April is National Donate Life Month! This years’ theme is: “Life is a beautiful ride”, and the bicycle has been chosen as its symbol to represent the cyclical journey of organ donation and renewed life.
Home Health and Hospice providers, see firsthand the tremendous need there is for organ donation, and how many lives can be saved through a single lifesaving gift. For many Home Health and Hospice patients suffering from advanced kidney disease, liver disease, or congestive heart failure, the only hope for recovery an organ transplant. The need for more donors is staggering. According to national statistics:
Approximately 114,000 men, women, and children are on the national transplant waiting list.
Every 10 minutes another person is added to the national waiting list.
22 people die each day because the organ they need is not donated in time.
82% of patients waiting are in need of a kidney.
95% of Americans are in favor of organ donation, but only 58% are registered.
One person can donate up to 8 lifesaving organs.
How you can get involved:
Spread the word about donation through your social media outlets. Check current organ donor data before posting: https://optn.transplant.hrsa.gov/data/
Sponsor a registration drive at local colleges in your service area.
Offer to speak at local churches on the importance of donation. Provide disease specific information like kidney, liver, heart, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease that describe the support Home Health and Hospice can provide to patients and their families.
Partner with your referral network on Friday April 12th, Blue and Green Day, and organize a bike ride to raise awareness for organ donation.
Visit UNOS* to learn the facts and see how you can make a difference.
Register to be an organ donor: www.organdonor.gov
Visit Tagwebstore.com for your Home Health and Hospice patient education materials.
*United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) is the private, non-profit organization that manages the nation’s organ transplant system under contract with the federal government.