Job at a glance
Hospice Assistant – Hillcrest Home Care Service Line: Hillcrest Home Care – Hospice - Iowa Hillcrest Home Care is looking for a compassionate, dependable, and patient-focused Hospice Assistant to join our hospice care team. Hillcrest Home Care provides personalized hospice services to patients wherever they call home, including private residences and senior living or care communities.
Our hospice team focuses on comfort, dignity, quality of life, and supporting both the patient and their family throughout the end-of-life journey. Our mission is simple: Inspiring people to live their best lives. As a Hospice Assistant, you will serve as a primary personal caregiver for hospice patients, providing hands-on assistance with activities of daily living according to each patient’s individualized plan of care.
You will work closely with the RN and hospice team to help patients remain safe, comfortable, and supported. What You’ll Do As a Hospice Assistant, you will provide compassionate, hands-on personal care to hospice patients in their homes and residential settings while supporting their comfort, dignity, and quality of life. You will: Provide personal care according to the individualized hospice plan of care developed by the RN.
Assist patients with activities of daily living, including bathing, grooming, dressing, toileting, and other personal-care needs. Provide nutritional support as outlined in the patient’s plan of care. Obtain and document vital signs and weights as directed. Assist with light housekeeping to help maintain a clean, safe, and comfortable environment. Provide non-sterile treatments within your scope of practice.
Assist with medications that are ordinarily self-administered, as permitted within the established care plan and scope of practice. Observe patients closely for changes in condition, comfort, behavior, or needs. Promptly communicate patient changes or concerns to the RN and appropriate hospice leadership. Complete accurate and timely documentation of all care provided. Provide calm, respectful, and compassionate support to patients and their families.
Communicate effectively with patients, families, nurses, facility team members, and other members of the hospice care team. Communicate schedule changes, patient concerns, care needs, and questions related to the plan of care. Accurately document time spent on patient visits, travel, meetings, mileage, and other work-related activities. Order, pick up, and deliver patient supplies according to department procedures.
Support continuity of care by following established hospice procedures and care plans. Participate in on-call and backup call responsibilities as needed to support hospice patients. Attend required meetings, in-services, and educational programs. Assist with additional hospice-care responsibilities as assigned. The role combines personal care, patient observation, family support, documentation, communication, supply coordination, and close collaboration with the hospice care team.
What We’re Looking For We are looking for someone who understands that hospice care requires more than strong caregiving skills. It requires patience, compassion, empathy, and the ability to provide a calm presence during a deeply personal time for patients and families. The right candidate will be dependable, observant, and comfortable providing care to patients with changing physical and emotional needs.
You should be someone who listens well, respects individual wishes, notices subtle changes, and understands the importance of dignity and comfort at the end of life. Ideal candidates will have: Previous experience providing hands-on personal care. Previous hospice or home care experience preferred. A compassionate, patient, and respectful approach to end-of-life care. Comfort supporting patients and families during emotional or difficult situations.
Strong communication skills with patients, families, nurses, and other care-team