Home Health Aide Hospice

PRIMARY FUNCTION
The VITAS Hospice Aide is a non-exempt employee trained to provide personal care and homemaking
services to the terminally ill to augment care given by family members. She/He functions under the
direction, instruction and supervision of the VITAS RN and/or the VITAS Team Manager.
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
Hospice aides are assigned to a specific patient by a registered nurse that is a member of the
interdisciplinary team. Written patient care instructions for a hospice aide must be prepared by a
registered nurse who is responsible for the supervision of the hospice aide.

A hospice aide provides services that are:
o Ordered by the interdisciplinary group
o Included in the plan of care
o Permitted to be performed under state law by such hospice aide
o Consistent with the hospice aide training

The duties of a hospice aide may provide include the following:
o The provision of hands-on personal care
o The performance of simple procedures as an extension of therapy or nursing services
o Assistance in ambulation or exercises including the use of assistive devices
o Assistance in administering medications that are ordinarily self-administered
o NJ hospice aides may not assist with medications
o Assistance with nutrition including preparation of special diets and feeding
o Promotion of patient’s quality of life by assisting with involvement in desired activities
o Accompanying patient to medically related appointments
o Assisting primary caregiver to learn basic patient care through demonstration of care
techniques
o Providing homemaking services for the patient such as:
o Preparation of simple meals
o Laundry
o Housekeeping
o Running errands/grocery shopping

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES:
o Practices infection control measures per VITAS standards, polices and procedures
o Observes, reports and accurately documents patient status and patient care activities per
VITAS standards, policies and procedures
o Participates in the preparation and execution of the plan of care
o Completes a minimum of 12 hours of in-service training per year
o In CT, 6 hours shall address topics related to hospice care
o Participates in Quality Improvement activities
o Maintains job specific training for area assigned as required
o A hospice aide must report changes in the patient's medical, nursing, rehabilitative, and social
needs to a registered nurse, as the changes relate to the plan of care and quality assessment
and improvement activities
o Provide least restrictive environment by encouraging independence and patient participation in
care as desired
o Provide comfort care to patient and family through basic emotional support and care based on
hospice philosophy
o Demonstrates respect for patient and his/her property and maintains patient privacy
o Recognizes emergencies and responds per VITAS standards, policies and procedures
o Assists in maintaining a clean, safe and healthy environment
o All other duties as assigned

THE HOSPICE AIDE MAY NOT:
1) Change sterile dressing
2) Irrigate body cavities (such as an enema)
3) Irrigate a colostomy or wound
4) Perform a gastric lavage or gavage
5) Catheterize a patient
6) Administer medications
7) Apply heat by any method
8) Care for a tracheotomy tube
9) Suction a patient
10) Do any personal health service which has not been included in the patient care plan by the
VITAS nurse

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS / PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described in this job description are representative of those that must be met by
an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations
may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to:
 Assist in lifting and transferring patients, as required
 Lift objects in excess of 20 pounds
 Stand or walk in excess of one hour per day
 Talk and hear

Specific vision abilities required by this job include:
 Close vision
 Distance vision
 Ability to adjust focus

The employee will be required to sit and stoop, kneel and crouch.

QUALIFICATIONS
1) High School graduate or equivalent preferred
2) One year direct patient care in an institutional setting preferred
3) Currently in good standing with state nurse aide registry if applicable by state
4) A Hospice Aide training and competency evaluation as outlined in 42:418.76 (Federal Hospice
CoPs-75 hours) or
5) A nurse aide training and competency evaluation program approved by the state as meeting the
(Federal Requirements for Long Term Care Facilities) (CNA) or state licensure programs that
meet the requirements of 42:418.76 (HHA)

State Allowable Training/Certification

AL, CO, DC, DE, FL, GA, IN, MI, PA, TX, VA, WI CNA, HHA, HA
CA CHHA
CT Homemaker-Home Health Aide
IL HHA, NA
KS Home Health Aide certificate
MO Home Health Aide
NJ Homemaker-Home Health Aide
OH Home Health Aide
6) Provides documentation of having passed a skills test and written / oral test demonstrating those
competencies identified in CFR Title 42 Chapter 418.76. In lieu of such documentation, a newly
hired Hospice Aide must demonstrate skills and written / oral competency prior to working
independently with the patient.
 CT: State-specific skills checklist / competency form required
 GA: Competency must be completed upon hire
 MO: State-specific skills checklist / competency form required

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
1) Ability to travel per job requirements
2) Telephone available in home
3) Ability to read, write and report clinical information
4) Current and active CPR Card if working in VITAS Inpatient Unit, GA programs or as required by
state or local regulations

DIRECTION RECEIVED
1) Reports directly to the VITAS Team Manager
2) Supervised by a Registered Nurse
3) See VITAS Standard Hospice Aide Supervision