Connecticut Chapter Urges Members to Oppose Ban of the Word ‘Care’

The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP), as reported in last week’s Home Care Insider, issued guidance, to all registered home care agencies in Connecticut, prohibiting them from using the word ‘care.’ The Department claims in its guidance that the word suggests medical services that are outside the scope of the registration credential and therefore requires a license from the Department of Public Health.
 
In response, the HCAOA Connecticut Chapter sent a letter to Governor Lamont opposing the Department’s guidance. 

In the letter, signed by HCAOA CEO Vicki Hoak, HCAOA CT Chair Marlene Chickerella, and CT Association for Healthcare at Home President and CEO Tracy Wodatch, the leaders say, “This guidance is arbitrary and capricious and banning the word ‘care,’ which is used by consumers, families and workers alike to describe the important work dedicated caregivers perform every day for clients, is patently absurd and defies common sense.”
 
“Banning the word ‘care’ goes well beyond our understanding of what the guidance would cover in relation to advertising on national websites by home care agencies that operate in Connecticut. (For the first time, the Department at long last recognizes the important work caregivers provide to clients experiencing memory difficulties and allows home care agencies to advertise that employees are certified in CPR, if trained or certified.) There may be hundreds of agencies in Connecticut, providing essential home care services to frail, elderly persons, that use the word ‘care’ in their registered business trade names, advertising, websites, email addresses, signs, employee uniforms, service agreements and stationery.”
 
HCAOA has created a Legislative Advocacy Alert and encourages Connecticut Chapter members to ask the Governor to direct the Commissioner of DCP to withdraw the guidance to prohibit the word ‘care’ for home care providers. The Alert also allows members to contact their state senator and representative and urge lawmakers to oppose the guidance and support a proposed amendment to clarify the law.
​