Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 25

When Hiring a Home Care
Agency, Know the Law
COUNCIL ON AGING - SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

HEALTHCARE

n Daniel York, Attorney at Law

When family and friends can no longer provide
caregiving services at home what's next? You may
have to make the difficult decision to hire a caregiving
agency, but what does a smart consumer ask? How do
you find the best care for your relative? How can you
check on agencies and their caregivers?
For your family's protection, hire a company that
meets the standards set forth in a recently passed
law. As of January 1, 2016, the Home Care Services
Consumer Protection Act became effective. The law
requires agencies to:
n Conduct criminal background checks on workers
n Provide an employee dishonesty bond
n Provide valid workers compensation coverage
n Carry liability insurance
n Maintain records of suspected abuse
n Provide five hours of training
n List aides in an online registry and obtain a license
certifying agency compliance
The California Department of Social Services now
provides this licensing for "Home Care Services."
Home Care Services are nonmedical services and
assistance provided by a registered home care aide to
a client who, because of advanced age or physical or
mental disability needs assistance with activities of
daily living.
When hiring a home care agency follow these steps:
1. Ask your agency for a copy of their license from
the California Department of Social Services. No
matter how large or small, every entity that arranges
for an "Affiliated Home Care Aide" must apply for the
license.
2. Check "Home Care Organization" license status
by calling (916) 657-3570 or check online at https://
secure.dss.ca.gov/CareFacilitySearch/home/index.
3. Ask your agency for the home care aide's first
and last name and their Personnel ID number. This
will give you the information to verify that caregiver's
registration status.
4. Check the home care aide registration status by

calling the Home Care Services Bureau at 1-877-4245778; or call Caregiver Background Check Bureau at
(916) 653-1923. You can also visit https://secure.dss.
ca.gov/ccld/hcsregistry/registrysearch.aspx.
An important feature of this law states that
Affiliated Home Care Aides cannot be independent
contractors. They must be employees of the Home
Care Organization. This holds the Home Care
Organization responsible for directing the actions of
an Affiliated Home Care Aide, and compliance with
requirements such as TB testing, training, background
check and registration.
Whether you need caregivers occasionally or
regularly, it's comforting to know you can hire an
agency that meets standards. Remember you only
have these protections if you hire through an agency.
Otherwise, the burden is on you.

Council On Aging - Southern California | 714-479-0107 | www.coasc.org	 Answers Guide 2017

25


https://secure.dss.ca.gov/ccld/hcsregistry/registrysearch.aspx https://secure.dss.ca.gov/ccld/hcsregistry/registrysearch.aspx https://secure.dss.ca.gov/CareFacilitySearch/home/index https://secure.dss.ca.gov/CareFacilitySearch/home/index http://www.coasc.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Council on Aging Answers 2017

Contents
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - Intro
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - Cover1
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - Cover2
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 1
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - Contents
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 3
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 4
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 5
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 6
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 7
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 8
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 9
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 10
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 11
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 12
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 13
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 14
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 15
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 16
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 17
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 18
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 19
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 20
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 21
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 22
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 23
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 24
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 25
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 26
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 27
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 28
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 29
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 30
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 1a
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 1b
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 31
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 32
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 33
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 34
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 35
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 36
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 37
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 38
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 39
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 40
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 41
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 42
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 43
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 44
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 45
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 46
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 47
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 48
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 49
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 50
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 51
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 52
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 53
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 54
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 55
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 56
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 57
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 58
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 59
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 60
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 61
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 62
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 63
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 64
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 65
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 66
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 67
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 68
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 69
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 70
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 71
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 72
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 73
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 74
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 75
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 76
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 77
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 78
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 2a
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 2b
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 79
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 80
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 81
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 82
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 83
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 84
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 85
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 86
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 87
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 88
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 89
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 90
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 91
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 92
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 93
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 94
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 3a
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 3b
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 95
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 96
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 97
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 98
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 99
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 100
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 101
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 102
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 103
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 104
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 105
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 106
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 107
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 108
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 109
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 110
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 111
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 112
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 113
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 114
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 115
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 116
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 117
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 118
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 119
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 120
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 121
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 122
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 123
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 124
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 125
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 126
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 127
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 128
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 129
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 130
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 131
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 132
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 133
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 134
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 135
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 136
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 137
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 138
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 139
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 140
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 141
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 142
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 143
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 144
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 145
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 146
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - Cover3
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/coaoc/coa_answers2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/coaoc/coa_answers2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/coaoc/coa_answers2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/freedom/coa_answers2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/freedom/seniorguide2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/freedom/seniorguide2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/freedom/seniorguide2011
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com