Statement made on 04 May 2010 by Senator Elizabeth Hubley
Hon. Elizabeth Hubley:
Honourable senators, this week, people across Canada are celebrating National Hospice Palliative Care Week. Hike for Hospice Palliative Care, a national fundraising and awareness event held in approximately 100 communities across the country kicked off the week on Sunday.
National Hospice Palliative Care Week is a time to share the achievements of hospice palliative care, to honour the commitment and caring of those who work in the field and to raise awareness for the need for palliative care.
This year's theme is "Discovering Your Voice." It encourages people with a life-limiting illness, their caregivers and family members to share what hospice and palliative care means to them to help others understand the importance of palliative care.
The motto of the Hospice Palliative Care Association of Prince Edward Island is "Make Each Day Count." This motto is particularly appropriate as hospice palliative care is not about dying as much as it is about living well until the end. It focuses on persons living with a life-limiting illness and their families to address not only physical needs but also social, emotional and spiritual needs. Palliative care seeks to bring care, compassion, comfort and hope for a peaceful and pain-free death as well as bereavement support and "aftercare" services to loved ones left behind.
Dying is a natural process. It is an experience we will all share. It is beyond time for us to accept the need for improved palliative care and to work toward providing it for all Canadians.