2023-11-07 IV. A. Proclamations - Hospice and Palliative Care MonthOffice of the Mayor yTt
City of Okeechobee, Florida
WHEREAS, Medicare's first proven coordinated care model, Hospice, is a program that works offering
person -centered, compassionate care, ensuring people dignity, choice, and quality of life-, and
WHEREAS, the Hospice model involves an interdisciplinary, team -oriented approach to treatment,
including expert medical care, quality symptom control, and comprehensive pain management as a
foundation of care; and
WHEREAS, beyond providing physical treatment, Hospice attends to the patient's emotional, spiritual,
and family needs, and provides family services like respite care and grief counseling; and
WHEREAS, Hospice and palliative care organizations are advocates and educators about advance care
planning that help individuals make decisions about the care they want; and
WHEREAS, forty-one years ago, volunteers came together to establish Treasure Coast Hospice
because they wanted their family, friends, and neighbors to have access to compassionate, quality
end -of -life care from a locally based hospice provider. Founded in 1982, Treasure Coast Hospice is
a non-profit community organization of skilled professionals and dedicated volunteers whose
mission is to provide access to compassionate, caring, expert and professional hospice and grief
support services to patients and families at the end of life. Today, Treasure Coast Hospice now
serves more than 4,000 patients annually, providing holistic patient -centered care and comfort to
patients and families in Martin, St. Lucie, and Okeechobee counties. During the next year,
Treasure Coast Hospice will celebrate the loth Anniversary of its specialized pediatric care
program, Little Treasures, which improves the quality of life of children and teens with a life -
limiting illness by providing support for the entire family.
NOW THEREFORE, I, Dowling R. Watford, Jr., by virtue of the authority vested in me as Mayor of
the City of Okeechobee, do hereby proclaim November 2023 as Hospice and Palliative Care
Month in the City of Okeechobee and encourage our residents to learn more about Hospice and
palliative care at the end of life and try to help as they can and commend the Treasure Coast
Hospice Team for their service to the people of the City of Okeechobee.
In witness whereof, on November 7, 2023, I have
set my hand and caused this seal to be affixed
Dowling R. Wa tfbid, Jr., Mayor
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Attest: ;� � -
L ne Gamiot , CMC, City Clerk