HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 3a. National Hospice Month Proclamation
WHEREAS, hospice and palliative care empower people facing a serious or life -limiting illness to live
as fully as possible, ensuring people dignity, choice, and quality of life;
WHEREAS, the hospice model involves an interdisciplinary, team-oriented approach to treatment,
including expert medical care, quality symptom control, and comprehensive pain management as a
foundation of care;
WHEREAS, beyond providing physical treatment, hospice attends to the patient’s emotional, spiritual
and family needs, and provides family services like respite care and bereavement counseling;
WHEREAS, in an increasingly fragmented and broken healthcare system, hospice is one of the few
sectors that demonstrates how healthcare can – and should – work at its best for its patients;
WHEREAS, a growing body of peer-reviewed research indicates that timely access to hospice and
palliative care can decrease hospitalizations and Emergency Room visits and increase the quality of life
for patients and family caregivers;
WHEREAS, every year more than 1.56 million Americans living with life -limiting illnesses, and their
families, received care from the nation’s hospice programs in communities throughout the United
States;
WHEREAS, more than 355,000 trained volunteers contribute 16 million hours of service to hospice
programs annually in the U.S.;
WHEREAS, hospice and palliative care organizations are advocates and educators of advanced care
planning that help individuals make decisions about the care they want; and
WHEREAS, Hospice of San Luis Obispo County, Central Coast Hospice, Dignity Health Hospice, and
Wilshire Hospice provide hospice care and bereavement counseling respectively to individuals within
the County of San Luis Obispo.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Erica A. Stewart, Mayor of the City of San Luis Obispo on behalf of the entire City
Council proclaim November 2023 as National Hospice and 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.
National Hospice and Palliative Care Month
November 2023
November 7, 2023
Mayor Date