[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 8 (Tuesday, February 1, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S733]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page S733]]
                   TRIBUTE TO NATHAN ADELSON HOSPICE

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the important work 
of the Nathan Adelson Hospice in Las Vegas.
  For more than 25 years, the Nathan Adelson Hospice has been the only 
nonprofit provider of hospice care in southern Nevada. When the Nathan 
Adelson Hospice was established in 1978, it was one of the first 
hospices in the country. Its mission is to provide dignified and 
compassionate care for the terminally ill and their loved ones. In 
keeping with this mission, no one is turned away from the Nathan 
Adelson Hospice due to lack of funds.
  As great as it is, the Nathan Adelson Hospice is always trying to 
improve the care it offers to patients. Last year, the hospice began 
construction on a 16-bed, inpatient facility in Henderson, NV. This 
facility will provide respite services for families, pain and symptom 
management for patients, and day care for adults in the community. It 
is a state-of-the-art facility, and I am pleased to say that I was able 
to secure funds to help with its construction.
  Finally, my recognition of the Nathan Adelson Hospice would be 
incomplete without mentioning its efforts on behalf of minorities. 
Studies indicate that minorities and members of traditionally 
underserved populations do not take advantage of hospice care as much 
as they should. In fact, while minorities make up almost 30 percent of 
the U.S. population, they account for fewer than 20 percent of hospice 
patients nationwide. Some experts have suggested that inequities in 
access to health care, cultural differences, and language barriers are 
responsible for this situation.
  No matter the reasons, it is clear that members of minority 
communities could benefit from greater access to hospice care. That is 
why I was so pleased to hear of the Nathan Adelson Hospice's new 
efforts to expand care to Nevada's underserved minority communities.
  Last week, the Nathan Adelson Hospice hosted a multicultural luncheon 
and concert in an effort to connect with minority businesses that want 
to sponsor outreach and educational efforts for minority communities in 
Las Vegas. This event was a creative way to build business and 
community partnerships while raising the profile of an important 
program.
  I know you will join me in applauding the Nathan Adelson Hospice, and 
its efforts to increase minority participation in hospice care.

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