respiratory care week respiratory care week respiratory care week is a week set to honor and recognize respiratory therapists. respiratory care week is celebrated internationally but most notably in canada and the united states. respiratory care week is usually the last full week of october. united states president ronald reagan proclaimed the first week dedicated to honoring respiratory therapists in 1982. originally november 7 through november 13, 1982 previous dates 1982: november 7 — november 13 1983: september 15 — october 1 2011: october 23 — october 29 last full week of october (sunday through saturday)