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Hospice Workers


Overview

Hospice Workers

Introduction

Hospice workers provide support for terminally ill patients in the final stages of their illness. Hospice care is a benefit under Medicare Part A hospital insurance and eligible persons can receive medical and support services for their terminal illnesses. Care is primarily provided in the patients' homes, but may also be provided in nursing homes and hospitals, with the intent to make patients as comfortable and pain-free as medically possible during the final days of their lives. A team of specially trained professionals and volun...

Quick Facts


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Median Salary

$60,000

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Employment Prospects

Good

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Minimum Education Level

High School Diploma
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Experience

Previous health care experience required


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Skills

Interpersonal
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Personality Traits

Helpful
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Earnings

Salaries for hospice workers are similar to those of their counterparts in a more typical medical setting and generally are based on the position, the educational requirements for that position, and the level of experience of the worker.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), health care social workers who worked for home health agencies had mean annual salaries of $60,850 in M...

Work Environment

Most hospice workers visit terminally ill patients in their homes or in the homes of their caregivers so the work environment can be as varied as their patients' lifestyles. Some workers are on call 24 hours a day and may be required to travel to homes in all areas of a city or rural area to provide medical and supportive care. Patients and family members can be very tense during this stressful...

Outlook

Hospice participation has grown at a dramatic rate, especially among those involved with Medicare. According to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), in 2017, an estimated 1.49 million Medicare benificiaries received hospice services. The number of hospice programs is expected to increase as the population ages and health care costs rise. The U.S. Burea...