Across Massachusetts, more families are choosing care at home for aging parents and loved ones with disabilities. Home care allows people to remain in familiar surroundings while receiving the support they need and is the preferred choice for the majority of people who are aging.
Yet Massachusetts still does not license non-medical home care agencies. Many are often shocked when we explain that opening a non-medical home care agency is easier than opening a pizza shop. This places the burden on already burned-out families to determine which agencies are reputable and which are not.
Families often assume protections exist because we are adjacent to CMS and often collaborate with nursing homes, VNAs and hospice agencies. The reality is we aren’t required to implement safeguards like caregiver background checks, training standards, and clear complaint processes.
As a non-medical home care agency owner in Lexington, we have worked with the Home Care Alliance of Massachusetts to advance a bill requiring common-sense safeguards, such as background checks, insurance and training.
The Massachusetts House has already passed legislation establishing licensure for these agencies. The bill now awaits action in the Senate.
If the Senate does not take it up before the session ends, the process starts over next year. As demand for care at home grows, now is the time to establish clear, consistent standards.
Ryan McEniff