To the Editor:

As we recognize Certified Nursing Assistants Week, June 12–18, I want to speak directly to the hospice aides—those whose hands so often become the bridge between suffering and peace.

In hospice, our work is sacred. It asks for clinical skill, yes—but also deep compassion, patience and emotional resilience. Hospice aides are at the center of this calling. They are the ones who bathe patients too weak to speak, who brush their hair, adjust their pillows and whisper comfort into quiet rooms. They walk into spaces heavy with emotion and bring calm—not with grand gestures, but with presence.

As a leader, I am continually moved by the way our aides hold space for patients and families in their most vulnerable moments. They notice the little things—a wince, a silence, a subtle shift—and they act with urgency and tenderness alike. Their care isn’t measured only in tasks, but in dignity restored, fears soothed and final moments honored.

Whether they are called hospice aides, certified nursing assistants, nurse aides or simply “the ones who helped my loved one feel like themselves again,” they are the heart of this work. They deserve our respect, our thanks and our unwavering support.

Take a moment to thank a hospice aide in your life. Their compassion, strength and steady presence bring comfort during life’s most sacred moments. To every hospice aide—thank you for what you carry, and for the way you carry it. You make a difference every single day.

With deepest gratitude,
Mira Ackman
Volunteer Coordinator
Compassus Hospice