As the year winds down, many look forward to holiday gatherings, cozy sweaters, and the first snowfall. For care teams, it’s also a time to stay focused on key healthcare priorities to ensure residents finish the year strong.

This is the fourth article in a four-part series of quarterly resolutions designed to fill the calendar with intention and drive collaboration across care teams.

As they prepare to close the year, care teams will check their lists twice, prioritizing everything from Medicare open enrollment and diabetes management to antibiotic stewardship and infection prevention. Here’s a look at what the final three months of 2026 has in store.

October: Planning, Partnerships, and Purpose

October brings American Pharmacists Month, a time to recognize the expertise and support pharmacists at partner pharmacies provide to care teams. The American Pharmacists Association acknowledges the more than 700,000 pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and student pharmacists who play a crucial role in healthcare. The 2026 theme is “Caring for Our Communities,” celebrating 250 years of American pharmacists and their impact.

On Oct. 10, World Hospice and Palliative Care Day offers a meaningful opportunity to revisit goals of care and end-of-life planning. The Worldwide Hospice Palliative Care Alliance chose “Pain Management: An Essential Part of Palliative Care” as this year’s theme to emphasize holistic pain treatment, including attention on physical, physiological, social, and spiritual aspects of palliative care that meet each resident’s unique needs.

October is also the start of Medicare Open Enrollment, which runs from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7. Navigating Medicare and pharmacy benefits can feel overwhelming for residents and families, and this is a good time to remind them help is available. Guardian Benefits Navigators can walk residents and their loved ones through plan options, answer questions about coverage, and help identify opportunities to lower medication costs, so they feel confident heading into the new year.

November: Awareness, Stewardship, and Skill

More than 40 million Americans have diabetes, including 11 million who go undiagnosed, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. November is Diabetes Awareness Month, a timely reminder to begin comprehensive reviews of glycemic control and to strengthen staff education on insulin safety and hypoglycemia response. It’s also an opportunity to make certain those with diabetes take their mediations on time and to encourage them to speak with their pharmacist about dosages and drug interactions.

The World Health Organization has designated Nov. 18-24 World Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Week. The 2026 theme, “One Health, One Action: Prevent AMR Now,” reminds care teams that drug-resistant pathogens are a global threat. It calls on everyone to support antibiotic stewardship, ensuring antibiotics are prescribed and used only when necessary to help prevent bacteria from evolving into drug-resistant superbugs.

Nov. 18 also marks World COPD Day, the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease’s annual moment to spotlight the condition, promote prevention, and focus on early diagnosis and effective management. It underscores the importance of care teams’ confidence and competence in seeing that residents use inhalers and respiratory medications correctly to enhance breathing, comfort, and quality of life.

December: Prevention, Cheer and Dignity

As winter settles in, handwashing and infection prevention naturally rise to the top of the priority list. National Handwashing Awareness Week and Influenza Vaccination Week are both observed Dec. 6-12, making this the perfect time to review protocols. Reinforcing simple, proven habits – good hygiene, best practices for handwashing and staying updated on flu vaccines – supports safer, healthier months ahead for residents and staff.

December also calls for renewed attention to Seasonal Affective Disorder. Shorter days and less sunlight can weigh heavily on mood and well-being, particularly for residents already navigating cognitive or emotional challenges. Thoughtful programming, bright communal spaces, and attentive check-ins can bring cheer to the darkest, coldest days of the year.

Finally, World AIDS Day on Dec. 1 serves as an annual call to honor the 32 million people who have died from AIDS-related illness and to remain steadfast in preventing new infections. This reminds care teams dignity, vigilance, and education remain essential year-round.

From all of us at Guardian, thank you for a year of advocacy, and here’s to finishing strong.

By Bethany Bramwell, PharmD, BCGP
Vice President, Marketing, Guardian Pharmacy Services