Literature Review

A peer support intervention for Black family caregivers of persons living with dementia: A feasibility studyJournal of the American Geriatrics Society; by Karen O Moss, Alai Tan, Abraham A Brody, Karen Bullock, Kathy D Wright, Kimberly Johnson, Mary Beth Happ; 12/25Black family caregivers of older adults living with dementia are at high risk for physical, spiritual, and psychosocial challenges. Culturally responsive interventions are needed to address disparities in this population. The purpose of this National Institute on Aging Stage Model 1A study was to test the feasibility, acceptability, and fidelity of the Peer Support for Black Family Caregivers of Persons Living with Dementia (Pair 2 Care) intervention. Pair 2 Care is a culturally responsive, non-judgmental, flexible, co-designed virtual peer support intervention in which former caregivers are paired as peer mentors with current caregivers for 6 months.  On average, participants rated their overall Pair 2 Care satisfaction as very high (4.6/5).

Preparedness as a bridge: How religious coping shapes acceptance of death in dementia caregivingClinical Gerontologist; by L. Blake Peeples, Lauren Chrzanowski, Benjamin T. Mast; 12/25This study examined the role of religious coping and preparedness in shaping caregivers’ acceptance of death following the loss of a care recipient with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias. Bivariate analyses indicated that both positive and negative religious coping were significantly associated with greater preparedness, and preparedness was strongly related to acceptance. Findings suggest that interventions focused on religious coping enhance preparedness which improves caregivers’ acceptance in the bereavement process.

Development of a mortality prediction model for incarcerated adults to identify palliative care needsJournal of General Internal Medicine; by W. James Deardorff, Alexandra K. Lee, Kaiwei Lu, Bocheng Jing, W. John Boscardin, Michele DiTomas, John Dunlap, Brie A. Williams, Sei J. Lee, Alexander K. Smith; 12/25The United States prison population has seen a rapid rise in the number of older adults, with roughly 14% of male prisoners and 9% of female prisoners aged 55 years or older in 2020.  Incarcerated adults experience accelerated aging, leading to reduced life expectancy and higher rates of chronic medical conditions, functional impairments, and mental health conditions compared with non-incarcerated persons. For individuals with advanced age, multimorbidity, and/or serious illness, advance care planning discussions, palliative care, and hospice services are crucial for improving quality of life and ensuring medical care that is consistent with an individual’s values and goals. As the number of incarcerated adults with limited life expectancy increases, there is a clear need for a systematic way to identify individuals who may most benefit from these services. Our 2-year mortality prediction model for adults within the California prison system performed well on measures of discrimination, calibration, and classification. The model can be used to flag individuals at higher risk for mortality for consideration of advance care planning interventions, palliative care and hospice referrals, and compassionate release.

No time like the present: End-of-life simulation in the first semester of a 12-month accelerated baccalaureate nursing programJournal of Hospice & Palliative Nursing; by Alexander T Wolf, Karen L Hunt, Maura D Penfield; 12/25Accelerated nursing programs face unique challenges in incorporating palliative care. This report describes a high-fidelity home hospice simulation developed for first-semester students in a 12-month accelerated baccalaureate nursing program in the northeastern United States. The simulation integrated foundational nursing skills with palliative care competencies. Thematic analysis of student reflections revealed 5 emerging themes: pain management, empathy, family involvement, communication, and knowledge and preparation. Despite challenges in creating a realistic home environment, the simulation provided valuable hands-on experience in palliative care, demonstrating the potential for early curricular integration of these crucial skills.

Association between patient-reported engagement and medical record of advance care planning among older adults in the ED: A cross sectional studyAmerican Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine; by Nanako Shirai, Tadayuki Hashimoto, Sho Fukui, Upeka Samarakoon, Gabriel Paasche-Orlow, Seth N. Randa, Yuchiao Chang, Charlotta Lindvall, Katren R. Tyler, Hacho B. Bohossian, Kate R. Sciacca, Karina Klein, Allyson C. Sage, Donovan Nielsen, Eric Hanson, Milton Joel, Timothy F. Platts-Mills, Angelo Volandes, Kei Ouchi; 12/25Most older adults in the U.S. visit the emergency department (ED) in their final 6 months of life, providing an opportunity to engage patients in advance care planning (ACP) conversations ... While many report ACP engagement, the link between self-reported engagement and pre-existing ACP documentation in the ED, where ACP documentation is especially critical, remains unclear. ACP engagement was measured using the validated ACP Engagement Survey. On ED presentation, patient-reported ACP engagement correlated with the presence of pre-existing ACP documentation in the EHR. Conclusion: The ACP Engagement Survey may help identify older adults less likely to have documented ACP,  guiding targeted interventions in the ED.

Palliative care integration in oncology: A review and updateJournal of Hospice & Palliative Care; by Claire Wang, Thomas W LeBlanc; 12/25Palliative care (PC) is increasingly recognized as an essential component of high-quality cancer care, with evidence from randomized trials and meta-analyses demonstrating that it improves quality of life, mood, and goal-concordant end-of-life care. Despite these benefits, PC integration has been inconsistent, with many patients still receiving PC later in their disease course. Current models of integration include outpatient co-located PC clinics, inpatient consultation services, community- and home-based programs, and more recent innovations, such as telehealth and stepped approaches. Symptom control, coping support, longitudinal communication, and existential or spiritual interventions are among the active ingredients that are most consistently associated with improvements in patient outcomes. Implementation of precision PC requires embedding validated patient-reported outcomes and structured referral algorithms into oncology workflows, enabling real-time triage of targeted interventions.

Developing and testing a program to strengthen the dementia palliative care trial workforceJournal of Pain and Symptom Management; Ana-Maria Vranceanu, Hannah Puttre, Sarah Stone, Kathryn I Pollak, Jean S Kutner, Christine Seel Ritchie; 12/25To describe the development and early outcomes of the National Institute on Aging (NIA)-funded Dementia Palliative Care Clinical Trials Training Program (DEM-PCCT)... DEM-PCCT is a novel national training model that advances dementia palliative care by combining didactic training, experiential learning and structured grant development. Thus, DEM-PCCT builds the scientific workforce and serves as a model to accelerate evidence-based dementia palliative care interventions.

Documentary sheds light on HIV patient’s science-advancing ‘last gift’ through UCSD study San Diego Union Tribune; by Noah Lyons; 12/30/25 The documentary "The Last Gift" follows Jim Dunn's end-of-life decision to donate his tissues to HIV research, highlighting the altruistic act of giving back to science. The film showcases Jim's journey and the impact of his final act on advancing HIV research. It is a poignant reminder of the power of individual generosity in the pursuit of medical breakthroughs. 

Mending our souls: The role of textiles in death, loss, and navigating griefOmega (Westport); by Emma M Mock; 12/25This literature review bridges the gap between research on the therapeutic benefits of engaging with textiles and the known benefits of art and narrative driven engagements for individuals and communities navigating grief. The prominence of textiles within historical and cultural contexts shows the way textiles are often key components in mourning rituals and have long been used as expressions of grief, despite its absence within the field thanatology. This article explores how the vast and varied ways people ritualize, memorialize, and engage with textiles have specific therapeutic benefits and support the frameworks within prevalent grief theory. This body of research encourages the application of textiles within personal and collective grief experiences, clinical settings, educational, and counsel spheres by establishing a body of research that addresses the breadth of textile's value as tools for navigating life after loss.

Exploring and understanding different perspectives on the experience of engaging with death doulas and those in activity-aligned roles toward the end of life: An integrative reviewPalliative Care & Social Practice; by Samara Gordon Wexler, Catherine Walshe; 11/25The death doula movement is expanding due to dissatisfaction with the medicalization of death and dying. The limited evidence from literature, including experiential perspectives outside of reports from death doulas or those in aligned-activities roles, indicates that research should continue to explore the benefits of adding these roles to end-of-life care. Positive experiences of engaging a doula or with those performing aligned activities appear related to role flexibility, which seems to facilitate other favorable experiences. However, flexibility also seems to be a cause of role confusion and boundary issues, shedding light on the need to develop regulation that protects both death doulas or those performing similar activities and those they engage with.

Neuropathology of Lewy body dementia: Lewy-related pathology, α-synuclein oligomers, and comorbid pathologiesMolecular Neurodegeneration; by Hiroaki Sekiya, Tomoyasu Matsubara, Michael A. DeTure, Dennis W. Dickson; 11/25 In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the underlying pathologies for Lewy body dementia and their molecular mechanisms and clinical implications. Lewy body dementia is the second most common form of neurodegenerative dementia, following Alzheimer’s disease. This umbrella term encompasses dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and Parkinson’s disease dementia (PDD). The distinction between these two conditions lies in the timing of the onset of cognitive impairment relative to motor symptoms. In DLB, cognitive impairment precedes or coincides with motor symptoms within the first year, whereas in PDD, cognitive decline occurs more than a year after the onset of motor symptoms. Clinically, in addition to cognitive decline, patients with Lewy body dementia have parkinsonism, visual hallucinations, and fluctuations of cognitive status.