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Hospice aide vs patient sitter

The differences between hospice aides and patient sitters can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-3 months to become both a hospice aide and a patient sitter. Additionally, a patient sitter has an average salary of $29,649, which is higher than the $28,632 average annual salary of a hospice aide.

The top three skills for a hospice aide include home health, patients and CPR. The most important skills for a patient sitter are patients, BLS, and CPR.

Hospice aide vs patient sitter overview

Hospice AidePatient Sitter
Yearly salary$28,632$29,649
Hourly rate$13.77$14.25
Growth rate9%9%
Number of jobs163,630188,756
Job satisfaction45
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 25%Bachelor's Degree, 30%
Average age4242
Years of experience33

What does a hospice aide do?

A hospice aide is responsible for assisting patients in their daily activities, usually in a medical institution or private household. Hospice aides monitor the patients' conditions, administer medication, and report updates to the attending physician or other health care professionals. They also manage the patients' food intake, support them with their lifestyle activities, and perform duties that would make the patients comfortable. A hospice aide must have excellent communication skills, especially in responding to the patients' inquiries and concerns and listening to their stories.

What does a patient sitter do?

The primary job of a patient sitter is to provide patients with care and companionship. You will be responsible for a few duties that always include supervising patients, assisting them with basic personal hygiene and care, and monitoring their vital signs. As a patient sitter, you are expected to refrain from doing unauthorized or additional functions, identifying changes in patient's conditions, and maintaining patient information confidentiality. You are also expected to comply with relevant standards, procedures, and policies.

Hospice aide vs patient sitter salary

Hospice aides and patient sitters have different pay scales, as shown below.

Hospice AidePatient Sitter
Average salary$28,632$29,649
Salary rangeBetween $22,000 And $36,000Between $21,000 And $40,000
Highest paying CityFramingham, MASeattle, WA
Highest paying stateMassachusettsWashington
Best paying companyAlive HospiceCarondelet High School
Best paying industryProfessionalHealth Care

Differences between hospice aide and patient sitter education

There are a few differences between a hospice aide and a patient sitter in terms of educational background:

Hospice AidePatient Sitter
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 25%Bachelor's Degree, 30%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common college--

Hospice aide vs patient sitter demographics

Here are the differences between hospice aides' and patient sitters' demographics:

Hospice AidePatient Sitter
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 9.5% Female, 90.5%Male, 21.5% Female, 78.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.5% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 13.2% Asian, 7.0% White, 63.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 7.5% White, 61.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage7%7%

Differences between hospice aide and patient sitter duties and responsibilities

Hospice aide example responsibilities.

  • Recognize by physicians for ability to meticulously prepare patient's chest and attach leads to obtain excellent quality EKG tracings.
  • Provide individualize and highest quality of care to patients who face a life-limiting illness, provide assistance with patients ADL's.
  • Follow HIPPA laws, universal precautions.
  • Involve in adaptive clothing to the needs of residents.
  • Provide comfort and compassion to the client as well as their family members.
  • Assist with routine catheter care and enemas according to the plan of care.
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Patient sitter example responsibilities.

  • Conduct and facilitate PCA lead group activities as scheduled
  • Apply restraints to violent and combative patients.
  • Maintain OSHA and HIPAA compliance with regulatory standards.
  • Train in techniques for physical restraints (CPI).
  • Provide therapeutic companionship and close observation of patients in a safe and clean environment
  • Transport patient to MRI department.
  • Show more

Hospice aide vs patient sitter skills

Common hospice aide skills
  • Home Health, 22%
  • Patients, 17%
  • CPR, 10%
  • Care Plan, 8%
  • HHA, 7%
  • Direct Patient Care, 4%
Common patient sitter skills
  • Patients, 41%
  • BLS, 12%
  • CPR, 7%
  • Customer Service, 6%
  • Patient Observation, 5%
  • Continuous Observation, 4%

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