California home care licensing, explained for families
California regulates non-medical home care through the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), within its Community Care Licensing Division.
The law
According to CDSS, the Home Care Services Consumer Protection Act requires Home Care Organizations to be licensed, as of January 2016, and created a public online registry of Home Care Aides who have been background checked. CDSS describes the law as intended to protect elderly and disabled people who hire aides to help with daily activities at home.
Who does what
| Part of the system | Role |
|---|---|
| Home Care Services Branch (HCSB), CDSS | Licenses Home Care Organizations, processes applications, responds to complaints and makes unannounced visits |
| Home Care Organization | The licensed agency that employs or places aides |
| Home Care Aide Registry | The public registry of aides who completed the application and background check |
| Community Care Licensing complaint hotline | Where to report concerns about a licensee, staff or caregiver |
What this means for families
- Ask the agency for its Home Care Organization license and check it with CDSS.
- Ask for the aide's registry information and look it up.
- Keep the CDSS complaint process in mind if something goes wrong.
Home care is not home health
These rules cover non-medical help with daily living. Skilled nursing or therapy at home, ordered by a doctor, is home health care and is regulated separately. Ask any provider which one they offer.
Sources and further reading
About this site We are a marketing agency, not a care provider. Get in touch or call (510) 857-7838.