Literature Review

‘Good’ death different for everyone Altoona Mirror, Altoona, PA; 7/26/24 The social and economic inequities patients suffer in life often shapes their death” was a key point of a July 13-14 article in the Review section of the Wall Street Journal. ... In the article, which was written by Dr. Sunita Puri, a palliative care physician and the author of “That Good Night: Life and Medicine in the Eleventh Hour,” Puri focuses on the conundrum many families face when dealing with the question of where to spend the final days of life. ... “New research classifies the rise in home deaths as progress,” the message immediately under the article’s headline begins, “but we need to look more closely at what these deaths look like.” ... Puri, now 10 years into her physician career, says it is now clear to her that there is much more to a “good” death than where it occurs. “Presuming a home death is a success obscures important questions about the process,” she wrote. “Did this person die comfortably? Did their caregivers have the resources and guidance they needed? Was dying at home a choice or simply the only option?” 

In good hands: VA medical center introduces new inpatient hospice room and dialysis suites Salisbury Post; by Brad Dountz; 5/21/24The W.B. (Bill) Hefner Salisbury Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center ... held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new inpatient hospice room, dialysis suites and six patient care rooms earlier this month. The amenities will allow veterans to get the treatment they need. Construction began during the days of COVID, but thanks to the work of the VA employees who built it, veterans can finally reap the benefits.  “We come together to honor those who have selflessly served our country and now require specialized care. Some of them are in their final moments,” said Dr. Kamran Lateef, chief of hospital medicine. “In this sanctuary of compassion and solace, every detail has been meticulously crafted to offer the highest quality of care tailored to the unique needs of our beloved veterans.”

Design and death: palliative care needs more creativity AAP - Australian Associated Press; by Cassandra Morgan; 5/10/24 At the Caritas Christi palliative care unit, "homeliness" is sprawling crayon lines and scribbled messages of "get well soon", drawn by children in its arts room. It's the sense of quiet, the soft carpet underfoot, and the ability for patients to simply open a window, or walk outside their rooms and touch a tree or feel the soil. Architectural expert Rebecca McLaughlan says homeliness is more about what a space allows people to do than how it looks. ... "In subtle ways, these facilities do affect the quality of time and the quantity of time that people spend with their loved ones." ... The researcher is among experts advocating for greater design innovation in the palliative care sector - a concept often dismissed as incongruous with the reality of evolving health and safety regulations.

Cuddle beds bringing comfort and compassion to palliative care WarwickToday [Australia]; by Lucy Waldron; 5/3/24 The Warwick Hospital has welcomed a double-sized palliative care cuddle bed, generously donated by the Warwick RSL Sub-branch through the Belinda McGowan Foundation. The Belinda McGowan Foundation is dedicated to providing cuddle beds to rural, remote, and regional healthcare facilities, aiming to offer comfort and companionship to patients and their families during palliative care and end-of-life moments.

Valley Health and Blue Ridge Hospice expand partnership to offer hospice care at Shenandoah Memorial HospitalABC WHSV Fox TV 3, by Colby Johnson; 4/10/24 Valley Health and Blue Ridge Hospice are expanding their partnership to be able to offer their collaborative ‘Hospice in the Hospital’ program at Shenandoah Memorial Hospital in Woodstock. The program will allow patients at Shenandoah Memorial to receive end-of-life hospice care.