Bill Text: GA SR264 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Enrolled

Georgia Senate Resolution 264 (Prior Session Legislation)

Enrolled

Bill Title: Wald, Mrs. Florence; condolences

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 6-0)

Status: (Passed) 2009-02-12 - Senate Read and Adopted [SR264 Detail]

Download: Georgia-2009-SR264-Enrolled.html

09 LC 94 0448

Senate Resolution 264

By: Senators Unterman of the 45th, Thomas of the 54th, Staton of the 18th, Hawkins of the 49th, Hill of the 32nd and others

A RESOLUTION

Honoring the life and memory of Mrs. Florence Wald; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, the State of Georgia mourns the loss of one of the nation's finest and most distinguished citizens on November 8, 2008, Mrs. Florence Wald; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Wald was a registered nurse, former dean of Yale School of Nursing, and is considered the mother of the hospice movement in the United States; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Wald had an impressive career before her work with hospice, a history which included her service as a nurse during World War II, a visiting nurse in New York City, a research assistant, and a college instructor; and

WHEREAS, in 1959, Mrs. Wald became the dean of Yale School of Nursing and, in that position, began her life's work caring for the terminally ill; and

WHEREAS, during her tenure as dean, Mrs. Wald updated the nursing school curriculum to encourage students to focus on keeping patients and their families actively involved in the care of the patient; and

WHEREAS, in 1974, she created Connecticut Hospice, an organized team of nurses, clergy, and doctors dedicated to attending to the needs of dying patients; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Wald's entire family was active in the hospice movement; her children became hospice workers, and her husband focused his master's thesis on hospital planning, which served as the blueprint for Connecticut Hospice; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Wald delayed her own retirement for many years to spread the hospice and palliative care mission throughout the United States, making hospice available to those incarcerated in prisons and training inmates to become hospice volunteers for dying inmates; and

WHEREAS, her great achievements and contributions in hospice care, civil rights, and the rights of women, patients, and veterans have been recognized with her induction in the National Women's Hall of Fame; and

WHEREAS, due to the life work of Mrs. Wald, there are approximate 3,200 hospice programs in the United States, serving over 900,000 patients annually, and 168 of these programs are located in Georgia, attending to over 27,000 individuals each year; and

WHEREAS, the hospice programs in Georgia are represented by the Georgia Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, which was founded in 1979 to encourage and promote the availability of high quality, compassionate care for the terminally ill and their families.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body join in honoring the life and memory of Mrs. Florence Wald for her dedicated service to the people of this country.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body join in commending the work of the Georgia Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to the Georgia Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and the family of Mrs. Florence Wald.