New California Bill Would Allow Caregivers to Better Help Seniors, Members Promote at Advocacy Day

​The hard work of the HCAOA California Chapter has resulted in newly introduced legislation that would clarify existing law regarding the duties that home care aides may perform. Last week, Sen. Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh, Vice Chair of the Senate Human Services Committee, filed Senate Bill 730 on behalf of hundreds of home care agencies, caregivers, and their clients. HCAOA California Chapter members advocated for support of this bill with their legislators during their Advocacy Day yesterday.

SB730 would clarify that “assisting with medication that the client self-administers” means:

• Opening the medication container,
• Ensuring the client is aware of the written medication instructions, and
• Assisting the client with applying topical medication (e.g., lotion), if the home care aide uses gloves and applicators as necessary.

 
SB730 will additionally make clear that “toileting and incontinence care” includes assisting the client with emptying – but not removing or inserting – their colostomy, catheter, or urostomy bag and that reading “the blood pressure and the body temperature of the client” under the supervision of a nurse includes taking a reading of the client’s digital blood pressure or oxygen level and reporting the reading to the client’s medical care team.
 
As California’s population ages, caregivers need to have authorization to provide non-medical services that seniors struggle to accomplish. HCAOA will keep its members updated on the status of this bill.
 
Dozens of Members Spoke Up for Home Care at Advocacy Day
Yesterday’s annual California Chapter Advocacy Day in Sacramento saw dozens of members unite to advocate for home care in the state.
 
To begin the day, attendees met with Kim McCoy Wade, Senior Advisor on Aging, Disability, and Alzheimer’s to Governor Gavin Newsom; Elizabeth Fuller, Chief Consultant to the Assembly Committee on Aging and Long-Term Care; and policy staff for Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon.
 
Attendees then spoke with legislators about the most pressing issues facing California’s home care agencies today, including overhauling cumbersome regulations and passing supportive bills like SB730. The challenging Guardian background check process was a major topic of conversation. Members expressed their dismay at the pace of processing of these crucial background checks and urged legislators to either fix or overhaul the system entirely. Legislators were receptive to comments and expressed thanks to members for sharing their thoughts.
 
Please make sure to join us at your state’s Advocacy Day to influence home care there. Legislators enjoy hearing directly from constituents about how to better represent you and it does make a difference.