HospiceWits: Ancillary Health Care Workshop (AHC)

Course Duration: 10 Days over a 3 Month period

This course will enable the learner to be competent in the following aspects of home care:

• General hygiene in the home.
• Bed bathing, bed making and making sure the patient is comfortable at all times.
• Mouth care and proper cleaning procedures.
• Prevention of bedsores by regular massage of body parts and changing positions.
• Temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure.
• Basic Nutrition and education to family members about what to feed the patient.
• Care of the dying, preparation of the family and patients, unfinished matters.
• HIV/AIDS and TB.
• Foundational Anatomy and Physiology.
• Professional communication as opposed to social communication.
• Patient rights and dignity.
• Palliative Care

Assessments, Assignments and Tests will be written, and a certificate will be issued on completion.

Career Opportunities

Health Care Support Roles

• Healthcare Assistant (HCA)
  Provide support to nursing staff and patients in healthcare facilities, such as hospitals, clinics, or nursing homes. The HCA assists with daily activities like personal care, feeding, and mobility.
• Home Care Assistant
  Work in patients' homes to assist with personal hygiene, meal preparation, and light housekeeping, ensuring that patients maintain their dignity and comfort.
• Hospice Care Assistant
  Offer specialized care to terminally ill patients in hospice settings, focusing on comfort, pain relief, and emotional support for both patients and families.

Specialized Caregiver Roles

• Palliative Care Assistant
  Support patients with chronic illnesses or end-of-life conditions, helping to manage symptoms and improve their quality of life. Work in hospitals, hospices, or in-home care settings.
• Elderly Caregiver
  Provide personal care to elderly individuals, including assistance with mobility, grooming, and companionship, while ensuring their safety and well-being.
• Hospice Caregiver
  Deliver compassionate care to individuals nearing the end of life, offering emotional, physical, and spiritual support while working closely with family members.

Clinical Support and Assistance

• Nursing Assistant
  Work under the direction of registered nurses to assist in patient care, including monitoring vital signs, administering medication, and assisting with medical procedures.
• Medical Receptionist
  Provide administrative support in healthcare settings, including managing appointments, maintaining patient records, and communicating with medical staff and patients.
• Clinical Care Support
  Offer hands-on assistance with patient care in various medical settings, helping with non-medical tasks while ensuring the comfort and safety of patients.

Management and Administration in Health Care

• Care Coordinator
  Manage and coordinate patient care services, ensuring that patients receive the appropriate care from healthcare professionals, caregivers, and family members.
• Health Care Facility Administrator
  Oversee the daily operations of a healthcare facility, ensuring compliance with regulations, managing staff, and improving patient care delivery.
• Hospice Care Manager
  Manage hospice care programs and services, including supervising staff, organizing patient care plans, and ensuring the quality of care for terminally ill patients.

Training and Education

• Healthcare Trainer
  Educate new healthcare assistants and caregivers, offering training programs focused on patient care, safety protocols, and best practices in health care settings.
• Palliative Care Trainer
  Provide specialized training to caregivers and healthcare professionals on delivering palliative and hospice care to those with life-limiting conditions.
• Health and Safety Trainer
  Teach healthcare workers essential safety protocols, including infection control, emergency procedures, and patient handling techniques.

Social Work and Emotional Support

• Patient Support Advocate
  Assist patients and families in navigating the healthcare system, offering emotional and practical support during difficult times.
• Counselor for Grief and Loss
  Work with families of terminally ill patients, providing counseling and emotional support during end-of-life care, helping them cope with grief and loss.
• Social Worker (Health Care)
  Provide social work services in healthcare settings, helping patients and families access resources, cope with illness, and make important decisions about care.

Entrepreneurial Opportunities

• Home Care Agency Owner
  Start a home care business that offers services like personal care, companionship, and light housekeeping for patients in their homes.
• Hospice Care Provider
  Open a hospice care business to provide specialized services for terminally ill patients, focusing on comfort and emotional support.
• Health Care Consulting Firm
  Offer consulting services to healthcare facilities, focusing on best practices, compliance, and improving the quality of patient care.

Community Outreach and Volunteer Services

• Volunteer Coordinator (Hospice)
  Organize and manage volunteer programs within hospice settings, recruiting, training, and coordinating volunteers to support patients and families.
• Community Health Educator
  Work with communities to raise awareness about hospice, palliative care, and healthcare resources, offering education and support for individuals facing terminal illnesses.

Patient Advocacy

• Patient Advocate
  Act as an intermediary between patients, families, and healthcare providers, ensuring that patients’ rights and wishes are respected in the care process.
• Health Care Policy Advocate
  Work to influence policies and programs that affect healthcare services, focusing on improving the quality and accessibility of hospice and palliative care services.

Industries Benefiting from the HospiceWits: Ancillary Health Care Workshop (AHC) Course

Healthcare Industry
The healthcare sector, including hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and home care services, can benefit from trained healthcare assistants, caregivers, and clinical support staff who are skilled in palliative and end-of-life care.

Hospice and Palliative Care
Specializing in the end-of-life care sector, where trained personnel are needed to assist with comfort care, pain management, and emotional support for patients and their families.

Elderly Care and Assisted Living
The aging population increases demand for skilled caregivers who can provide daily assistance, specialized care for elderly individuals, and support in residential care facilities.

Social Services and Counseling
Organizations offering social support services to families dealing with illness or bereavement can use the skills from this course to offer more comprehensive care and counseling.

Training and Educational Institutions
Educational centers focused on healthcare training, particularly those offering caregiving and hospice training, can benefit from incorporating the skills provided by this course into their curriculum.

The HospiceWits: Ancillary Health Care Workshop (AHC) course equips individuals with the necessary skills to enter a variety of healthcare support roles, particularly in hospice and palliative care settings. Career opportunities include working as healthcare assistants, home care providers, hospice caregivers, and patient advocates, as well as managerial and training roles in the healthcare industry. With a focus on end-of-life care, grief support, and patient advocacy, graduates are well-prepared to support terminally ill patients and their families while ensuring dignity, comfort, and safety in the healthcare process. This course is ideal for those interested in providing compassionate care, pursuing entrepreneurial ventures, or becoming part of the rapidly growing elderly care and healthcare sectors.