State Certified Hospice Attendants

In short

• A state certified hospice attendant is a former inmate who was trained in hospice care in a Louisiana state prison and holds a state certification.
• Before hiring one, the Agency tells the Louisiana Department of Health and checks the certification.
• Louisiana law requires us to tell staff, patients and families that the attendant completed state training and served a prison sentence. Do this before the first visit.
• If a patient prefers another worker, assign someone else without delay. Treat the attendant with the same respect as any colleague.
• The attendant completes 12 hours of in-service every year, like a hospice aide.