Literature Review

[Spain] End-of-life preparedness and emotional suffering in patients and caregivers: Findings from an international cohort study spanning the period before and after deathPalliative Medicine; by Clément Meier, Verónica Inés Veloso, Bélen Carballo, Eva Víbora Martín, Pilar Barnestein-Fonseca, Dröfn Birgisdóttir, Valgerður Sigurðardóttir, Ida Korfage, Agnes van der Heide, Vilma A Tripodoro; 1/26Preparing for the end of life is believed to help mitigate emotional suffering for both patients and their caregivers. This study uses data from the international iLIVE project to examine how perceived end-of-life preparedness is associated with emotional suffering among patients and their caregivers before and after death. Feeling fully prepared for the end of life was significantly associated with lower levels of emotional suffering for both patients and caregivers. Among patients, preparedness was linked to reduced emotional suffering at baseline and follow-up. For caregivers, these associations were even more pronounced at baseline, follow-up, and after the patient's death.

[United Kingdom] When a children’s hospice closes – national questions and lessons from Richard House by Peter Ellis ehospice; by Peter Ellis; 2/25/26 The closure of Richard House Children’s Hospice in December 2025 represents more than the loss of a single organisation. It signals a moment of reckoning for the children’s hospice movement in the United Kingdom. Richard House served families in East London for 25 years.  East London has a hugely diverse population with some 104 languages and dialects spoken. It has a substantially higher number of children with life limited or threatened lives than any other part of the country. So, Richard House was uniquely placed in the right part of the country. Failing as it has means there are serious questions to be asked.

[UK] Parental experiences of perinatal loss, with a focus on hospice provision: A thematic analysisPalliative & Supportive Care; Rhiannon Latham, Katrina Williams, Keeley Guest, Fauzia Paize, Robyn Lotto; 1/26Perinatal palliative care (PPC) offers holistic support to families of babies with life-limiting conditions, addressing emotional, psychological, and practical needs alongside ensuring dignity for the baby. Five key themes were identified [in this study]: the significance of language used by healthcare professionals when discussing the baby's condition; the importance of timely introduction to hospice care; recognition that grief is a personal and evolving process; the role of shared experiences in building relationships; and the importance of creating lasting memories. Findings highlight the importance of improving healthcare professionals' communication skills and integrating multidisciplinary palliative care services early in the care pathway. Parents expressed gratitude for the hospice support, particularly the opportunity to spend quality time with their baby and make lasting memories.

The global need for paediatric palliative care: the evolution of serious health-related suffering in children aged 0-19 years from 1990 to 2023 The Lancet - Child & Adolescent Health; by Julia Downing, Felicia Marie Knaul, Xiaoxiao Jiang Kwete, Héctor Arreola-Ornelas, Nickhill Bhakta, William E Rosa, Lukas Radbruch, Julia Ambler, Stephen R Connor, Jinfeng Ding, Megan Doherty, Rui Gong, Richard Hain, Rut Kiman, Eric L Krakauer, Michael J McNeil, Oscar Méndez-Carniado, Marina Morais, Mary Ann Muckaden, Tania Pastrana, Marianne Phillips, Hongliang Tao, Michael Touchton, Valentina Vargas Enciso, Paul Vila, Afsan Bhadelia; online ahead of print March 2026 Our findings underscore the crucial need to expand access to high-quality palliative care services for children and adolescents, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). Our results also highlight the shift from decedent to non-decedent care needs associated with the substantial morbidity experienced by those living with their disease. Specific health-system policies to respond to the need for increased and higher-quality paediatric palliative care, especially interventions and medicines essential to address the unique palliative care needs of children, must be adequately funded to effectively reduce the avoidable burden of serious health-related suffering (SHS) among children.

[China] Progress in research on alleviating the symptoms associated with advanced cancer using Traditional Chinese MedicinePain Research & Management; by Chunmeng Jiao, Ting Zhang, Yachen Yang, Ruofan Zhang, Wenbo Liu, Yanqing Wang, Lei Huang; 1/26Advanced cancer continues to pose a substantial global challenge, with complex symptom burdens and limited therapeutic options. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), grounded in holistic theory and the principles of syndrome differentiation, employs interventions such as herbal medicine, acupuncture, moxibustion, and acupoint‐based therapies to address both the malignancy and the patient’s overall functional status. Emerging evidence indicates that TCM may alleviate symptom clusters associated with advanced cancer, enhance quality of life, and potentially contribute to improved survival outcomes. This review synthesizes findings from the past decade on the role of TCM in advanced cancer care, with a focus on herbal decoctions, Chinese herbal injections, acupuncture—either alone or in combination with herbal therapy—moxibustion with adjuvant medication, and other external TCM modalities. Evidence is examined regarding their effects on cancer‐related pain, fatigue, gastrointestinal dysfunction, chemotherapy‐ and radiotherapy‐induced toxicities, and immune modulation.

[Global] UCLA report reveals a significant global palliative care gap among children  UCLA Health, Los Angeles, CA; by University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) - Health Sciences; 2/10/26 Nearly all the world’s 10.6 million children experiencing serious health-related suffering (SHS) live in low- and middle-income countries with little to no access to palliative care specialized care for their illness, according to a comprehensive new report published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health. ... The findings reveal a dramatic shift: most children in need of palliative care now live longer with severe, chronic illness, fundamentally changing the type of services needed and extending the duration of these services. ...

[UK] The effects of music interventions on behavioural and psychological symptoms in older adults with dementia: Systematic reviewAdvances in Mental Health; by Motunrayo A. Akinboye, Benjamin O. Ajibade; 12/25Dementia, affecting over 55 million people globally, often presents with behavioural and psychological symptoms (BPSDs) such as agitation, depression, and anxiety. Pharmacological treatments can lead to adverse effects, highlighting theneed for safer, non-drug alternatives like music interventions. Findings show that music interventions significantly alleviated symptoms such as depression, anxiety, and agitation. Both active (e.g., singing, playing instruments) andreceptive (e.g., listening) music therapy formats were effective, with sessions ranging from 20–90 minutes. Interventions were most successful when personalized and culturally tailored.

[Worldwide] End-of-life care statistics by care, conditions and illness (2026) Market.us Media; by Samruddhi Yardi; 2/2/26 Each year, an estimated 56.8 million people, including 25.7 million in the last year of life, are in need of palliative care. Worldwide, only about 14% of people who need palliative care currently receive it. ... As society continues to grapple with evolving views on life and death, the commitment to compassionate, personalized, and respectful end-of-life care remains paramount. Embracing this philosophy ensures that every individual is allowed a dignified and meaningful conclusion to their life’s journey.

[Australia] Cancer and dementia incidence are strongly correlated worldwide: Evidence from cross-national regression analysesFuture Science OA; by Wenpeng You, Brendon J Coventry, Maciej Henneberg; 12/25Cancer and dementia are two major health problems affecting millions of people around the world. Countries with higher cancer rates almost always have higher dementia rates. Even after we accounted for income, life expectancy, and other social factors, cancer remained one of the strongest predictors of dementia. These findings suggest that cancer and dementia share many of the same underlying causes, such as aging, chronic inflammation, lifestyle habits, and changes that come with economic development. Understanding these shared patterns can help countries plan for future healthcare needs.

Sanofi Collective - Foundation S stands behind transformative children's palliative care project in Kenya Global Treehouse Foundation; Press Release; 1/27/26 A significant grant from the Foundation S - the Sanofi Collective will enable a transformative three-year project delivering comprehensive grief and bereavement care to families affected by childhood cancer in Kenya. This is about more than funding: it’s about ensuring families are seen, supported and not left to navigate their most challenging moments alone. Foundation S’s investment is a significant milestone in integrating grief and social-emotional support into healthcare systems - an area too often overlooked, yet essential to the dignity and well-being of children and those who love them.

[United Kingdom] Hospice to support additional 1,000 patients BBC News; by Greig Watson; 1/25/26 A service to look after terminally ill people is to be expanded across much of Nottinghamshire after a new contract was awarded. Newark-based Beaumond House Hospice Care will lead on the creation of a new End of Life Referral Hub and make its Hospice at Home service available across Newark, Sherwood, Mansfield, Ashfield and Bassetlaw. The service is currently provided to about 200 patients across Newark and Sherwood but from April 2026 it will care for an additional 1,000 patients a year in their place of choice. ... Macmillan Cancer Support's End-of-Life Care Fund is providing the £1.8m of funding to support the expansion.Editor's Note: Recent hospice coverage from the United Kingdom has largely focused on service reductions. This announcement offers welcome news, signaling expanded access to end-of-life care for more patients. We hope this growth is accompanied by continued commitment to high-quality, person-centered care for patients and families.