NHPCO Issues Proclamation for November's National Hospice Palliative Care Month

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Oct. 30, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, the nation's oldest and largest leadership organization working on behalf of end-of-life care has issued the following proclamation officially recognizing November as National Hospice Palliative Care Month.

WHEREAS, hospice and palliative care empower people to live as fully as possible, surrounded and supported by family and loved ones, despite serious and life-limiting illness;

WHEREAS,  hospice and palliative care bring patients and family caregivers the highest quality care delivered by an interdisciplinary team of skilled professionals that includes physicians, nurses, social workers, therapists, counselors, health aides, spiritual care providers and others who make the wishes of each patient and family a priority;

WHEREAS, through pain management and symptom control, caregiver training and assistance, and emotional and spiritual support, allowing patients to live fully and make more meaningful moments until the end,  surrounded and supported by the faces of loved ones, friends, and committed caregivers;

WHEREAS, each year, hospice saves Medicare more than $2 billion by providing solutions for physicians, care to patients and comfort to families anywhere, at any time.

WHEREAS, every year an estimated 1.6 million Americans living with life-limiting illness, and their families, received care from the nation's hospice programs in communities throughout the United States;

WHEREAS, the most recent statistics report that more than 355,000 trained volunteers contributed 16 million hours of service to hospice programs last year;

WHEREAS, hospice and palliative care providers encourage all people to learn more about options of care and to share their wishes with family, loved ones, and their healthcare professionals;

NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that the NHPCO Board of Directors do hereby proclaim November 2014 as National Hospice Palliative Care Month and encourage citizens to increase their understanding and awareness of care at the end of life and to observe this month with appropriate activities and programs.

Visit the Moments of Life: Made Possible by Hospice website to learn more about hospice and to search for a hospice provider in your area.

Download the new edition of NHPCO's report, "Facts and Figures: Hospice Care in America" (2014 edition).

Contact:
Anita Brikman
NHPCO Senior Vice President, Strategic Communications
Ph: 703-837-3154

SOURCE National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization