​Lockton Affinity, home care insurance specialist and HCAOA member, is now offering a free online safety training course for caregivers. This interactive 45-minute course "Keeping Caregivers Safe at Work" addresses injury statistics, techniques to protect against workplace injuries, tips on what to do if an injury occurs, and more. Home care business owners can take the course themselves and use it with all of their caregivers—all at no cost.

​Register now for the HCAOA Florida State Chapter Meeting on Thursday, August 11 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Hilton Orlando Hotel. Kim Smoak, Deputy Secretary of Health Quality Assurance, AHCA, will be on hand to share regulatory updates and answer questions from providers. And Angelo Spinola, Polsinelli, will provide the latest labor law news and updates for home care agencies.

​If you have not yet registered for HCAOA’s Annual Leadership Conference September 17-19 in Orlando – what are you waiting for?! The early bird registration deadline is fast approaching. Register by August 5 to save.

A new Basic Caregiver Training Emergency Rule (WSR 22-15-020) has been refiled in Washington state, effective July 12, 2022. The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) filed rules effective July 1, 2022 as WSR 22-12-081 to outline dates by which HCAs must complete basic caregiver training based on hire and rehire dates. These dates may extend through September 30, 2023, or within 120 days after the end of the COVID-19 training waivers established by the governor, whichever is later.

​Hot off the presses, the Summer 2022 issue of HCAOA's magazine The Voice is now available online. This issue is driven by data, going in-depth about how data is critical in telling an agency’s “story” and offering an outline for agencies to determine what data to collect that applies to the agency, employees, and clients.

​Featured in this issue:

• “State of Home Care: Industry at a Crossroads” – New Report Reveals State of Home Care in the U.S. and Priorities for Action Moving Forward
• healthAlign’s Model Connects Providers and Payers Easing Processes – An Interview with Andy Friedell
• New Home Care Trends Heavily Influenced by Mergers and Acquisitions
• Making the Case for Home Care: New Analysis by BrightStar Care and Avalere Shows Impact of Caregiving on Clients’ Outcomes
• Infographic: Home Care Workers Today
• Much more!

​​HCAOA reminds all home care agencies to register their schedulers, care coordinators, case managers (whatever title you give these heroes!) for the “Home Care Schedulers and Care Coordinators: Solutions for Success” webinar on July 14. Agency owners and directors are also encouraged to participate to gain insight into what tools your schedulers need for success and how to make them feel valued.

​HCAOA invites all home care agencies to register their schedulers, care coordinators, case managers (whatever title you give these heroes!) for the “Home Care Schedulers and Care Coordinators: Solutions for Success” webinar on July 14. This popular interactive program features a panel of top veteran schedulers from across the country discussing the most common challenges they face every day and offering real-world tips and valuable solutions that schedulers can apply in their agencies now.

Click here to view message.  
Click here to register for the 2022 Annual Leadership Conference, September 17-19 in Orlando.​

Learn more:
 
June 21 – Members-Only Webinar
Learn about the changes and get a jump start on operationalizing them. Speakers include Adam Guestow, Esq, of Hinshaw and Culbertson, and Mike and Joan O'Brien, Independence 4 Seniors.
 
July 19 – In-Person Chapter Meeting
Get updates on the new regulations directly from Rani Harms MSN, RN, NPD-BC, IDPH Program Supervisor for Home Services/Home Nursing, Division of Health Care Facilities and Programs. 

​The HCAOA Illinois Chapter invites all home care agencies to attend an in-person meeting on Tuesday, July 19 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. CT at the Doubletree by Hilton Lisle Naperville Hotel. Lunch will be provided. 

​In March, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear signed a bill (S.B. 61) setting minimum training requirements for direct care staff members that are employed by facilities or programs regulated by the cabinet that provide services to individuals who exhibit symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias in the populations they serve. Facilities or programs must ensure that all direct care staff have completed cabinet-approved culturally competent and person-centered training before providing care to Alzheimer’s clients. The Office of Dementia Services in the Department for Aging and Independent Living has been designated to review and approve all provider agencies' dementia training curriculums.

​It's no secret: an agency's scheduler or care coordinator often sets the tone for the entire organization! Their professionalism and problem-solving skills impact all aspects of a home care company's operations, most importantly caregiver and client satisfaction. A confident, skilled scheduler can be the key to an agency’s efficiency, client satisfaction, and caregiver satisfaction. Ensure your schedulers and care coordinators have all the tools they need for success by registering for HCAOA’s virtual workshop on July 14.

​Throughout the pandemic, it has been challenging to attract and retain employees in all industries. Home care agencies and skilled nursing facilities have not been immune to these challenges. In this webinar, Avi Singer, Founder and CEO of showd.me, will chat with HCAOA CEO Vicki Hoak and Mayer Majer, Insurance/Benefits Specialist of Leading Edge Administrators, to discuss tips to increase retention in high-turnover industries.

As HCAOA finalizes plans for the “Home Care Schedulers and Care Coordinators: Solutions for Success” webinar on July 14, it is hard to narrow the presenters down to just a few, because ALL home care schedulers are the true experts! They are the face of your agency to clients and families, and the first stop for caregivers when there is an issue with a shift. Let YOUR expert schedulers learn and share with the BEST – register them today for this popular workshop.