National Hospice Month Proclamation 2012

Hospice Palliative Care Offers: Comfort. Love. Respect.

As the nation’s oldest and largest leadership association representing hospice and palliative care providers and professionals, the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization issues the following proclamation declaring November 2012 as National Hospice and Palliative Care Month.

WHEREAS, every year more than 1.58 million Americans living with life-limiting illness, and their families, receive care from the nation’s hospice programs in communities throughout the United States;

WHEREAS, hospice and palliative care offer the highest quality of care to patients and families and bring comfort, love and respect to all those they serve;

WHEREAS, hospice allows people to spend their final months surrounded by family and loved ones at home – wherever home may be;

WHEREAS,  hospice and palliative care professionals—including physicians, nurses, social workers, therapists, counselors, health aides, and clergy—providing comprehensive and compassionate care that make the wishes of each patient and family a priority;

WHEREAS, more than 468,000 trained volunteers contribute 21 million hours of service to hospice program annually;

WHEREAS, through pain management and symptom control, caregiver training and assistance, and emotional and spiritual support, patients are able to live as fully as possible through the journey at life’s end;

WHEREAS, the commitment of more than 1,600 hospice providers, NHPCO and the Department of Veterans Affairs have allowed the innovative program, We Honor Veterans, to thrive and ensure that Veterans find the compassion, care and dignity they deserve at the end of life;

WHEREAS, the provision of quality hospice and palliative care reaffirms our belief in the essential dignity of every person, regardless of age, health, or social status, and that every stage of human life deserves to be treated with the utmost respect and care;

NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that the leadership of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization do hereby proclaim November 2012 as National Hospice and Palliative Care Month and encourage all people to learn more about options of care and to share their wishes with family, loved ones, and their healthcare professionals.

 

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More information about hospice month is available at www.CaringInfo.org/hospicemonth.

 

NHPCO Members will find outreach materials online at www.nhpco.org/outreach.