[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 200 (Wednesday, November 17, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8350-S8351]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 455--DESIGNATING NOVEMBER 2021 AS ``NATIONAL HOSPICE 
                      AND PALLIATIVE CARE MONTH''

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

                              S. Res. 455

       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--
          (A) hospice;
          (B) palliative care; and
          (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

[[Page S8351]]

       (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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