Senator Warner received a standing ovation on Tuesday when he told visiting members of the National Association of Home Care & Hospice that "we are overdue as a nation for an adult conversation about end-of-life planning."

The Senator spoke honestly about his own family's challenges, noting the home care and hospice issues raised by his own mother's 10-year battle with Alzheimer's Disease.

@markwarner: "the #hospice benefit should be offered at a much earlier stage." #NAHC2013

— NAHC (@OfficialNAHC) March 19, 2013

In coming weeks, Senator Warner says he will again introduce bipartisan legislation to encourage more family and faith-based efforts to rationally discuss end-of-life planning, including the broader use of advanced care directives. He has introduced similar legislation every year since he joined Congress in 2009.