The Role of the Hospice Aide

This course introduces hospice aides to the foundational knowledge and skills needed to provide compassionate, competent end-of-life care. Aides will explore the hospice philosophy, the four levels of hospice care, and how their roles on the interdisciplinary team differ from those in other care settings. The course covers aide qualifications, assigned duties, and the boundaries of scope of practice—including common grey areas around medications, procedures, and family communication. Aides will also learn how supervision works, how to observe and report changes effectively, and how to document visits with clear, factual language. Throughout the course, scenario-based activities follow a real patient visit, offering opportunities to practice the judgment and communication skills that matter most in hospice.

Course Objectives
1. Describe the qualifications and training requirements for a hospice aide
2. Explain how the hospice aide's role and scope of practice differ from a general home health aide, including the shift to comfort-focused care
3. Identify the hospice aide's assigned duties and how those duties are determined by the registered nurse and the hospice care plan
4. Describe the supervision structure for hospice aides, including required reporting, escalation to the nurse, and documentation responsibilities
5. Apply knowledge of role, scope, and team communication to realistic hospice scenarios, including family dynamics and patient changes

This course was written in alignment with the CMS Conditions of Participation for Hospice: 42 CFR §418.76 (Hospice Aide and Homemaker Services) training expectations relevant to aide services (including qualifications, assigned duties, supervision, and scope of practice within the plan of care):

• https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/chapter-IV/subchapter-B/part-418/subpart-C/subject-group-ECFR74797288a614803/section-418.76

Estimated Runtime: 30 minutes

Reviewed and approved by
Jennifer Kennedy, EdD, MA, BSN, RN, CHC

NOTE: This course is not a substitute for legal advice for any individual provider or situation. Always consult your company's legal or compliance personnel with any questions or concerns related to this subject matter.