Home Care Aides are individuals who come into one’s home (whether it be a nursing home, assisted living, or private residence) to help them with activities of daily living for a few hours a day all the way up to 24/7 care. These individuals may assist with chores, diet monitoring, planning and preparing for meals, light housekeeping, running of errands, laundry, making beds, assistance with shopping, transportation to appointments, assistance with bathing, dressing, grooming, and toileting, call 911 in the event of an emergency, reminders to take medicine and companionship. A home care aide is not required to have any medical knowledge or training and therefore is unable to provide any medical services.
Reporting Suspected Abuse or Wrongdoing by a Home Care Aide
The Home Care Services Bureau (“HCSB” an extension of the Community Care Licensing Division) is responsible for licensing Home Care Organizations including processing applications, receiving and responding to complaints and conducting unannounced visits to ensure compliance. HCSB is also responsible for the Home Care Aide application process and maintenance of the Home Care Aide Registry. California law established the Home Care Services Consumer Protection Act which, as of January 2016, requires Home Care Organizations to be licensed and creates a public online registry for Home Care Aides who have been background checked. This law is intended to promote consumer protection for elderly and disabled individuals who hire private aides to come into their homes and provide assistance with activities of daily living.
Home Care Services Bureau:
744 P St. – MS T8-3-90
Sacramento, CA. 95814
Phone: 1(877)424-5778
email: hcsb@dss.ca.gov
