HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 4a. National Hospice and Palliative Care Month ProclamationWHEREAS, 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, 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 quality of life
for patients and family caregivers;
WHEREAS, every year more than 1.7 million Americans living with life-limiting illness, and their
families, received care from hospice programs in communities throughout the United States;
WHEREAS, more than 420,000 trained volunteers contribute 19 million hours of service to hospice
programs annually in the U.S.;
WHEREAS, hospice and palliative care organizations are advocates and educators about advance
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, Superior
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 City of San Luis Obispo on behalf of the entire City
Council do hereby proclaim November 2024 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 & Palliative Care Month
November 2024
November 12, 2024
Mayor Date