For Hospice Aide and Certified Nursing Assistant, It’s About Being a Guide on the Journey

I’ve been a caregiver since I was very small. In a Hispanic household, there’s often a cultural expectation that you will take care of the older ones in the family. And that was definitely me.

It’s something I knew I had a calling and a passion for from a very early age. I’ve always been sensitive to people’s feelings and I always wanted to make a difference in other people’s lives. So, I thought taking care of someone at the end of their life would be the best opportunity for me to give the care, love and compassion that they need.

“This is your journey, but we’re here for you.”

What I like most about my job is the time I get to spend with each of my patients. You really get to know them on a personal level. I do what I can to assure them that everything is going to be OK, in what is obviously a very difficult time.

Someone might be anxious, or a family member might not know what to do or what comes next. Believe it or not, just sitting close to someone, or holding their hand, you can feel their pain.

In those moments, you have to give them all the love and compassion that you have. Give them a shoulder to cry on to ease that pain. Let them know we will help them, for as long as they need us.

Working at Care Dimensions

While I just joined Care Dimensions at the beginning of 2022, I’ve been a certified nursing assistant for several years now. I had met a few other Care Dimensions aides at facilities where I had been working. I saw the great care they gave, how sweet they were with patients, and how helpful they were. They told me Care Dimensions was a great company to work for and they thought I would be a good fit. So, I decided to take a leap and apply.

Working at the Kaplan Family Hospice House, you really feel like you’re part of a family. If you have a question, someone is there with an answer. The nurses and aides all work side by side. We hang out together; we laugh together; we cry together. I really love it.

The organization does a lot for us too. They make us feel like we’re the best people in the world, even when we feel like we’re not doing much. You get the sense that management really cares about us and is grateful for what we do. It’s not something you find in a lot of places these days.

Advice for New Aides

Here’s what I would say to someone who is thinking about this line of work: If you love people and want to help people, apply for a job. The patients will appreciate it and they will certainly benefit from it.

We are always looking for new staff who are willing to give love and attention to our patients. Honestly, I believe it’s the best medicine. Going in to sing or talk or even dance with a patient can improve their mood most days. No matter how their day is going or how they are feeling, that always puts a smile on their face. And seeing those smiles is the biggest reward for me.

While it’s their journey, we’ll be there to hold their hand and support them and their family to the end. That’s the best gift we can give our patients.

See current job openings and learn about employee benefits at our Careers Page.

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