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How to hire a hospice aide

Hospice aide hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring hospice aides in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire a hospice aide is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new hospice aide to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a hospice aide, step by step

To hire a hospice aide, you should clearly understand the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, and allocate a budget for the position. You will also need to post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a hospice aide:

Here's a step-by-step hospice aide hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a hospice aide job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new hospice aide
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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.

Learn more about the specifics of what a hospice aide does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you post your hospice aide job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a hospice aide for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    Hiring the perfect hospice aide also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

    The following list breaks down different types of hospice aides and their corresponding salaries.

    Type of Hospice AideDescriptionHourly rate
    Hospice AideNursing assistants, sometimes called nursing aides, help provide basic care for patients in hospitals and residents of long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes. Orderlies transport patients and clean treatment areas... Show more$10-17
    PRNA PRN or a "pro re nata" employee is responsible for covering a shift or a specific situation, especially during short-staffing or the need to complete a particular task. The PRNs often work for a medical industry without a regular or full-time commitment, having the freedom to manage their time and take multiple assignments from different organizations... Show more$8-42
    Patient EscortA patient escort assists health care staff in providing patient care by managing a patient's immediate needs. Typical duties that you will perform include organizing and coordinating the transport of patients, assisting patients in personal hygiene such as dressing and bathing, and engaging with patients... Show more$12-20
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Home Health
    • Patients
    • CPR
    • Care Plan
    • HHA
    • Direct Patient Care
    • Direct Supervision
    • Vital Signs
    • Oral Hygiene
    • Palliative Care
    • Compassionate Care
    • Nutritious Meals
    • Blood Pressure
    • Skin Care
    Check all skills
    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.
    More hospice aide duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your hospice aide job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A hospice aide salary can vary based on several factors:
    • Location. For example, hospice aides' average salary in mississippi is 38% less than in massachusetts.
    • Seniority. Entry-level hospice aides earn 39% less than senior-level hospice aides.
    • Certifications. A hospice aide with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a hospice aide's salary.

    Average hospice aide salary

    $13.77hourly

    $28,632 yearly

    Entry-level hospice aide salary
    $22,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 31, 2025

    Average hospice aide salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1Massachusetts$35,046$17
    2Washington$33,216$16
    3California$32,636$16
    4Ohio$32,354$16
    5New York$30,988$15
    6Indiana$30,857$15
    7Rhode Island$30,740$15
    8Michigan$30,385$15
    9Oregon$30,327$15
    10Minnesota$28,537$14
    11Maryland$28,051$13
    12Pennsylvania$27,560$13
    13Wisconsin$27,512$13
    14Missouri$26,713$13
    15Virginia$26,618$13
    16Iowa$25,463$12
    17Colorado$25,086$12
    18Kansas$24,924$12
    19Texas$24,181$12
    20Tennessee$24,060$12

    Average hospice aide salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Alive Hospice$34,532$16.601
    2Lower Cape Fear LifeCare$34,194$16.4410
    3JourneyCare$33,386$16.0525
    4CARE$32,681$15.7110
    5Amedisys$32,618$15.68149
    6Sutter Health$32,553$15.6560
    7Mayo Clinic$32,433$15.5957
    8Grand View Health$32,405$15.58
    9Fairview Health Services$32,278$15.5288
    10EveryStep$32,020$15.399
    11CareOregon$31,973$15.37
    12Spectrum Health$31,796$15.29
    13St Luke's Hospital & Health Network Inc$31,679$15.23
    14McLeod Health$31,554$15.1719
    15Horizons Hospice$31,537$15.167
    16Ballad Health$31,518$15.152
    17Compassus$31,486$15.14378
    18Northwell Health$31,301$15.0566
    19St. Luke's Health System$31,296$15.0571
    20Jennings$31,254$15.034
  4. Writing a hospice aide job description

    A good hospice aide job description should include a few things:

    • Summary of the role
    • List of responsibilities
    • Required skills and experience

    Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a hospice aide job description:

    Hospice aide job description example

    To attract, reward, motivate and retain good people, Lower Cape Fear LifeCare offers a flexible work environment, a generous Paid Time Off Policy, competitive salaries, sign-on bonuses for staff CNA’s and RN’s, and an outstanding benefits package to include a 403B retirement plan with employer match, and company paid Long Term Disability and Life Insurance to eligible employees. Please visit our website for additional employment opportunities and more information on the variety of benefit options available to our employees.

    Join us in making a difference in someone’s life!

    We are currently seeking a Per-Diem Hospice Aide to join our group of dedicated and experienced professionals.

    Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

    Competently performs a variety of basic patient care activities under the supervision of the RN to meet the personal needs and comfort of patients.

    Hospice aide supervision must include following POC by participating in IDT, task competency, compliance with infection control and reporting changes in patient conditions.

    The hospice aide must have a competency evaluation by an RN every 14 days to evaluate services of aide.

    Completes a variety of clerical and stocking needs to assist with optimal department/agency safety and functioning.

    Appropriately documents and communicates all required information in accordance with agency policies and procedures.

    Organizes and performs work effectively and efficiently.

    Maintains and adjusts schedule to enhance team performance.

    Demonstrates positive interpersonal relations in dealing with all members of the team.

    Maintains and promotes customer satisfaction.

    Effectively demonstrates the mission, vision, and values of Lower Cape Fear LifeCare daily.

    Qualifications

    Minimum Qualifications:

    High school diploma or equivalent and completion of Hospice Aide course.

    Must attend 12 hours of in-service training supervised by a Registered Nurse on a rolling 12-month basis.

    Competency of the hospice aide is assessed in the home every 14 days. The hospice aide does not need to be present unless there is an area of concern. Otherwise, an onsite evaluation occurs once a year.

    Has not had a lapse of 24 consecutive months where the aide has not provided services for compensation.

    Current certification with State Board of Nursing, or current registration with Department of Facilities Service in the State of North Carolina/South Carolina.

    Minimum of two years’ experience and at least one year in home care or by other individuals under general supervision of a Registered Nurse.

    Preferred Qualifications:

    Previous CNA experience in hospice, home health, or oncology preferred.

    Location-Service Area: Hospice Care Centers in Bolivia, NC (Brunswick County)

    Employment Status: Per-Diem

    Lower Cape Fear LifeCare is an equal opportunity employer. Lower Cape Fear LifeCare will hire the most qualified applicants for positions and provide Equal Employment Opportunities for all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, veteran status, marital status or disability.

    RP

  5. Post your job

    To find the right hospice aide for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with hospice aides they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit hospice aides who meet your education requirements.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your hospice aide job on Zippia to find and attract quality hospice aide candidates.
    • Use niche websites such as healthcarejobsite, health jobs nationwide, hospitalcareers, medreps.com.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Your first interview with hospice aide candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new hospice aide

    Once you've selected the best hospice aide candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

    It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

    To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a hospice aide?

Recruiting hospice aides involves both the one-time costs of hiring and the ongoing costs of adding a new employee to your team. Your spending during the hiring process will mostly be on things like promoting the job on job boards, reviewing and interviewing candidates, and onboarding the new hire. Ongoing costs will obviously involve the employee's salary, but also may include things like benefits.

The median annual salary for hospice aides is $28,632 in the US. However, the cost of hospice aide hiring can vary a lot depending on location. Additionally, hiring a hospice aide for contract work or on a per-project basis typically costs between $10 and $17 an hour.

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