Licensure of Home Health Care Workers Applauded By AARP Pennsylvania
Posted on: Monday, 3 July 2006, 15:00 CDT
HARRISBURG, Pa., July 3 /PRNewswire/ -- AARP Pennsylvania today 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 Dick Hess (R-78), House Bill 247 amends the outdated Health Care Facilities Act of 1979 and requires all employees of home care agencies and registries to undergo criminal background checks and industry health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% 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.
AARP has over 1.8 million members in Pennsylvania. AARP is a non-profit, nonpartisan membership organization dedicated to making life better for people 50 and over. We provide information and resources; engage in legislative, regulatory and legal advocacy; assist members in serving their communities; and offer a wide range of unique benefits, special products and services for our members.
CONTACT: Steve Gardner, AARP Pennsylvania Associate State Director for Communications, 717-237-6481
AARP Pennsylvania
CONTACT: Steve Gardner, AARP Pennsylvania Associate State Director forCommunications, +1-717-237-6481
Web site: http://www.aarp.org/
Source: PRNewswire
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