3. Proclamation - National Hospice and Palliative Care Month7,_:
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PROCLAMATION \`'Y
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;
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;
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WHEREAS, professional and compassionate hospice staff —including physicians,
nurses, social workers, therapists, counselors, health aides, and clergy —provide
comprehensive care focused on the wishes of each individual patient;
WHEREAS, more than 400,000 trained volunteers contribute 18 million hours of service
to hospice programs annually;
WHEREAS, providing high -quality hospice and palliative care reaffirms our belief in the '
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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;
V. WHEREAS, hospice and palliative care providers encourage all people to learn more
'E about options of care and to share their wishes with family, loved ones, and their
healthcare professionals;
NOW, THEREFORE,1, Pamela B. Kennedy, Mayor of the City of Kalispell, do hereby
proclaim the month of November, 2008 as
NATIONAL HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE
MONTH
and 1 encourage all citizens to increase their understanding and awareness of care at the
end of life and to observe this month with appropriate activities and programs.
DATED this 17th day of November, 2008.
Pamela B. Kennedy
Mayor