Whereas, Hospice care is a humanitarian way for terminally ill patients to approach the end of their lives in relative comfort while receiving appropriate, competent, and compassionate care in an environment designed to protect personal individuality and dignity; and,

Whereas, Hospice care is provided by an interdisciplinary team of physicians, nurses, social workers, pharmacists, psychological and spiritual counselors, and community volunteers trained to serve the unique physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of hospice patients and their families; and,

Whereas, In 1978, Escanaba established the first hospice – Bay de Noc Hospice – in Michigan, marking the start of hospice care throughout the state; and,

Whereas, 115 Hospice programs are members of the Michigan Hospice and Palliative Care Organizations, which, with the help of approximately 8,000 volunteers, provided care to more than 27,000 individuals and families in 2002; and,

Whereas, Underlying all elements of hospice care is its philosophy: hospice exists neither to hasten nor postpone death, but rather to affirm life by providing support and care to those in the last phases of incurable disease so that they can live as fully and comfortably as possible with their family and friends around them; and now therefore be it,

Resolved, That I, Jennifer M. Granholm, Governor of the State of Michigan, do hereby proclaim November 2003, as Hospice Month in Michigan.