If you or your loved one needs hospice care, either on a long- or short-term basis, a vital member of your care team will be a hospice aide.
Hospice aides, sometimes also referred to as certified nursing assistants (CNA) or state-tested nurse aides (STNA), are healthcare workers who receive their training through a state-approved program, which includes both classroom instruction and hands-on practice caring for patients. Utilizing a care plan created with nursing to target specific needs, hospice aides are key to the well-being and safety of those they care for.
Duties of a Hospice Aide
Aside from providing basic care, hospice aides may also help with:
- Bathing and dressing
- Eating and drinking
- Using the bathroom or portable toilet
- Transferring between bed and wheelchair
- Using medical equipment such as lift chairs
And this list is just the beginning. These essential healthcare providers are a lifeline for many patients, giving them not only help with daily activities of living, but also providing important companionship and other vital functions.
A familiar and friendly face
Many who receive hospice care are unable to leave their home — and that can be incredibly lonely, especially if they live alone. Since hospice aides spend a lot of time with their patients, they become familiar with their routine, lifestyle, and unique wants and needs. Often, that leads to a warm relationship. Aside from looking forward to the time they spend with their hospice aide; forming a strong bond can also stave off mental health challenges that many older people experience.
A link to family
A hospice aide can become an important connection between patients and their family members. If, for example, an emergency arises, a hospice aide can help educate the family about how they should proceed, where they can go for help and what their next steps might be. Having this connection gives them peace of mind and an easy contact in a pinch.
Help for a clean environment
Because hospice aides see their patients more often than nurses and other hospice professionals, they can keep a close eye on living conditions. In fact, according to Everynurse.org, hospice aides are key to ensuring patients have a clean and infection-free environment in which to live and heal.
The Care Team Hospice Aides, when and where you need us
At The Care Team, our hospice aides are focused on the safety and well-being of every patient. They have the training to provide the critical compassion, comfort, and support our patients and their families deserve.
