Literature Review

Palliative care for patients with end-stage renal disease-An examination of unmet needs and experiencing problemsJournal of Hospice & Palliative Nursing; Darawad, Muhammad W. PhD, RN; Reinke, Lynn F. PhD, ANP-BC, FPCN, FAAN; Khalil, Amani PhD, RN; Melhem, Ghaith Bani PhD, RN; Alnajar, Malek MSN, CNS, RN; June 2025Patients with end-stage renal disease face numerous physical, emotional, and financial burdens, necessitating palliative care (PC) interventions. This cross-sectional study ... revealed that 64.7% of participants experienced significant challenges, primarily financial difficulties (78.5%), autonomy concerns (68.8%), and a need for information (68.0%). More than half (51.9%) reported needing PC [palliative care], particularly for managing fatigue (78.3%), pain (79.8%), and depression (72.9%). Unmet needs were common (47.6%), with the most notable gaps in financial support (52.5%) and information provision (50%). These findings underscored the urgent need for tailored PC interventions for end-stage renal disease patients, particularly in addressing symptom management, psychosocial and spiritual support, financial support, and information deficits, to enhance their quality of life.

Describing the impact of physician end-of-life communication training on simulated stress using a novel stress marker American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine; by Amy H. J. Wolfe, MD, MEd, Pamela S. Hinds, PhD, RN, FAAN, Adre J. du Plessis, MD, Heather Gordish-Dressman, PhD, and Lamia Soghier, MD, MEd-2; 3/25/25 Introduction: Empathetic end-of-life (EOL) communication is important for high quality pediatric patient and family outcomes. Trainees may have limited exposure and training in caring for patients at EOL which may impact communication-related stress. ...  Conclusions: Pediatric residents report limited opportunities to communicate with patients/families at EOL, which may impact stress responses when communicating life-altering news to families. Simulated communication encounters can be designed to evoke subjective and objective stress which can be measured using novel technology and may help address limited EOL opportunities.

Avoidant and approach-oriented coping strategies, meaning making, and mental health among adults bereaved by suicide and fatal overdose: A prospective path analysisBehavioral Sciences; Jamison S. Bottomley, Robert A. Neimeyer; 5/25The current study shed light on the role of avoidance- and approach-oriented coping strategies in aggravating or ameliorating the longer-term distress of the survivors of such losses, roughly half of whom showed continued clinical-level elevations of prolonged grief, posttraumatic stress, and depressive symptomatology two years following the death. The results provided cautionary evidence that avoidant coping through denial, distraction, and behavioral disengagement prospectively predicted higher levels of prolonged grief and posttraumatic stress, with the impairment of meaning making about the loss accounting for much of the variance in the former outcome. In contrast, actively approaching others for support and attempting to confront and surmount the problems posed by bereavement consistently predicted a reduction in prolonged grief, posttraumatic stress, and depression symptoms in the months that followed. The latter impacts were found to be fully mediated by the enhancement of meaning making about the loss, carrying practical implications for bereavement support and grief therapy for this vulnerable population of mourners.

[Singapore] An interdisciplinary approach to legacy work for a young cancer patient - A case illustrationJournal of Social Work in End-of-Life and Palliative Care; Deborah Tan, Grace Yong, Vivian Wong, Benjamin Hooi, Eng Koon Ong; 4/25An interdisciplinary approach to care is essential and crucial in the practice of end-of-life and hospice care. However, there is a lack of data on how social workers and art therapists may work together to provide psychosocial-spiritual interventions. This case study illustrates how the home hospice medical social worker and art therapist employed complementary methods to fulfill the wish of a young adult with advanced cancer through legacy work. Similar team approaches in practice may benefit other patients with similar needs.

GreenCape Health partners with Central Valley Hospice Palliative Medicine WLUS FM 98.3, Greenville, SC; Press Release; 6/5/25 GreenCape Health is proud to announce a strategic partnership with Central Valley Hospice Palliative Medicine (CVHPM), an innovative hospice agency committed to delivering state-of-the-art, compassionate end-of-life care in medically underserved areas across California. ... At the heart of this partnership is mPRO, GreenCapes patient-reported outcomes platform, which enables individuals to report symptoms in real time from home. These insights allow hospice care teams to anticipate needs, respond quickly to changes in condition, and continually adjust care plans to align with each patients evolving goals. 

[Kazakhstan] Mechanisms of chronic pain in Alzheimer's Disease: A narrative reviewCurrent Medicinal Chemistry; Roman Konovalov, Mina Aubakirova, Dmitriy Viderman; 4/25AD [Alzheimer's Disease] causes structural and functional alterations in the affected brain, including shrinkage of gray matter volume and disruptions in brain network connectivity. Besides memory loss, pain is a significant yet often neglected symptom. Effective pain management in AD is challenged by the adverse effects of pain-relief medications and communication difficulties, especially as the disease progresses. Pharmacological options include opioids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, paracetamol/acetaminophen, and adjuvant pain relievers like antidepressants and antiepileptic medications, though these are not officially approved for pain relief in AD. Non-pharmacological strategies, such as exercise therapy, music therapy, Reiki, reflexology, and behavioral therapy, are preferred to prevent the side effects of medication. The review highlights a crucial link between neurological changes in AD and the perception of pain, underscoring the need for customized pain management approaches for this population.

CMS budget proposal would shift nursing facility oversight Becker's Hospital Review; by Elizabeth Gregerson; 6/4/25 Key changes put forth in President Donald Trump’s proposed fiscal year 2026 budget may have downstream effects on the survey and certification of skilled nursing facilities. ... Here are three things to know about the proposed changes:

Rosen introduces bipartisan bills to expand access to palliative care, hospice careJacky Rosen, U.S. Senator for Nevada, Washington, DC; 6/5/25 U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen, co-founder and co-chair of the bipartisan Senate Comprehensive Care Caucus, announced the introduction of a pair of bipartisan bills to expand access to palliative and hospice care. The Expanding Access to Palliative Care Act with Senators Barrasso (R-WY), Baldwin (D-WI), and Fischer (R-NE) would establish a demonstration project through Medicare to expand access to palliative care at the time of diagnosis of serious illness or injury. The Improving Access to Transfusion Care for Hospice Patients Act with Senators Barrasso (R-WY) and Baldwin (D-WI) would carve out payment for transfusion services within the Medicare hospice benefit, allowing for separate billing to Medicare for transfusions. This would improve access to hospice care for patients who rely on transfusion care to maintain quality of life.

A strategic path forward for hospice and palliative care: A white paper on the potential future of the fieldPalliative Medicine Reports; by Ira Byock; 6/5/25The field of hospice and palliative care in the United States is experiencing serious problems and faces an uncertain future. Quality of hospice care is highly variable. Unethical hospice business practices are common in some regions. Palliative care’s integration within American health care has stalled, despite demonstrating that much better care for seriously ill and dying people is both feasible and affordable... Efforts must start with zero tolerance of fraudulent business and clinical practices that harm vulnerable patients. The four components of this strategic approach are:

HOPE Assessment Tool blog series: All about active diagnosesCHAP blog; by Jennifer Kennedy; 6/5/25The implementation date of the HOPE assessment is now five months away and providers should be well on the path for readiness... This blog series has been working its way through the domains of the HOPE assessment tool and this edition will discuss patient diagnoses and health conditions... This domain (Section I) and its items refer to the patient’s primary diagnosis and any active co-morbidities. It includes the most common principal diagnoses among hospice patients, as well as comorbidities and co-existing conditions...

Social Media Watch 6/7/25

Executive Personnel Changes - 6/6/25

MorseLife: Pay to nonprofit's top executives draws community, donor scrutinyThe Palm Beach Post; by Alexandra Clough; 6/3/25The controversy began in January when an anonymous letter was sent to the leadership board at the respected health care facility. To this date, it is not known — at least publicly — who authored the two-page salvo that first raised alarms about executive pay, tax law compliance and potential for a whistleblower complaint. Specifically, the letter flagged the payment of top MorseLife executives' compensation to a for-profit company called Amplifii Management LLC. Amplifii is owned by MorseLife Chief Executive Keith Myers and Chief Financial Officer Randy Wolan, according to federal and state public records.