Addressing Gaps in Hospice Care for Gender-Diverse Patients
Speakers at the 2026 Annual Assembly of Hospice and Palliative Care highlighted persistent barriers to delivering equitable care for gender-diverse and LGBTQIA+ patients. Challenges include electronic medical record limitations, inconsistent documentation of affirmed identity, inadequate staff training, and lack of standardized non-discriminatory policies. Experts noted that these gaps can contribute to privacy concerns, misgendering, and reduced trust in care systems. Additional issues include delayed access to hospice services, limited culturally responsive advance care planning, and insufficient bereavement support for partners and families. Speakers emphasized the need for trauma-informed, inclusive care models, improved technology systems, and earlier, more meaningful goals-of-care conversations to better align care with patient values.