Category: Best Practice
Articles about best practices often in the field of hospice with the goal to maintain Medicare compliance.
Compassion Crossing, LLC
Guiding Life's Journey with Care
Compassion Crossing, LLC
Guiding Life's Journey with Care
Your Medication List Is Not a Formality: What Real Medication Review Looks Like
A listed side effect that has not shown up yet is not proof you are safe. Many common medications, including some over-the-counter drugs, carry a real risk of cognitive decline. Learn what a genuine medication review involves, why the system misses so much, and three ways you can protect yourself.
The Quiet Danger in Your Medicine Cabinet: What Every Patient Deserves to Know About Anticholinergic Medications
Not every prescribed pill is the right one. Anticholinergic drugs appear in common medications for allergies, bladder problems, and depression. Over time, the buildup can cloud thinking, raise fall risk, and may lead to dementia. Learn why a medication review could protect you.
When Less Is More: Rethinking Medications for Life-Limiting Illness
Your loved one may be taking medications that no longer help — and some that actively cause harm. A 2026 systematic review confirms deprescribing is safe. Here's what families, caregivers, and patients need to know — and the questions worth asking out loud.
Is It Time to Stop Your Thyroid Medication? What Adults Over 60 Should Know
If you're 60 or older and taking levothyroxine, a 2026 JAMA study found about 1 in 4 people your age stopped the medication and maintained healthy thyroid function for a full year. Could you be one of them? Here's what the research says and how to start the conversation with your doctor.
Choosing the Right Tool: How the Beers Criteria, STOPPFrail, and STOPP/START Guide Safer Medication Decisions in Hospice
Medication decisions in hospice are some of the most ethically weighty choices a care team makes. This article compares the Beers Criteria, STOPPFrail, and STOPP/START criteria so hospice professionals can choose the right tool, deprescribe safely, and always honor the patient's voice and their family's authority.
Understanding and Managing Edema: A Practical Guide for Caregivers and Family Members
Edema is swelling caused by underlying medical conditions that require professional treatment. This comprehensive guide helps family caregivers, third-party support staff, and end-of-life doulas understand edema as a symptom, providing practical, non-medical comfort measures to support their loved ones while emphasizing the importance of medical consultation for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Seeing the Whole Person: Trauma-Informed Care in Palliative and Hospice Settings
Trauma doesn't stop at a diagnosis. In palliative and hospice care, unresolved trauma shapes how patients and families experience illness, loss, and death. This article explores SAMHSA's framework, the Iceberg Model, and real-world scenarios that show what trauma-informed care looks like — and why it changes everything.
They Keep Falling: What Every Family Needs to Investigate
When someone you love keeps falling, the cause is rarely obvious and almost never "just age." It could be an infection, a medication, a vision problem, or an early sign that the brain is changing. This article walks you through what dementia really is, what to rule out, and exactly how to advocate for answers.
Too Many Pills: What America’s Polypharmacy Crisis in Means for You and Everyone You Love
America is overmedicated. Over 42% of older adults take five or more prescriptions daily, and most never hear the real risks. This article breaks down polypharmacy, medication stacking, and the insurance-driven system shaping your care, with practical steps you can take starting today.
Every Clinician’s Job: Why Palliative Care Belongs in Every Room
A patient in pain doesn't stop hurting because they're in the wrong department. This article makes the case that palliative care principles belong in every specialty, shows why the conversation at the bedside is everyone's responsibility, and gives clinicians real tools to begin.
When Comfort Matters Most: A Compassionate Guide to Pain Management Ethics in End-of-Life Care
Managing pain at the end of life requires a compassionate, individualized approach. This article explores ethical considerations in pain management for elderly patients, emphasizing the importance of starting slow, monitoring frequently, and customizing care. Learn why hospice medications provide comfort without hastening death.
Breaking the Silence: Why Every Healthcare Worker and Patient Needs Better End-of-Life Conversations
Research shows that patients with life-limiting conditions face barriers to critical end-of-life conversations, while healthcare staff cite poor documentation, lack of training, and insufficient support. This article explores why training healthcare workers on serious illness conversations matters and how advance directives protect everyone.
When AI Gets Hospice Documentation Wrong: Why Clinical Expertise Still Matters
Artificial intelligence is transforming hospice clinical documentation, but these tools often hallucinate, guess at answers, or provide outputs designed to please users rather than meet CMS compliance standards. Hospice nurses and clinical managers must understand proper eligibility-driven documentation to prevent audits and ensure deserving patients receive care.
Building Confidence in Home Hospice: A Proven Path to Better Patient Care
Hospice providers have proven strategies to reduce symptom burden and boost satisfaction scores. Discover how combining nurse practitioner telehealth visits, educational videos, and end-of-life doula support transforms caregiver confidence and patient comfort in home-based care.
Understanding Terminal Agitation and Restlessness: A Comprehensive Guide for Caregivers and Families
Navigating the complexities of end-of-life care can be challenging. This article delves into the nuances of terminal agitation and terminal restlessness, providing caregivers and family members with the essential knowledge to better understand and support their loved ones during the final stages of life.
Understanding Medication Risks in Hospice Dementia Care: A Guide for Families and Healthcare Teams
Recent University of Michigan research found that benzodiazepines and antipsychotics commonly prescribed in hospice care may significantly increase mortality risk for people with dementia. This article explores these findings and provides essential advocacy guidance for families, caregivers, and hospice professionals.
Revolutionizing Comfort: The Role of Macy Catheters in Hospice and Palliative Care
Discover the transformative role of Macy catheters in hospice and palliative care. This comprehensive guide explores how these innovative devices enhance patient comfort, simplify medication administration, and support caregivers. Learn about their benefits, proper use, and impact on the quality of life for those receiving end-of-life care.
Mastering IDT Notes: How the PIE Method Transforms Hospice Documentation
Discover how the PIE method (Problem-Intervention-Evaluation) can transform your hospice IDT note writing. This simple framework helps nurses create focused, compliant documentation even when patients are stable and well-managed.
Navigating the Minefield: Potentially Inappropriate Medications in Geriatric and End-of-Life Care
Delve into the complexities of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) for older adults, especially those in hospice and palliative care. This comprehensive guide explores identification, risks, and alternatives to PIMs, providing valuable insights for healthcare professionals to enhance medication safety and quality of life for geriatric patients.
Enhancing Patient Care: Recognizing Subtle Changes in Level of Consciousness for Hospice and Palliative Nurses
Discover essential techniques for hospice and palliative care nurses to identify subtle changes in patients' level of consciousness. This comprehensive guide covers assessment methods, red flags, and best practices for enhancing patient care—valuable insights for neurological nursing specialists and those aspiring to specialize in this field.
Safeguarding Seniors: Essential Monitoring of High-Risk Medications in Geriatric Care
Understanding the potential risks associated with certain medications in the geriatric population is crucial. This article explores the top five medication classes that require close monitoring to reduce the incidence of syncope, falls, and mortality events in older adults. Learn how to optimize medication management for safer patient care.
Safeguarding Geriatric Health: The Crucial Role of Regular BEERS Criteria Reviews
The BEERS Criteria is vital for improving medication safety in older adults. This article explores the importance of regularly reviewing these guidelines, discussing the frequency of reviews, the potential risks of inappropriate medications, and how healthcare providers can implement effective medication management strategies for geriatric patients.
Essential Guide to Hospice GIP Discharge Planning: From Admission to Transition
This guide covers critical aspects of Hospice GIP discharge planning. From initial evaluation to managing symptoms and effective discharge strategies, this article equips hospice nurses and families with the necessary knowledge for optimal care transitions.
Making Informed POLST Decisions: A Compassionate Guide for Patients, Families, and Healthcare Teams
This comprehensive guide helps patients, families, and healthcare professionals confidently navigate POLST decisions. Learn the essential steps, understand your options, and ensure your end-of-life care wishes are honored through proper planning and communication.