Iowa City Hospice is seeking a compassionate, dedicated Hospice Aide interested in providing exceptional end-of-life care to patients and their families. As a Hospice Aide, you will play a vital role in delivering personalized support and comfort to those in need, ensuring dignity and respect during their final stages of life. We value empathy, professionalism, and a commitment to making a positive difference in our patients' lives.

Key Responsibilities:

- Assist patients with activities of daily living, including bathing, dressing, grooming, and mobility

- Provide emotional support and companionship to patients and their families

- Monitor and report changes in patients' health status to the nursing team

- Follow care plans and adhere to safety and infection control protocols

- Document patient care activities accurately and timely

- Support the interdisciplinary team in delivering holistic hospice care

Skills and Qualifications:

- Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification required

- Prior experience in hospice, palliative, or home health care preferred

- Compassionate, patient, and empathetic demeanor

- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

- Ability to work independently and as part of a team

- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail

- Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation may be required

We foster a supportive and respectful work environment that values growth, compassion, and teamwork. Join us to make a meaningful impact in the lives of patients and their families during a difficult time, while advancing your career in hospice care.

REQUIREMENTS / QUALIFICATIONS:

• Completion of the 75-hour home health aide training program, completion of the written and skills portion of the National Homemaker-Home Health Aide Certification Program and an Iowa Nurse Aide Certificate Number.
• Two years of work related experience preferred.
• Proof of license and current insurance coverage.
• Car, driver's license and adequate insurance as outlined in the personnel policies is required.
• Demonstrated professionalism and decision making abilities, effective interpersonal skills and adhering to ethics, standards, and the support of agency policies and procedures.
• All offers of employment are conditioned upon the result of a criminal background check conducted by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, as required by law and a negative finding on the Office of Inspector General’s Excluded Provider List.
• Additional Training: Continuation of employment in this position requires obtaining current CPR, Mandatory Reporter Certifications and Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative certification in hospice and palliative care, by the 3rd year of employment.

SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE:

• Employee will demonstrate expertise in defined specialty area, ability to communicate effectively in the English language both verbally and in writing.
• Employee will demonstrate organizational skills necessary to manage workload and productivity expectations.
• Employee will demonstrate the ability to work independently, able to maintain confidentiality in all matters, including employee information, client information and agency matters.
• The employee will demonstrate initiative in recognizing unmet needs and assuring a timely and appropriate response.
• The employee will demonstrate the ability to maintain and update professional knowledge base and the ability to assimilate and utilize agency information regarding policy and procedure changes.
• The employee will demonstrate competence in professional decision-making skills within the parameters of an Aide.
• The employee will demonstrate the ability to use technology effectively and appropriately, including client care equipment, I-Pad and communication devices (smart phones, voicemail, and electronic mail).

WORK ENVIRONMENT/EQUIPMENT:

• Employee will perform the duties in both inside and outside environmental conditions.
• Visits are conducted in patient homes requiring employee to drive from location to location during the work period within the service territory including Iowa City, small towns and rural areas.
• Atmospheric conditions – fumes, odors, dust, poor ventilation, or smoking.
• The ambient noise level in this environment can flex, is generally low.
• The duties include extensive use of technology like Ipad & Iphone.
• The driving requirements include in-town and highway driving in good and inclement weather.

PHYSICAL/COGNITIVE DEMANDS:

• These duties require fine motor coordination/dexterity, the ability to grasp, vision with or without corrective aids adequate for fine motor tasks, client assessment, driving, use of equipment for client care.
• Computer and smart phone knowledge for documentation and communication.
• The job requires the physical demands of occasional lifting greater than 50 lbs.
• Reaching, pushing, walking, going up and down stairs, driving, etc., with or without the use of assistive/adaptive devices.
• The job requires the ability to sit for long periods in a car and may require the physical demands of climbing up/down stairs, walking, hearing, kneeling, standing, pushing, grasping, lifting, talking etc.
• Requires visual acuity to operate motor vehicle, view electronic devices (I-phone, I-Pad, computer terminal) reading data and figures, visual inspection of patients.
• Cognitive ability to solve practical problems; variety of variables with limited standardization; interprets instructions.