: what drives social change at the end of life? The team’s early findings point to several factors that influence social relationships during the dying process:

Grief etiquette in the digital age: Why waiting, listening, and respecting family wishes matters more than ever National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) - Remembering a Life; by Dr. Camelia L. Clarke; 10/2/25When my nephew died unexpectedly, I was still reeling from the news when my phone began to buzz with notifications. Within an hour, his death was already circulating on social media. The world had found out before our family had even begun to process the loss, let alone notify our closest friends and relatives. I remember feeling overwhelmed, exposed, and, most of all, heartbroken—not just by the loss itself, but by how quickly and impersonally it became public knowledge. As a funeral director and grief educator for nearly thirty years, I’ve witnessed this scenario unfold countless times. 

'I spent 36 years holding dying patients' hands' BBC News, Ireland; by Grace Shaw; 10/5/25 For hospice nurse Trish Carling, holding a dying patient's hand through the dark hours of the night was a privilege to share. The 66-year-old has just retired after 36 years working in palliative care at St Michael's Hospice in Harrogate. Her first shift was in November 1989, and she has worked almost every Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve since. Despite the demands of the job, she originally chose the pathway because it worked around family life when her children were young. "At first I found the night shifts practical - they then became my preferred hours," she said. ... [Continue reading]Editor's Note: In what ways do you honor your longtime employees? How do you tell their stories of passionate compassion? Of loyalty to your core mission through changing times and operational practices? So many of these valued employees began in a pre-digital era. Imagine: before cell phones, the internet, websites, electronic employee files, EMR systems, and so much more. Crucial employee data can get lost especially during organizational name changes, Mergers & Acquistions, or a short-term leave of absence. Let this article be a catalyst for you to research and honor your employees with long tenures. Without their faithful foundations, your work today would not be the same.