HR1545 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1545 LRB094 22045 KXB 60612 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Hospice and palliative care provides patients and families the highest quality care during life-limiting illness and at the end of life, through pain management and symptom control, caregiver training and assistance, and emotional and spiritual support, allowing patients to live fully up until the final moments, surrounded and supported by the faces of loved ones, friends, and committed caregivers; and

WHEREAS, Last year, more than 1.2 million Americans living with life-limiting illness, and their families, received care from the 4,000 hospice and palliative care programs in communities throughout the United States; and

WHEREAS, Professional and compassionate hospice staff, including physicians, nurses, social workers, therapists, counselors, health aides, and clergy, provided comprehensive care focused on the wishes of each individual patient; and

WHEREAS, More than 400,000 trained volunteers contribute 18 million hours of service to hospice programs annually; and

WHEREAS, Providing high-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; and

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; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare November of 2006 National Hospital/Palliative Care Month in Illinois and encourage all citizens of the State of Illinois to increase their understanding and awareness of care at the end of life and to observe this month with appropriate activities and programs.