October 10

World Hospice and Palliative Care Day

Celebrate World Hospice and Palliative Care Day by showing your support for those facing serious illnesses - donate, volunteer, or simply spread awareness!

Yearly Date

Second Saturday in October

Observed

Internationally

Introduction

World Hospice and Palliative Care Day is a special day dedicated to honoring people who provide compassionate care for those facing life-limiting illnesses, as well as their families. This annual event was first celebrated in the year 2000 by The Worldwide Hospice Palliative Care Alliance (WHPCA). It's an opportunity to recognize and appreciate the valuable work that hospice and palliative care professionals do around the world.

World Hospice and Palliative Care Day Timeline

1967

First Modern Hospice

The first modern hospice, St Christopher's Hospice, is opened in London by Dame Cicely Saunders, establishing the principles of palliative care.

1982

Medicare Hospice Benefit

In the U.S., the Medicare Hospice Benefit was enacted, marking the first large-scale governmental support for hospice care.

1987

World Health Assembly Resolution

World Health Assembly adopted a resolution emphasising the importance of palliative care, urging its inclusion in health policies and curricula.

1991

First Palliative Care Acceptance

World Health Organization defines palliative care and acknowledges it as a part of essential health services.

2000

First World Hospice Day

The Worldwide Hospice Palliative Care Alliance (WHPCA) hosts the first World Hospice and Palliative Care Day, promoting and supporting hospice and palliative care worldwide.

2014

Global Atlas of Palliative Care

The World Health Organization and WHPCA published the first Global Atlas of Palliative Care at the End of Life, providing comprehensive information and data on the need for and availability of palliative care worldwide.

How to Celebrate World Hospice and Palliative Care Day

1 Organize a Fundraiser

A great way to show your support for World Hospice and Palliative Care Day is to organize a fundraiser. Choose an activity that you can do with friends or family, like a bake sale, car wash, or 5K run/walk.

2 Volunteer

Reach out to your local hospice and palliative care organizations to see what volunteer opportunities they have available. You may be able to help out with administrative tasks, patient visits, or event planning.

3 Share Your Story

Share your story about how hospice and palliative care has made a difference in your life or the life of someone you love on social media. This will help raise awareness about the importance of these services.

4 Donate

Make a monetary donation to a hospice or palliative care organization of your choice on World Hospice and Palliative Care Day. Every little bit helps when it comes to providing these crucial services.

5 Educate Yourself

Take the time to learn more about hospice and palliative care by reading articles, watching webinars, and attending seminars. The more you know about these topics, the better equipped you’ll be to make informed decisions.

Why World Hospice and Palliative Care Day is Important

It raises awareness of hospice & palliative care

World Hospice and Palliative Care Day is a global initiative to raise awareness of the importance of hospice and palliative care services and their impact on the quality of life and overall wellbeing of people who are suffering from serious and life-limiting illnesses. By raising awareness, the hope is that governments, healthcare providers, and individuals can come together in an effort to provide these services and make them more widely available.

It honors those affected by serious illness

World Hospice and Palliative Care Day is also dedicated to honoring those affected by serious illnesses, both patients and caregivers alike. It's a day to show appreciation for the incredible work done by caregivers in providing comfort, support, and dignity to their patients during difficult times.

It brings attention to important issues

World Hospice and Palliative Care Day also provides an opportunity for policymakers to bring attention to key topics such as access to affordable care, pain management, symptom control, end of life planning, and bereavement support. It's essential that these conversations are had in order to bring public attention to these vital issues so that effective solutions can be implemented globally.