[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 455 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 455

  Designating November 2021 as ``National Hospice and Palliative Care 
                                Month''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           November 17, 2021

 Ms. Rosen (for herself, Mr. Barrasso, Ms. Baldwin, and Mrs. Fischer) 
 submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Designating November 2021 as ``National Hospice and Palliative Care 
                                Month''.

Whereas palliative care and hospice services--

    (1) can empower individuals to live as fully as possible, surrounded 
and supported by family and loved ones, despite serious illnesses or 
injuries; and

    (2) are critical parts of the continuum of supports and services people 
with serious illness and their families need;

Whereas the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic public health emergency 
        has--

    (1) led to a sudden and unexpected increase in the number of 
individuals facing a serious illness or injury, which has brought attention 
to the need for better understanding and use of--

    G    (A) hospice;

    G    (B) palliative care; and

    G    (C) advance care planning;

    (2) disproportionately impacted residents of nursing homes and other 
long-term care facilities; and

    (3) limited access to family caregivers who play a critical role in 
palliative care and hospice for their loved ones;

Whereas ensuring access to palliative care and hospice for all individuals in 
        the United States in need, regardless of age, race, ethnicity, or 
        socioeconomic status, is important;
Whereas palliative care and hospice aims to bring patients and family caregivers 
        high-quality care delivered by an interdisciplinary team of skilled 
        health care professionals, including--

    (1) physicians;

    (2) nurses;

    (3) social workers;

    (4) therapists;

    (5) counselors;

    (6) health aides;

    (7) spiritual care providers; and

    (8) other health care professionals;

Whereas there is a need to increase training opportunities for health care 
        professionals to receive interdisciplinary team-based training in 
        palliative care and hospice;
Whereas hospice focuses on quality of life through pain management and symptom 
        control, caregiver assistance, and emotional and spiritual support, with 
        the goal of allowing patients to live fully until the end of life, 
        surrounded and supported by loved ones, friends, and caregivers;
Whereas trained palliative care and hospice professionals, during a time of 
        trauma and loss, can provide grief and bereavement support services to 
        individuals with a serious illness or injury, the family members of 
        those individuals, and others;
Whereas palliative care is a patient and family-centered approach to care that--

    (1) provides relief from symptoms and stress;

    (2) can be complementary to curative treatments; and

    (3) improves the quality of life of the patient and their family;

Whereas, in 2019, more than 1,660,000 individuals in the United States living 
        with a serious illness or injury, and the families of those individuals, 
        received care and support from hospice programs in communities across 
        the United States;
Whereas volunteers continue to play a vital role in supporting hospice care and 
        operations; and
Whereas palliative care and hospice providers encourage all patients to learn 
        more about their options for care and to share their preferences with 
        family, loved ones, and health care professionals: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates November 2021 as ``National Hospice and 
        Palliative Care Month''; and
            (2) encourages the people of the United States--
                    (A) to increase their understanding and awareness 
                of--
                            (i) care for hospice patients with a 
                        serious illness or injury; and
                            (ii) the benefits of integrating palliative 
                        care early into the treatment plans for 
                        patients with a serious illness or injury;
                    (B) to recognize the care and dedication of--
                            (i) millions of family caregivers; and
                            (ii) tens of thousands of palliative care 
                        and hospice staff and volunteers; and
                    (C) to observe ``National Hospice and Palliative 
                Care Month'' with appropriate activities and programs.
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