Please plan to join the HCAOA Washington Chapter and industry partners at the State Capitol on February 11, 2025 for In-Home Services Advocacy Day! This day will be a great opportunity to meet fellow home care advocates and educate lawmakers on the importance of the work you do every day to keep vulnerable Washington residents safely cared for at home. Orientation will begin at 7:15 a.m. A registration link and more details about the day will be provided after the new year! Also, we will be reaching out to members in January with resources to contact your lawmakers, so please stay tuned and plan to engage with your elected officials.

Connecticut is set to expand its paid sick leave law, affecting private-sector employees beginning January 1, 2025. Previously limited to employers with 50 or more employees and service workers, the new law will extend paid sick leave to all employees at companies with 25 or more employees, with further expansion in 2026 and 2027. Key changes include the elimination of the service worker criteria, no requirement for employees to provide documentation or advance notice for leave, and expanded use of sick time to care for family members. Additionally, the law increases accrual from one hour of sick leave for every 40 hours worked to one hour for every 30 hours worked, with a carryover of 40 hours or the option for employers to frontload sick leave at the start of each year. Governor Ned Lamont signed the bill in May, and the implementation will occur in phases over the next few years.

Please take a few minutes to view the video message from Jason Lee, HCAOA’s CEO, as he shares his thoughts on 2024, including a special 2024 year-in-review video.

A recent survey by Home Health Care News and HCAOA Associate Member Forcura found that over half of home-based care companies have already invested in artificial intelligence (AI) or plan to do so within the next year, with staffing shortages being the main driver behind this trend. The survey highlights home-based care providers' ongoing challenges with staffing and employee retention. Since the pandemic, there has been a rise in the referral of patients with more complex conditions to home care services, which has exacerbated staffing issues, mainly due to the lack of clinical support. Companies are looking to AI to address these challenges by optimizing workflows, improving operational efficiency, and reducing staff burdens.

HCAOA is proud to celebrate a historic achievement for our nation’s veterans: the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act has passed Congress and is on its way to President Biden’s desk, who is expected to sign it into law! This landmark legislation will significantly enhance home-based care for veterans, including increasing the Veterans Administration's funding for in-home care to match 100% of the cost of nursing home care for veterans. HCAOA’s advocacy played a crucial role in making this a reality, with over 4,000 messages sent to Capitol Hill through its legislative action network. Over the past two years, advocacy efforts included numerous meetings with Veterans Affairs leadership, Congressional Policy Committee staff, in addition to meetings with key legislators during HCAOA's Home Care Advocacy Days.

It’s not too late to register for tomorrow's LIVE webinar Blueprint to Maximize Your Caregiver Recruitment Process at 1:00 p.m. ET. Hear from industry leaders about the strategies behind successful caregiver recruiting — and how you can apply them at your agency immediately.

HCAOA Connecticut Chapter leaders met recently with key lawmakers about Chapter legislative and public policy priorities in advance of the regular legislative session, which begins next month.

Do you have children or know a college student interested in aging policy? Then you may be interested to know the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) is seeking three interns for an eight-week, in-person summer policy internship program in Washington, DC, focused on aging-related policy development. The internship includes a $6,000 stipend and flexible start dates. One internship is reserved for a candidate enrolled in a Minority Serving Institution. Internship duties may include attending congressional hearings, researching issues that impact older adults, meetings with federal regulatory agencies, monitoring legislation and regulations, and contributing to GSA’s Public Policy & Aging Report, among other duties.

End the year on a high note with a proven strategy for caregiver recruitment in 2025!

Register now for the Blueprint to Maximize Your Caregiver Recruitment Process webinar— a 90-minute, in-depth session with leading home care agency owners and recruiters from agencies generating $50–$150M annually. You'll walk away with proven strategies that drive successful caregiver recruitment that can be implemented immediately at your agency.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has proposed changes to the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) to improve access and support for family caregivers of veterans. The proposed changes would expand eligibility to include more veterans with serious injuries or those who meet individual unemployability standards. Additionally, the program would be reassessed every two years instead of annually, allowing caregivers to continue receiving benefits for a longer period.

HCAOA's 2024 Caregiver of the Year, Angela Chavez of Gold Star Home Care in Glendale, AZ, was interviewed by Foster Stubbs of McKnights Home Care for their Home Sweet Home series, which is a feature that focuses on heartwarming stories in home care.

​​In the article, Chavez discusses her journey to becoming a caregiver. She credits her success to the supportive environment at Gold Star and her personal connection with her patients – she values the satisfaction of knowing she’s made a difference in the lives of those she cares for.

It’s not too late to register for today’s member-only webinar at 3:00 p.m. ET for a recap of the 2024 elections and a non-partisan discussion about opportunities and impacts for home care. HCAOA will also share insights into 2025 legislative and regulatory priorities.

The U.S. Department of Labor has proposed phasing out the ability for employers to pay subminimum wages to workers with disabilities under Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The rule would halt the issuance of new certificates allowing subminimum wage and gradually phase out existing certificates over three years. This change follows a year-long review and is expected to improve the economic well-being and inclusion of workers with disabilities.

The 2019 auto no-fault reforms reduced reimbursement rates for in-home care by at least 45%, making it difficult for auto accident victims to access essential home care. Senate Bills 530, 531, and 535 have been introduced to address this issue and have already passed in the Senate. They are pending in the Michigan House, where no action has been taken yet. Your help is needed to move these bills forward—please CLICK HERE to fill out a Voter Voice action alert and ask your member of the Michigan House of Representatives to support the bills. The message is prewritten, so all you need to do is add your name and address.

The holiday season, often filled with joy and togetherness, can be lonely for many older adults, especially if they live alone or are far from loved ones. The absence of family gatherings and holiday traditions can lead to feelings of sadness, loneliness, and even depression.