The Hospice Aide

Art by Julia Cone

If you are home taking care of a dying loved one, the physical care-taking of a hospice patient can be overwhelming and physically exhausting. I always advocate for families to utilize the home health aide two to three times a week. Sooner than later. This gives them both time to establish rapport and trust. Patients often resist the home health aide because they do not want anyone to help them in the shower, but they are one of the best resources we have on the hospice team. 

Home health aides are kinda magical.

Their assistance helps to conserve energy for everyone. It takes a lot of time and physical exertion to prepare for the shower, or bed bath, bathe the patient – and then clean up after the escapade. I am an exhausted sweaty mess afterward. The aides do this effortlessly and tenderly. The patients are sparkly clean, their hair is braided. The sheets are clean. Everyone is happy.

The home health aides oftentimes see body parts nurses do not.

They are the eyes and ears of nurses. They can alert the nurse to potential yeast in the groin area, incontinence issues, or risk for pressure injuries (bedsores). Home health aides also pay attention to the patient’s physical functioning and symptoms during their visit. Are they still able to get out of bed independently? Did they wince with pain when they were moved? Were they short of breath walking to the shower? The aide will contact the nurse after the care to alert them of anything that is concerning.

You can ask the aides for tips and tricks on how to minimize bedsores, reposition the patient, and safely get the patient in and out of bed. They will demonstrate how to make a draw sheet to simplify moving a bedbound patient and turning the patient in bed. They are often a wealth of untapped information and kindness. Once you meet them, you will be hooked.