HARRISBURG, (PRNewswire) – AARP Pennsylvania praised the state’s General Assembly for approving legislation this past weekend that establishes minimum standards for agency-employed home health care workers serving older Pennsylvanians.
Sponsored by Rep. Dick Hess (R-78), House Bill 247 amends the outdated Health Care Facilities Act of 1979 and requires all employees of home care agencies and registries to undergo criminal background checks and industry health screenings for communicable diseases. The bill also ensures the physical health and competency of home health care aides referred by a home care agency or listed on a home care registry. AARP Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Homecare Association strongly supported the legislation.
“This bill provides necessary consumer protections for seniors that will help make home health care a larger component of our long-term care system,” said Ray Landis, AARP Pennsylvania associate state director for advocacy.
Landis added that older Pennsylvanians prefer to receive long-term care services at home whenever possible. According to an AARP Pennsylvania study, more than 90 percent of members said they would rather receive long-term care in a residential setting.
“Strengthening our home care services helps broaden home and community care programs that represent an effective alternative to nursing homes and allow older Pennsylvanians to remain active in the community,” he said.