Our hospice system subverts the very point of hospice care 
The New York Times; Opinion | Guest Essay by Sandeep Jauhar; 3/2/26 
When my siblings and I decided to put our father in hospice care at his home in the spring of 2021, his Alzheimer’s was near end-stage. He could barely get out of bed or dress or feed himself. Hospice care seemed to be the best way for him to end his life with dignity. ... We soon encountered a harsh reality, however. Dying at home isn’t easy, even with hospice care. ... The main problem was funding. In 2024, the average per-patient Medicare payment to hospice agencies was about $200 a day, with an annual cap of $33,500. That outlay would barely pay for a part-time aide, yet it is also needed to cover medications, medical equipment and nurse visits.

Q&A: Why are more Americans under 50 years of age dying of colorectal cancer? 
Medscape; by Keith Mulvihill; 2/10/26 
First, the good news: Fewer Americans younger than 50 years are dying from cancer vs just a decade ago — reflecting progress in prevention, early detection, and treatment. There is, however, one big exception. Colorectal cancer mortality has been steadily inching up, and the disease now stands as the leading cause of cancer death in this age group, up from the fifth-leading in the early 1990s. ... The outlier is colorectal cancer, where mortality has been rising by about 1% per year since 2005. And it’s a pattern seen in both men and women. ... [The researchers are asked,] "Can you offer some possible reasons for the declining mortality in most of the cancers you studied?" 

Nurses in ‘key position’ to embed culturally and religiously sensitive end-of-life care 
Nursing In Practice; by Cahal McQuillan; 3/2/26 
Many Muslim patients prioritise end-of-life care that aligns with their faith and culture, with family-based care often being expected to achieve a peaceful death, a new study reports. The review, which was published in BMJ Open in January, collected and analysed data from 18 papers that presented primary research on end-of-life care among Muslims living in the UK. Their findings highlighted challenges faced by healthcare professionals in this area, and put forward several meaningful steps to help providers, such as nurses, provide culturally and religiously sensitive palliative care. 

Volunteers prepare bears to offer comfort and hope to hospice families 
CBS WKNB News - 27; by Austin Caroline; 2/28/26 
Making a difference, one bear at a time. That was the mission Saturday morning at Hanoverton Christian Church in Columbiana County. Volunteers spent the morning creating Burden Bears for hospice families and the Jacob’s Heart nonprofit at Akron Children’s Hospital. These small bears are made to offer comfort, hope and a tangible reminder that no one walks through hard seasons alone. Pamela Lattimer says she holds these sessions as a way for her to continue her mother’s legacy. 

The burden of the eldest daughter 
MedPage Today's KevinMD.com; podcast by Jessie Mahone, MD; 10/15/25 
Were you the one who always held it together? The responsible one? The one who made sure everyone else was OK, sometimes at the cost of your own well-being? For most eldest daughters, this role is inevitable. We don’t choose it. We are handed it, early and often, because we are so “capable.” We accept this role and excel at it. That’s what most eldest daughters do with whatever is handed to us. Recently, my podcast cohost, another female physician, and I realized we had so many shared “eldest daughter” experiences. 

3 strategies to improve care access: McKinsey 
Becker's Hospital Review; by Kristin Kuchno; 3/3/26 
With the U.S. physician shortage projected to surpass 137,000 by 2037, improving patient access cannot rely on pushing physicians to see more patients, according to a Feb. 26 McKinsey article. In McKinsey’s 2025 Physician Survey, 83% of physicians said they have seen patients delay care, with access barriers ranking among the top reasons. ... McKinsey outlines three additional strategies that when implemented together and in sequence — alongside efforts to reduce waste — can improve patient satisfaction and retention.

1. Redesign care delivery models. ...
2. Integrate patient preferences into operations. ...
3. Expand capacity strategically. ...

Let's talk about robotics in nursing
Health Leaders; by G Hatfield; 3/2/26
... CNOs who want to incorporate robotics into nursing workflows must focus on adapting care models and staffing to maintain quality and continuity. According to Wills, staffing models may shift towards stronger roles in pre-admission testing, nurse navigation, virtual check-ins, and ambulatory recovery support. "I think CNOs need to think beyond the walls of the hospital, and this means redesigning care models that emphasize preoperative education, care coordination, and postoperative discharge follow-ups," Wills said.
Editor's Note: Robotics is advancing rapidly in healthcare. Should hospice and palliative care follow—and at what cost? Our work depends on presence, trust, and human attunement. Could robotics support safety or coordination without displacing relationship? What are the ethical implications—for workforce roles, family trust, and especially for persons living with dementia? We share this for thoughtful discernment.

Navigating end-of-life decisions with Islamic ethics 
WisconsinMuslimJournal.org; by Sandra Whitehead; 2/20/26 
Medical College of Wisconsin Professor Aasim I. Padela, M.D., founder and president of the Initiative on Islam and Medicine, discussed Islamic bioethics during a January workshop on end-of-life decisions at the Islamic Society of Milwaukee. ... About 50 people attended the four-hour workshop, Islamic Bioethics & End-of-Life Healthcare Decisions, held Jan. 31 at the Islamic Society of Milwaukee. It featured experts with backgrounds in medicine, palliative care, hospice and Islam. Speakers made presentations and led discussions about practical steps, resources and strategies to help Muslims “transition from a state of uncertainty about end-of-life healthcare to thoughtful preparation for it,” a workbook given to participants stated.

How family caregivers are shaping their own future 
AARP; by Paul Wynn; 2/18/26 
Applying hard-learned lessons from caring for others, nearly half of caregivers are planning their own legal, financial and medical futures. Helen Bundy Medsger spent three decades caring for multiple family members, including her parents and sister, an experience that shaped both her advocacy and her determination to plan ahead so her two children don’t inherit the challenges she faced as a caregiver. ... 

Friends of Hospice starts life longings bucket list program 
WSYR-TV, Syracuse, NY; by Iris St. Meran; 2/26/26 
Losing a friend or loved one is never easy. That’s why organizations like Friends of Hospice in Oswego County are important. They provide non-medical support and have a new initiative to help those facing a life limiting diagnosis fulfill bucket list requests. Elena Twiss, the executive director shared more about the Life Longings program. It is designed to support individuals facing a life-limiting diagnosis by fulfilling “bucket list” requests, making comfort improvements, or helping with milestone celebrations. To learn more about life longings and the other resources friends of hospice provides visit FriendsOfHospice.org.

Hospice care around the world: How other cultures approach end-of-life care - Gilchrist and Nkoaranga Palliative Care 
ehospice; by Gilchrist Hospice; 2/25/26 
... What began as a knowledge and skill-sharing partnership became something even greater: when Nkoaranga lost its main source of financial support in 2011, Gilchrist stepped up to fully fund the program’s annual operating budget. Today, through this enduring partnership, Gilchrist provides the $80,000 per year that allows Nkoaranga’s dedicated team to deliver life-changing care to patients and families who would otherwise go without. ... In 2024 alone, Nkoaranga’s small but mighty team conducted over 170 home visits and served 123 additional patients and families beyond their monthly caseload.

It is good to have an end to journey toward, but it is the journey that matters in the end. ~ Ernest Hemingway