ORDER N0.31068 DECLARE NOVEMBER, 2008 HOME CARE AND HOSPICE MONTH IN KERB COUNTY Came to be heard this the 27th day of October, 2008, with a motion made by Commissioner Letz, seconded by Commissioner Oehler. The Court unanimously approved by'a vote of 4-0-0 to: Approve request for Resolution from Texas Association for Home Care to declare November, 2008, as Home Care and Hospice Month in Kerr County. ~.~'t 310(08 COMNIISSIONERS' COURT AGENDA REOUEST PLEASE FURNISH ONE ORIGINAL AND TEN f10) COPIES OF THIS REOUEST AND .DOCUMENTS TO BE REVIEWED BY THE COURT MADE BY: Judge Tinley OFFICE: County Judg ~,,, MEETING DATE: October 27, 2008 TIME PREFERRED: SUBJECT: Consider, discuss and take appropriate action to honor request from Texas Association for Home Caze to declare November, 2008, as home caze and hospice month in Kerr County. EXECUTIVE SESSION REQUESTED: (PLEASE STATE REASON) NAME OF PERSON ADDRESSING THE COURT: Judge Tinley ESTIMATED LENGTH OF PRESENTATION: IF PERSONNEL MATTER -NAME OF EMPLOYEE: Time for submitting this request for Court to assure that the matter is posted in accordance with Title 5, Chapter 551 and 552, Government Code, is as follows: Meeting scheduled for Mondays: 5:00 PM previous Tuesday THIS REQUEST RECEIVED BY; THIS RQUEST RECEIVED ON: @ .M. All Agenda Requests will be screened by the County Judge's Office to determine if adequate information has been prepared for the Court's formal consideration and action at time of Court Meetings. Your'; cooperation will be appreciated and contribute towards your request being addressed at the earliest opportunity. See Agenda Request Rules Adopted by Commissioners' Court. _.a Home.Care: Keeping Texans Proud and Independent Dear Judge Tinley: We would like to'thank you and Kerr County for helping us recognize November 2008 as "Home Care and Hospice Month" in the :State of Texas. Millions of Texas citizens and all of our communities benefit from critical home care services provided to our state's Medicare, Medicaid and private-pay patients by more than 200,000 Texas home care employees including nurses, therapists, home health aides and others throughout our State. Home care. has er41oyed tremendous, bi-partisan support as a way to provide quality health care for some of Texas' most deserving patients while saving money within our health care system through reductions in more costly nursing home, hospitalization and other expenditures. Hospice services provide careto those in their final days of life, and bereavement support to their loved ones before and after death. Last year, along with your support, Governor Rick Perry declared November as "Qffcial Home Care and Hospice Month" for the State of Texas. As we approach November 2008, we have `once again requested that our Governor recognize November as Home Care and Hospice Month. So, please join us along with Governor Rick Perry as we celebrate this year's theme of "Home Care: The Power of Choice, the Comfort of Nome." We would greatly appreciate you requesting your Commissioners' Court to pass a resolution by October 31, 2008. A sample proclamation that you can use as a model is enclosed for your information. You can also request an electronic version by emailing Becky Allcorn at becky@tahc.org. Please mail or fax us a copy of your proclamation so we may publicize it along with the Governor's. Thank you for your consideration of this matter. Please feet free to contact me if you would like to receive any additional information on Home Care and Hospice Month, the role of Texas' home care industry, or if I can ever be of assistance. Sincerely, Anita Bradberry Executive Director Enclosures 3737 Executive Center Drive, Ste. 268, Austin, Texas 78731 * (512) 338-9293 ~r Fax (512) 338-9496 tit(800) 880-8893 *www.tahc.org Sample 2008 Home Care and Hospice Month Proclamation Whereas, home care services provide high quality and compassionate health care services to those in need, especially at times of community or personal health care crisis; and Whereas, home care is the most preferred method of health Gaze delivery among disabled, elderly, and chronically. ill individuals eager to live independently in their own homes as long as they possibly can; and Whereas, home care in Texas is a growing alternative to hospitalization or other institution-based forms of health care for acute and chronic illnesses, providing care to hundreds of thousands of Texans each year; and Whereas, hospice Gaze provides humane and comforting support for terminally. ill patients and their families, including pain control, palliative medical care, and social, emotional and spiritual services; and Whereas, hospice fulfills basic human needs of feeling comfortable in familiar surroundings and of attaining physical and' emotional peace during the last stage of life; and Whereas, there is a need to increase public discussion about advances in pain control and the care options available to individuals of all ages, races, and backgrounds who are at the end of life; and Whereas, the Texas Association for Home Caze and home care and hospice providers in Texas have declared November 2008 as "Home Care and Hospice Month" with the theme of "Home Caze: The Power of Choice, the Comfort of Home" and aze calling on all Texans to observe this occasion with appropriate ceremonies and activities; Now, therefore, We, The County Commissioners Court. do hereby proclaim November 2008 as "HOME CARE AND HOSPICE MONTH" and encourage the support and participation of all citizens in learning more about the home caze and hospice philosophy of caze for the elderly, disabled and the terminally ill. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused this seal to be affixed. #31068 RESOLUTION A Resolution of Kerr County Commissioners' Court expressing support for declaring November, 2008 as home Care and Hospice month in Kerr County, Texas. WHEREAS home care services provide high quality and compassionate health care services to those in need, especially at times of community or personal health care crisis; and WHEREAS home care is the most preferred method of health care delivery among disabled, elderly, and chronically ill individuals eager to live independently in their own homes as long as they possibly can; and WHEREAS home care in Texas is a growing alternative to hospitalization or other institution- based forms of health care for acute and chronic illnesses, providing care to hundreds of thousands of Texans each year; and WHEREAS hospice care provides humane and comforting support for terminally ill patients and their families, including pain control, palliative medical care, and social, emotional and spiritual services; and WHEREAS hospice fulfills basic human needs of feeling comfortable in familiar surroundings and of attaining physical and emotional peace during the last stage of life; and. WHEREAS' there is a need to increase public discussion about advances in pain control and the care options available to individuals of all ages, races, and. backgrounds who are at the end of life; and WHEREAS the Texas Association for Home Care and home care and hospice providers in Texas have declared November 2008 as "Home Care and Hospice Month" with the theme of "Home Care: The Power of Choice, the Comfort of Home" and are calling on all Texans to observe this occasion with appropriate ceremonies and activities; RESOLVED That Kerr County Commissioners' Court, by adoption of this Resolution, hereby declares November 2008 as "HOME CARE AND HOSPICE MONTH" and encourages the support and participation of all citizens in learning more about the home care and hospice philosophy of care for the elderly, disabled and the terminally ill. ADOPTED THIS 27th day of October, 2008 H. A. "Buster" Baldwin, C-ommissioner Precinct 1 Jonathan LE Precinct 3 County J V~illiam H. Williams, Commissioner Precinct 2 nice Oehler, Commissioner Precinct 4