The law seeks to enhance the safety of elderly and disabled people who receive private home care services from a caregiver who assists them with daily tasks. Senior citizens can often be vulnerable to abuse, whether it is physical, sexual, mental or financial. Elder abuse can happen not just in a nursing home or other institutional care facility, but also in one’s own home.
Under the Home Care Services Consumer Protection Act, home care agencies in California are now required to be licensed with the state and provide their staff with mandatory training in first aid, CPR and emergency procedures. In addition, their caregivers must pass a criminal background check and register with the Department of Social Services.
Independent caregivers are also required to be licensed before providing any type of home care services. Elderly individuals or their families can then check the state’s database to ensure the caregivers are registered. Prior to this law, only those providing medical services at home were subjected to certification requirements and background checks.
Agencies that are not licensed may incur fines of up to $900 per day. The legislation comes after reports of senior citizens in California suffering embezzlement, fraud and abuse at the hands of home caregivers. The hope is that the Act will help usher in stricter standards to the state’s home care industry, which has lacked oversight and regulation.
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