A resolution designating November 2020 as "National Hospice and Palliative Care Month".

III 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION S. RES. 783 Designating November 2020 as ‘‘National Hospice and Palliative Care Month’’. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES DECEMBER 2, 2020 Ms. ROSEN (for herself, Mr. BARRASSO, Ms. BALDWIN, and Mrs. FISCHER) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Designating November 2020 as ‘‘National Hospice and Palliative Care Month’’. Whereas hospice and palliative care services can empower in- dividuals to live as fully as possible, surrounded and sup- ported by family and loved ones, despite serious illnesses or injuries; 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 under- standing and use of— (A) hospice; (B) palliative care; and (C) advance care planning; VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:33 Dec 03, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR783.ATS SR783 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •SRES 783 ATS (2) disproportionately impacted residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities; and (3) restricted access to family caregivers who play a critical role in hospice and palliative care for their loved ones; Whereas ensuring access to hospice and palliative care for all individuals in the United States in need, regardless of age, race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status, is impor- tant; Whereas hospice and palliative care 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 hospice and palliative care; Whereas hospice focuses on quality of life through pain man- agement 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 hospice and palliative care professionals, during a time of trauma and loss, can provide grief and VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:33 Dec 03, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR783.ATS SR783 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •SRES 783 ATS 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 ap- proach 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 2018, more than 1,550,000 individuals in the United States living with a serious illness or injury, and the families of those individuals, received care and sup- port 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 hospice and palliative care 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 (1) designates November 2020 as ‘‘National 2 Hospice and Palliative Care Month’’; and 3 (2) encourages the people of the United 4 States— 5 (A) to increase their understanding and 6 awareness of— 7 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:33 Dec 03, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR783.ATS SR783 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 4 •SRES 783 ATS (i) care for hospice patients with a se- 1 rious illness or injury; and 2 (ii) the benefits of integrating pallia- 3 tive care early into the treatment plans for 4 patients with a serious illness or injury; 5 (B) to recognize the care and dedication of 6 family caregivers, hospice and palliative care 7 volunteers, and hospice and palliative care pro- 8 viders; and 9 (C) to observe ‘‘National Hospice and Pal- 10 liative Care Month’’ with appropriate activities 11 and programs. 12 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:33 Dec 03, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR783.ATS SR783 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS