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Home Care Aide Scholarship Program

Supporting Caregivers Who Deliver Execptional Personal Care

Home Care Aides play a crucial role in supporting many aging Americans and deserve recognition for the vital care they provide. To honor their dedication, the Home Care Scholarship program was launched in 2021 to assist home care aides pursuing a nursing degree.

Each year, $1,000 scholarships are awarded to 15 exceptional home care aides, helping them advance their education and careers in home-based care. This program not only supports their professional growth, but also acknowledges their commitment to the industry.

NAHC and HCHB are proud to support these caregivers who deliver exceptional personal care. Encourage the professional development of your agency’s staff by nominating a home care aide today!

Nominations are open from July through the end of September. Scholarship recipients will be announced during the NAHC Home Care and Hospice Conference and Expo.

William A. Dombi, Esq.
President, NAHC

“NAHC is thrilled to continue our partnership supporting the fourth annual Home Care Aide Scholarship. The scholarship program shines a spotlight on the caregiving stories of Aides who make an enormous difference in the lives of so many of our vulnerable citizens. The program also helps support the home care Aides at a time when providers are facing greater workforce pressures than ever before.” 

Scott Decker
CEO, HCHB

“HCHB is proud to support the annual Home Care Aide Scholarship. Aides are healthcare heroes who make a huge difference in the lives of the people they serve. They combat isolation by providing much needed interaction and ensure our most fragile populations are able to remain at home by helping with essential activities of daily living. The scholarship is a rewarding program that shows appreciation for this critical group of caregivers.”

Scholarship Information

  • $1000 Scholarships Awarded
  • Deadline for Nominations: September 30th, 2024
  • Scholarship winners announced during the October NAHC Home Care and Hospice Conference and Expo in Tampa, Florida.

Nominate A Caregiver Today

Do you know someone who would be an excellent candidate for our Home Care Aide Scholarship Program, Class of 2024? Nominate them today for a chance to receive a $1,000 scholarship! They do not need to be a user of HCHB in order to qualify.

Home Care Aide Scholarship Program – Class of 2024

Ashley Sutton

Ashley Sutton

AMOREM

This nominee is truly deserving of the award in recognition of her remarkable resilience and unwavering commitment to providing for her family despite the significant obstacles she has faced. As a hardworking single mother of two young daughters, she has navigated the daunting challenges of balancing work, school, and the busy schedules of her children with exceptional grace and determination. Through sheer grit and perseverance, she has not only managed to maintain a stable household for her girls, but has also pursued her own educational goals, recently earning a 2-year degree in Human Services. Now, with her sights set on a 4-year Social Work degree, this remarkable woman exemplifies the power of compassion and empathy – qualities that have already shone through in her daily interactions with patients, and which will undoubtedly serve her well in her future career as a social worker. The financial burden of continued education is a significant hurdle, but receiving this scholarship would provide invaluable support, allowing her to focus her energy on her studies and her family, rather than worrying about the financial strain. Her story is one of resilience, determination, and a deep, unwavering commitment to creating a better life for herself and her children – qualities that make her truly deserving of this prestigious Scholarship.

 

“As a hospice home care aide at Amorem, the best part of my job is being able to provide compassionate care to my patients in their time of need.”

Christen Radke

Christen Radke

Bethany Hospice & Palliative Care

Christen has been an aide in the Pittsburgh community for many years. She joined the Bethany team as a Hospice Aide in 2023 due to a passion for elder care. She quickly became an indispensable member of our team. Christen is an excellent caregiver providing her care with exceptional patience and understanding. She approaches terminally ill patients with a smile and lighthearted humor which can win over the darkest day. She works just as well with families to identify how the family wants care delivered and meeting caregiving special requests with kindness. She treats all her patients as if they are her family. She often stops at the local market on her way to visits to pick up a special treat that the patient favors. She is also perfectly willing to walk a patient’s dog at the end of her visit, help the patient complete a puzzle or just enjoy some music together. Christen was recently promoted to Senior Hospice Aide here at Bethany. She will be training new hires and working as a mentor to the other aides here. We feel she is really well suited to this new role. Christen has shared with us that she would like to obtain her Hospice and Palliative Care Certification as part of her professional growth. This scholarship would help her achieve that goal. Christen has spent her career lighting up the lives of those under her care. We would love for her to receive this scholarship in acknowledgement for her excellent work.

“I love caring for others and giving them the best time I can while I’m with them. Seeing their faces light up and smile during a hard time is reward in itself.”
LaSondra Reagor

LaSondra Reagor

Compassus Hospice and Palliative Care

Lasondra is a very caring person. She has been an aide for Compassus going on 14 years now. She is an extremely hard worker, families, patients, and team members all love her attitude and the joy and comfort she is able to bring to our patients. I was super excited the day she decided to go back to school to get her practical nursing license. She will be an exceptional LPN, and I look forward to moving her into the LPN role here at Compassus when she achieves this amazing accomplishment. Lasondra has always been one of our volunteers to help provide meals to our patients during the holiday times. She will cook and she will deliver meals. She joins us when we do Heart Walks and Alzheimers walks, she is very involved in her community. She has a giving heart.

“My favorite part of the job would be my patients. Sharing life stories, laughing with them and leaving them with a smile on their faces. I love when my patients tell me they love me and are praying for me and I tell them the same. I feel like every house I’m going to visit is my family and we will have fun together.”
Oliva-Wilson1

Olivia Wilson

Corewell Health South Hospice and Palliative Care

Olivia has served as a dedicated hospice aide under my leadership for 2 years. During her time with our organization, she has demonstrated a commitment to the healthcare field by advancing her education and focusing on her professional development. Olivia completed the Certified Nurse Aide program in December 2023 and quickly enrolled in our local nursing program. Olivia is an exemplary employee; however, the quality that truly sets Olivia aside from her peers is the level of compassion that she demonstrates in her care. Olivia is able to build relationships with patients that promote trust and allow her the opportunity to individualize their care in a way not often seen in healthcare settings. I received a call from a patient’s family member after their passing to recognize Olivia for the care she provided. This patient had reported severe depression due to lack of independence and was withdrawing from family events because they felt like a burden. Olivia spent countless hours caring for this patient, and she was able to build a relationship that promoted trust and security. During a visit, Olivia overheard the family discussing an upcoming graduation party for the patient’s grandchild, and she immediately recognized the importance this event would have in the quality of life for the patient. Not only did she seek permission to provide a weekend visit for this patient, but she also requested permission to attend the party with the patient to relieve the family of any caregiving responsibilities for the duration of the party. The patient was able to attend a gathering they likely would not have been able to simply because of Olivia. I see this example as a monumental story that demonstrates exceptional levels of compassion and commitment to patient care; however, this is truly how Olivia operates on a day-to-day basis. As truly honorable as I believe these stories are, she truly has a servant’s heart. She is dedicated to her mission of providing comfort and quality of life to the people she cares for, and our organization has been incredibly blessed to have her within our ranks. I offer my nomination on her behalf because I believe in her ability not only to be successful within her program, but to go on to be a competent and exemplary nurse. It would be a true honor to have Olivia join our nursing family, and I truly believe our community is better off because of caregivers like Olivia.

“I love having the opportunity to build relationships with my patients. Providing care in a home based environment removes many barriers that usually exist in an inpatient setting. This truly gives me the opportunity to learn more about my patients and what makes them unique. I also love the opportunity it provides for me to increase my cultural competence. Being able to provide quality, respectful care at the end of life is a true honor. I’m proud that I belong to a team that cares deeply for the patients and supports each other to achieve the patient’s end of life goals by whatever means necessary.”

Ashley Stewart

Ashley Stewart

Genesis Visiting Nurse Association

Ashley is a single mom of two and a home care aide for the past 9 years. Ashley is dedicated to her patients and always is very caring and compassionate. We promote safety behaviors at GVNA and Ashley has been one of the top staff noting patient changes and calling the nurses or following up on issues. She checks up on her patients and has probably saved a few lives. Ashley takes her job seriously and has voiced her intentions of going back to school and I have encouraged it as she is very smart and has seen so much in her nine years. I think that she would be an outstanding nurse.

“The Biggest reason I do what I do and also enjoy is because I get to help keep people in their homes. Getting to communicate and learn others stories and hearing about the past and current. Seeing the bright smiles knowing I am making a difference with just the little things.”

Tamia Murray

Tamia Murray

HomeCare Providers of Cone Health

Tamia is an inspiration for all. She provides exceptional, compassionate care to our home care patients. She is dependable, responsible and one of the most requested employees I have. She has such a positive attitude. She is a single mother who balances work, school and her family. She makes being a mother a priority, attending school and sports events and then coming home to study. Between classes, she works caring for the frail and disabled in our community. She is such a deserving candidate. She is a role model for her family and an inspiration for her co-workers. Most importantly, she is a light in the lives of those she cares for.

“I love getting to know each patient’s personal needs so that I can perform to the best of my abilities. I feel appreciated knowing that I have made someone’s day better, and that they can depend on me to get the job done. As well as showing kindness and letting each and every one of them know that I truly care about their well-being.”

Tania Osorio Salgado

Tania Osorio Salgado

Hospice of the Valley

Tania Osorio Salgado has been a CNA with Hospice of the Valley for over 10 years and has worked with both Palliative Care and Hospice patients. She is currently working on her 2nd block towards completing a degree in Nursing. As a CNA with Hospice of the Valley Tania has been Amazing. She is highly skilled and demonstrates extraordinary care and compassion with patients. Tania continually demonstrates leadership skills with her teammates. She is the primary Home Health Aide Preceptor on her Team and has oriented ALL new hires for the past several years. Tania consistently receives positive feedback from patients, family members and coworkers. Examples include: 1) Tania’s patient told the Team’s Social Worker “Maybe I’m still alive just so I can enjoy the care Tania gives me. Tania is my angel on earth. I’ve never had such loving care.“ 2) I love working with Tania, no matter how heavy the day is, she always has a positive way to get the work done. She is friendly and loves to help others. 3) Tania has this can-do attitude about her. She makes you feel welcomed from the start. Tania was my main preceptor and made it her priority to make sure I felt comfortable with all aspects of my role. I can truly tell she loves what she does. 4) Tania’s commitment and gentle presence has brought comfort and dignity to countless patients and their families during their most vulnerable moments. Her dedication and empathy is unmatched. Tania is the epitome of what it means to serve with a compassionate and dedicated heart. 5) Because of Tania’s personality, it is always a pleasure to run into her in the field. She goes about her work with humility and grace, making us all proud she is part of the team. Her good nature makes patient experiences all they should be. 6) It is such an honor to work with Tania. Our patients and facilities adore her. She is so thorough and provides wonderful care. She keeps the mini team updated and always communicates any changes. I am so grateful to know and work with Tania. She is just amazing! 7) Tania is a kind and caring person as demonstrated in her work with our patients and interactions with other team members. She exemplifies the culture and values of Hospice of the Valley through a genuine interest and care for patients, family members and facility staff. She communicates well and shares a positive attitude which radiates to other team members in the care of our patients. So glad she’s on our team! Our community will receive wonderful benefits as Tania grows professionally. She is intelligent, dedicated and will no doubt be a strong clinician as a Registered Nurse, but given her genuine compassion for others, strong work ethic and tenacious commitment to solution finding, Tania will always exceed expectations.

“I love being able to provide comfort care with dignity to all my patients and help them have the best quality of life during such difficult times. Something as simple as a shower, providing oral care or brief change offers such needed relief to our patients, family and caregivers. It is so rewarding to be able to help in such little ways that makes the big difference in our patients lives.”

Nichole Garrett

Nichole Garrett

National Church Residences

I am writing to enthusiastically nominate Nikki Garrett, an exceptional State Tested Nursing Assistant (STNA), for the 2024 Homecare Aid Scholarship with Homecare Homebase. Nikki has been a dedicated caregiver in the hospice field for the past year, and her growth, dedication, and compassion in her role have been truly inspiring. Nikki Garrett exemplifies what it means to be a compassionate and dedicated healthcare provider. Over the past year, she has demonstrated unwavering commitment to delivering the highest quality of care to her patients. Her work in hospice care, a challenging and emotionally demanding field, showcases her resilience, empathy, and profound ability to connect with patients and their families during some of the most difficult times in their lives. Nikki’s ability to work seamlessly with her team is commendable. She collaborates effectively with her colleagues, ensuring that each patient receives comprehensive and compassionate care. Her natural ability to alleviate fears and concerns through her caring touch and reassuring presence has brought comfort and solace to countless patients and their loved ones. This level of dedication is rare and speaks volumes about her character and commitment to her profession. Patients quickly grow to love Nikki due to her personable nature and genuine concern for their well-being. She builds strong, trusting relationships with those under her care, fostering an environment of comfort and peace. Her ability to balance professional excellence with heartfelt compassion sets her apart as a caregiver who truly makes a difference in the lives of her patients. Nikki’s ambition to further her education by returning to school to become a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) is a testament to her dedication to professional growth and excellence in patient care. Her commitment to advancing her skills and knowledge will undoubtedly enhance the quality of care she provides, benefiting her patients and the healthcare community as a whole. I wholeheartedly believe that Nikki Garrett deserves the Homecare Aid Scholarship. Her dedication, compassion, and unwavering commitment to her patients and their families make her an outstanding candidate for this award. Supporting Nikki in her educational endeavors will not only recognize her exceptional contributions but also empower her to continue providing exemplary care in the future. Thank you for considering Nikki Garrett for this prestigious scholarship. She is a remarkable individual whose dedication to her patients and profession truly exemplifies the values and qualities that this scholarship seeks to honor.

“My name is Nichole Garrett and I am 21 years old. I knew that working as an STNA and helping people was the perfect start for me. I enjoy working with the elderly and listening to them tell their stories. I love helping them and giving patient care making sure they are clean and comfortable. I am currently in school for Phlebotomy and EKG right now and this scholarship would help me so much and almost pay for the whole program! I plan to work as an STNA and Phlebotomist until I can save up enough money to go into Nursing School!”

Armani Bethea

Armani Bethea

Sage Hospice and Palliative Care

Armani demonstrates the definition of a “hospice heart” each day, caring for our hospice patients with compassion, a gentle touch, and genuine respect for their dignity and wishes at all times. Sage Hospice has received countless thank yous from patient families, facility managers, and even patients themselves all requesting that Armani stay their CNA always. Armani always shows up with a warm smile and leaves with a gentle hug, and goes out of her way to go the extra mile with every patient. Armani will ensure the water temperatures are exactly the way her patient likes, whether, warm or cool, she will get warm towels out of a dryer to dry off her patient after their shower, make sure their favorite aromas are in room during a sponge bath, and play soft music during bath time to her patients with cognitive challenges to promote calmness and an enjoyable experience. Armani never rushes through a visit, but makes sure each one is a great experience for her patient, even down to doing their hair or painting their nails to help them feel awesome! Armani is a nurses dream partner, always communicating thoroughly with her nurse and all team members and it is clear she takes great pride in all she does. Armani wants to pursue nursing, to further her ability to provide an even greater level of care to her beloved patients, and plans to enroll in classes next semester. It is my honor to nominate this extraordinary nursing assistant for this scholarship! She is a treasure to Sage Hospice and Palliative Care, and to all of our patients she serves!

“My name is Armani and my favorite part of my job is connecting with my patients. Their kind hearts makes me want to spend more time on the “little things”, like looking at a family photo album or listening to stories about “the good ol’ days”. Everything about my job, the ups and the downs, I love. The tough times are hard but having support from my team and patients makes it all worthwhile.”

Asia-Gren

Asia Gren

Samaritan

We appreciate and recognize Asia’s professional expertise and extraordinary compassion. Her exceptional care for our hospice patients and families consistently earns their praise for her character and reliability. Asia’s excellent interpersonal and communication skills among her greatest assets, providing a welcome and comforting presence. Asia is also respected and admired by managers and colleagues on the hospice team. Asia serves as a role model for her peers, always willing to help and offering to step up when additional patients need her support. Asia earned an associate’s degree in health sciences and is now continuing her education to advance her expertise and help more patients in more ways. The Scholarship will honor Asia’s commitment to providing exceptional patient care, support her professional growth, and recognize commitment to our industry.

“My favorite part about the job is the opportunity to provide comfort and support, also the connection I make with my patients and their families.”

Tashianna Spears

Tashianna Spears

Trinity Health at Home Muskegon

Tashianna has been at our home care agency since March of 2024. Prior to coming to us she had experience in another home care agency and SNF. Tashianna came to us with great experience and an amazing attitude about care for others. Tashianna has demonstrated a calm manor when faced with challenging situation. She has been willing to go above and beyond for patients include a recent situation where a patient did not have any washcloths in order to bathe. Tashianna on her own stopped by a store to get some for this patient. She is a hard worker and truly has the heart of a caregiver. Tashianna has shared with that she is going back to school and working on obtaining her RN degree. Tashianna would be a fantastic nurse as well!

“I’ve been a CNA for over a decade. I’ve worked in a nursing home, hospital and now home health. I’ve been with Trinity Health for 5 years. My favorite part of my job is building relationships with patients and families. The appreciation I receive from patients is rewarding, knowing I made a positive impact in someone’s life is heartwarming. With home health I am able to have one on one time with patient’s to listen to their needs, and help provide care in a comfortable environment. Home health provides flexible schedules for me and also the patients.”

Jashira Robinson

Jashira Robinson

Trinity Loyola Medicine Home Care and Hospice

I have been in attendance during a Home Care visit with Jada and have witnessed her perform her patient’s personal hygiene. I am most impressed by her sound judgement when faced with unforeseen circumstances. For example, Jada’s patient had an accessed implanted port. The care plan was to be followed but the patient wanted to have a shower. Our agency does not encourage showering with a CVC of any type in the chest. Jada was able to skillfully instruct the patient why she could not assist with a shower and notified the appropriate superiors including the case manager, manager and myself, as educator. She always explains to her patient what her role is and when she will see them. Jada will attend a preceptor class in order to become one of our CNA preceptors because she is the best example our agency has of a CNA expertly delivering safe, compassionate care. She also has been trained to work from the office calling patient families to ascertain their level of satisfaction with their care. Jada excels at service recovery when needed and can be counted on to report any issues to the appropriate team manager or director. Jada is seeking to continue her education.

“I find my job incredibly rewarding due to the meaningful connections I make with patients. By listening to their stories and partnering with families to address their unique needs, I empower individuals to overcome challenges and reclaim their independence, achieving milestones they once thought impossible. Witnessing these transformative moments fills me with a profound sense of purpose and validates the meaningful impact I have on their lives.”

Khrystal-Rochelle Franklin

Khrystal-Rochelle Franklin

Visiting Nurse and Hospice Home Inc dba Stillwater Hospice

We are lucky to have Khrystal Franklin on our team. She was working full time in the field caring for residents in nursing homes as well as at home. Her patients, families, and team members always raved about the high quality of care that Khrystal provided to them. Recently Khrystal had to take a step back from full time work to focus more on her schooling. She is now working as needed in our inpatient unit as well as in the field. She cares so much about her patients that she refused to step away from her role until the right replacement was found for her! We cannot wait to see what fabulous things lie ahead for Khrystal and know she would greatly benefit from this scholarship to help get her there!

“One of my favorite parts of my job, is getting to know my patients and their families. I love hearing their life stories of where they grew up and all the fond memories of their younger years.”

Kimora Bailey

Kimora Bailey

Premier Health Fidelity Health Care

Kimora Bailey has been employed as a home care aide in the Certified Specialist Float position for the past 2 years. She is also full time at the University of Dayton in the nursing program. As her primary supervisor I can attest that she is highly motivated and very self directed. She consistently displays a calm, caring professional demeanor. She is very observant to any changes in patient condition, adjusting her care as needed and promptly reports to the case managers. Her communication is excellent and she is frequently requested by patients and by staff to care for their patients. I highly recommend her.

“Hi, my name is Kimora Bailey. I have been a homecare aide and safety companion with Fidelity for 2+ years. Throughout that time I have learned so much as a caregiver, and as an individual. Much like everyone else my love for working with patients and in healthcare began because I believe it fulfills the desire I have to assist others, to do what others cannot do for themselves for me. However, my reasoning for enjoying the ability to work with patients has evolved, my reasoning is now based on the idea that the job provides many different experiences. Working with patients allows you to see, hear, and do things outside of the ordinary. I’m often told that it takes a special person to work in healthcare and I can see why. Seeing that you can do the job just for the money or for the look, however you don’t truly see how special the job is until you realize how your actions affect others. That recollection is what makes healthcare workers that will last and that are amazing at their job. So while it still is about caring for others, I like the idea that I can test my strengths and knowledge to see how much change and joy I can produce. Although the job carries a heavy responsibility and some strain, it’s worth it. Not to mention, I’m getting to fulfill the aspirations placed upon me, by my late grandmother. Thank you for your generosity and consideration, this is a great honor!”

Yselande Louis

Yselande Louis

VNA Care

Yselande rejoined VNA Care in early 2024. She is a dedicated aide who continues to go above and beyond caring for patients serviced by both VNA Care Home Health and Hospice. Yselande is working to save up enough money to continue her education in nursing. She is currently taking general education classes and plans to enroll in a nursing program when she is able to afford it. She is a smart aide who recognizes changes in patients status and to report these changes quickly to avoid hospitalizations. Two examples of this are that recently she recognized a patient’s behavior changes which turned out to be a UTI that the nurse was able to address with the MD before the patient went to the hospital. Another example was a wound that Yselande was concerned about and notified the nurse. The nurse was able to see the patiently quickly and again avoid a possible hospitalization. I believe that Yselande is very deserving of this recognition and would benefit from the scholarship.

“My favorite part of my job is helping my patients complete their everyday tasks.”


Amanda Willis
Visiting Nurse Association & Blue Water Hospice

Carolyn Almanzar Gutierrez
Care Central VNA & Hospice

Christine Nowak
Adoration Hospice

Crystal McGregor
Generations Hospice

Devora Zamora
Visiting Nurse, Inc dba Stillwater Hospice

Jeanette Hearn
Corewell Health South Hospice & Palliative Care

Jenisha Hoskins
Community Hospice and Palliative Care

Jesse Sadler
ParkPointe dba PASCO/SW Home Health

Makayla Rivera
ParkPointe dba PASCO/SW Home Health

Monet Lewis
The Pines of Hilton Head

Omayra Cardona
Grace Healthcare Services

Susana Ayala-Bazan
Horizon Home Health Hospice

The home-based healthcare sector is changing quickly rapidly, and small and medium-sized organizations have a unique set of concerns surrounding these changes in this environment. At Homecare Homebase, we recognize how important it is for these organizations to run as efficiently as possible without sacrificing the best possible patient care. Our software solutions for small & medium home-based care agencies are made to specifically address these demands, providing scalable solutions that expand along with your organization.