Home care caregiver training: questions, answered

Your state decides, and states differ. We do not publish hour counts. Check your state licensing agency; homecarelicenseguide.com, also published by Home Care Agency Blueprint, helps you find it.

For licensed non-medical home care, check your state; we do not publish a national standard. Federal rules may add layers where they apply, such as OSHA for occupational exposure or HIPAA for covered entities.

It depends on your state, your payers and your own policy. Common providers include the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross; we name them as examples, not endorsements.

Only where your state accepts online training for that topic. Check before you choose a course.

If your state allows in-house training for the topic. It may set qualifications for trainers; keep them on file.

If your agency is a HIPAA covered entity, HHS says it must train all workforce members on its privacy policies and procedures. Whether you are a covered entity is a question for counsel.

OSHA’s bloodborne pathogens standard requires employers to train each employee with occupational exposure. Whether that covers your caregivers depends on their tasks; ask counsel if unsure.

The date, topic, outline, trainer and attendees for each session, and completion and renewal dates for each caregiver. How long to keep them follows your state and your counsel.

The program may add training for the services it pays for. Check its rules; becomemedicaidprovider.com, also published by Home Care Agency Blueprint, covers enrollment.

Home Care Agency Blueprint, which sells courses and coaching to people starting home care agencies. We say so on every page so you can weigh our perspective.