by editor | Apr 6, 2025 | Hospice Research Articles
Abstract
And the Oscar, Emmy, BAFTA… goes to… is a phrase that exemplifies the prestigious professional and public recognition of achievement in television and film production. Each year, the various academies’ annual awards ceremonies identify, reward, celebrate and commemorate the best contributions to both the big and small screen industries, often with glittering and theatrical stage shows and occasional celebrity controversy.
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Link to article: https://tinyurl.com/mr7ub7yb
by editor | Apr 6, 2025 | Hospice Research Articles
Abstract
With an aging population, approximately 58 million people in the United States find themselves stepping into caregiving roles for others, especially as healthcare costs rise and facility-based care options become less accessible. Among these caregivers, Gen Z and Millennial individuals represent a significant, yet often overlooked, demographic. These younger
generations often balance caregiving responsibilities with other life demands, such as starting and developing their careers, completing their education, or raising young children. Understanding the unique challenges they face and the resources they require is crucial for shaping systems that support timely referrals, admissions and care.
While 100% of the Gen Z and Millennials who participated in this Transcend research have personal experience caring for a seriously ill family member or friend, 67% have directly been involved in making healthcare decisions for an aging adult or someone living with a serious illness in the past five years. This finding clearly demonstrates that the demands of caregivers are not exclusive to any one generation.
To ensure comprehensive support, home-based care organizations must shift their view and hone their strategies to connect with the distinct needs of caregivers from multiple generations. By doing so, organizations can offer more effective resources that enhance the overall impact of the care provided while building a strong reputation in the community with current and future healthcare decision-makers.
Discussion
This report explores what Gen Z and Millennial family caregivers (ages ~22–42) need from home-based care providers, including hospice. Drawing on a survey of 400 younger caregivers who have supported a seriously ill loved one—two-thirds of whom have acted as key healthcare decision-makers—the authors highlight that these caregivers are juggling work, school, young families, and caregiving all at once. The study identifies three big themes providers must address to serve and engage them well: helping caregivers feel validated, embracing collaborative caregiving, and offering clearly explained high-quality options for care.
Younger caregivers report high emotional and financial strain and deep self-doubt: 90% say caregiving is mentally and emotionally draining, 84% anticipate financial strain, and 70% question whether they can be a “good” caregiver. Their biggest fears include making the wrong decisions, not doing enough, and facing their loved one’s death. When they think about hospice, they value care “where the patient lives,” strong support for the family, and clear guidance on what to expect as death approaches. At the same time, they want a genuine partnership with clinicians—training, coaching, and emotional support delivered in multiple formats (conversations, handouts, online resources, video content). Many prefer to talk with a medical professional but younger respondents are also more likely to seek health information from social media creators. About a quarter don’t feel their opinions are respected by the healthcare community, and many hold misconceptions about hospice (e.g., that it hastens death or that you can’t re-enroll after stopping services), while strongly valuing highly trained staff, quality control, cultural alignment, and transparent information about costs and services.
What is the takeaway for hospice agencies?
This research suggests several practical takeaways for hospice agencies.
Clinically, ask: How are we validating younger caregivers’ fears and doubts and explicitly coaching them instead of assuming they “already know” what to do? Are we offering flexible education (at the bedside, via follow-up calls, texts, and short videos) that matches different learning styles?
Operationally, consider: Do our intake, visit structure, and after-hours support acknowledge that many Gen Z and Millennial caregivers are working full-time or parenting young children? Are we inviting their input and treating them as partners rather than “extras” in the care plan?
From a marketing and outreach perspective, key questions include: Are we clearly addressing myths about hospice (length of prognosis, “hastening death,” ability to restart services)? Do our website, social channels, and printed materials speak directly to younger caregivers’ top concerns? Do we provide emotional support, allow for family involvement in decisions, clear costs, quality and safety, and culturally sensitive care? Using this lens, agencies can refine both care delivery and messaging to build trust with the next generation of decision-makers.
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Link to article: Emerging Needs of Gen-Z and Millenial Family Caregivers
by editor | Mar 9, 2025 | Hospice Research Articles
Abstract
Palliative care aims to improve the quality of life for seriously ill individuals and their caregivers by addressing their holistic care needs through a person- and family-centered approach. While there have been growing efforts to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) into palliative care practice and research, it remains unclear whether the use of AI can facilitate the goals of palliative care. In this paper, we present three hypothetical case examples of using AI in the palliative care context, covering machine learning algorithms that predict patient mortality, natural language processing models that detect psychological symptoms, and AI chatbots addressing caregivers’ unmet needs. Using these cases, we examine the ethical dimensions of utilizing AI in palliative care by applying five widely accepted moral principles that guide ethical deliberations in AI: beneficence, nonmaleficence, autonomy, justice, and explicability. We address key ethical questions arising from these five core moral principles and analyze the potential impact the use of AI can have on palliative care stakeholders. Applying a critical lens, we assess whether AI can facilitate the primary aim of palliative care to support seriously ill individuals and their families. We conclude by discussing the gaps that need to be further addressed in order to promote ethical and responsible AI usage in palliative care
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Link to article: https://tinyurl.com/76kny69m
by editor | Feb 9, 2025 | Care Keys - Aides, Care Keys - Chaplains, Care Keys - Nurses, Care Keys - Social Workers, Teaching Tools
Clean hands are one of the most important ways you protect your patients, yourself, and your community. Let’s learn why hand hygiene is so vital and how to do it right.
A Quick Look Back:
Did you know that doctors didn’t always understand the importance of handwashing? Back in the 1800s, a doctor noticed many women were dying after childbirth. He realized that medical students, after working with deceased individuals, were going straight to deliver babies without washing their hands. The doctor figured out that something from the deceased individuals was making the new mothers sick. When he made the students wash their hands, the number of sick mothers dropped dramatically! This was a huge discovery.
Today, we know much more about germs and how they spread. We know that handwashing is a powerful tool to prevent infections.
What is Hand Hygiene?
Hand hygiene means cleaning your hands. You can do this in two ways:
- Washing with soap and water: This physically removes germs from your hands.
- Using hand sanitizer: This kills germs on your hands. For hand sanitizer to work, it needs to have at least 60% alcohol.
Germs: They’re Everywhere!
Germs are tiny living things that can make people sick. They’re on everything we touch – doorknobs, phones, food, and, of course, our hands. When you touch something with germs on it, the germs get on your hands. Then, when you touch something else, you can spread those germs. This happens everywhere, not just in healthcare settings, but also at home, in stores, and in the community.
Why is Hand Hygiene So Important?
Hand hygiene is essential because it stops the spread of germs. By cleaning your hands, you protect:
- Your patients: Especially those who are already sick or weak.
- Yourself: You can get sick from the germs you pick up.
- The environment: You prevent germs from spreading to other people and places.
Hand Hygiene in Hospice Care:
In hospice care, hand hygiene is extra important. Many patients have weakened immune systems, making them more vulnerable to infection. As a hospice home health aide, you move between different homes and patients, so you must be extra careful not to spread germs. Think about all the surfaces you touch and the different people you interact with. Clean hands are your first line of defense.
When Should You Clean Your Hands?
Clean your hands often! Here are some key times:
- Before and after touching a patient.
- Any time you touch blood, body fluids (like saliva or mucus), or anything that might be contaminated.
- After taking off gloves.
- After using the restroom.
- Before preparing food.
- Any time your hands look or feel dirty.
Handwashing vs. Hand Sanitizer:
Hand sanitizer is quick and easy. It’s great for times when you can’t get to a sink right away. However, handwashing with soap and water is the best way to clean your hands, especially when they are visibly dirty.
When to Wash (Soap and Water):
- When your hands are visibly dirty.
- After using the restroom.
- When caring for patients on special contact precautions (your supervisor will tell you when this is needed).
How to Wash Your Hands
- Wet your hands with clean, running water.
- Lather your hands with soap.
- Scrub all surfaces of your hands – palms, backs, between fingers, under nails – for at least 20 seconds (sing “Happy Birthday” twice!).
- Rinse your hands well under running water.
- Dry your hands with a clean towel or air dryer.
How to Use Hand Sanitizer
- Apply enough sanitizer to cover all surfaces of your hands.
- Rub your hands together until they are dry (about 15-20 seconds).
Remember: Clean hands save lives. By following these hand hygiene guidelines, you’re making a real difference in the health and well-being of your patients, yourself, and your community.
Where Can You Find Out More?
- See this video about hand hygiene
- CDC: About Hand Hygiene for Patients in Healthcare Settings
- CDC Clinical Safety: Hand Hygiene for Healthcare Workers
by editor | Jan 23, 2025 | Care Keys - Aides, Care Keys - Chaplains, Care Keys - Nurses, Care Keys - Social Workers, Career Advancement, Clinical Compliance, Patient Care, Rules and Regulations - Chaplains
What is mandatory reporting?
Hospice clinicians advocate for their patients and their patients’ families. As a clinician, one of the most important ways that you can advocate for their patient is by engaging in mandatory reporting when you observe or suspect that your patient is being neglected or abused.
What is a mandatory reporter?
A mandatory reporter has an individual duty to report known or suspected abuse or neglect relating to children, dependent adults, or elders. These include:
- A child is anyone who is under 18 years old
- A dependent adult is anyone between 18 and 64 years of age who has physical or mental limitations that restrict their abilities to carry out normal activities or protection of their rights
- An elder is anyone 65 years of age or older
A reporter should report good faith beliefs or reasonable suspicions of abuse or neglect. The report will be confidential, and the identity of the reporter will be hidden from the public.
Who are mandated reporters?
State-specific laws specify several professions of mandatory reporters. These include professions such as:
- Social workers
- Teachers
- Healthcare workers
- Law enforcement
- Childcare providers
- Medical professionals
- Clergy
- Mental health professionals
The list of professions of mandatory reporters varies by state.
What is abuse?
Although we often think of abuse as physical abuse, remember that abuse can come in all different forms. For example, forms of abuse include:
- Physical abuse
- Mental anguish
- Financial abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Emotional abuse
Protect your patients by looking out for all of these different forms of abuse. No one deserves to be subject to any form of abuse.
How can you best protect your patient?
To best protect your patients, constantly be aware and on the lookout for any types of abuse or neglect. Hospice patients are vulnerable since they are often physically frail, dependent on others around them for support and care, and unable to advocate for themselves. As a healthcare worker, you need to advocate for your patient in the case of suspected neglect or abuse.
Continually assess the patient for any signs of abuse or neglect. Look out for any unusual behaviors. Follow any of your agency’s protocols in documenting any observations and conversations. If you identify concerns, share these concerns with the appropriate individual in your agency.
How do you report?
If your agency cannot provide you with clear guidance about how to report the suspected abuse or negligence, each state has websites that can provide you with that guidance. Each state has specific requirements on what you must report, required timing of reporting, and the like.
In addition, most states have reporting hotlines. Remember to be detailed and accurate when you file the report and to provide all the required information.
Why is it important for you to report?
Sometimes, you “may not want to bother” to report suspected abuse or you may feel “it is not your business to get involved”. However, here are two key considerations:
- As a healthcare worker and medical professional, you are a mandated reporter and as such, by law, you have a duty to report known or suspected abuse or neglect
- As a patient advocate and healthcare professional, you have an ethical duty to report instances of known or suspected abuse or neglect
Identifying abuse or neglect as early as possible is critical for the physical and mental health of the abused or neglected individual. Your actions can have profound positive consequences on your patient’s life. Remember: if you see something say something!
Where can you find out more?
