30th Legislative District

30th District Weekly Column

May1

May 1st 2009

5/1/2009 8:38:00 PM by 30th District

30TH DISTRICT BY

SENATOR ROBERT W. SINGER

ASSEMBLYMAN JOSEPH R. MALONE

ASSEMBLYMAN RONALD S. DANCER

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WEEKLY COLUMN

May 1, 2009

We would like to share consumer tips on certified homemaker home health aides--C.H.H.H.A., as provided by the Office of the Attorney General, New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs.

Personal or assistant services are provided by certified homemaker-home health aides (C.H.H.H.A.s). A New Jersey Registered Professional Nurse must supervise the C.H.H.H.A. and your program of care. The C.H.H.H.A. assists the nurse by providing personal care services such as bathing, dressing, meal preparation and feeding.

Generally, housekeeping services such as shopping, cooking, and laundering for the family are provided by a housekeeper, companion or a domestic service rather than a C.H.H.H.A..

Before purchasing services, talk with your nurse, doctor, or hospital discharge planner to be sure you understand exactly what type of services you require.

Being informed about services before a health care crisis arises will save you time and money, reduce stress, and allow for a better quality of decision making and care.

All home care agencies must be licensed by the State. Be sure to ask whether the home care agency you’ve contacted is licensed. The law covering the licensure of these agencies is there to protect you.

Accredited agencies are professional groups that establish and monitor voluntary, industry-wide standards to ensure that patients receive quality home health care services.

Be sure to ask if the home health care agency protects its workers and patients with written policies, as well as insurance coverage. Take the time to ensure that you understand the specifics of your insurance policy and the home health care agency’s insurance coverage.

If you have a problem with a C.H.H.H.A., complain to the agency you are using so that any problems can be resolved. If the agency cannot resolve your complaint to your satisfaction, contact the Homemaker Home Health Aide Unit at 800-242-5846 (Consumer Affairs toll free number).

Contact the Board of Nursing to make sure the homemaker -home health aide with whom you are dealing is licensed or certified and in good standing. Call the License Verification Line at 973-273-8090.

Check the references if you are hiring a homemaker-health aide from a private professional care service.

How can I find a homemaker-home health aide to assist my family?

Certified homemaker-home health aides must be employed by a New Jersey-licensed home health care services agency. (http://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/ocp/agency.pdf). A certified homemaker-home health aide may not work privately.

More information can be obtained by accessing www.njconsumeraffairs.gov

If you access that site, you can go to the topic of “Homemaker-Home Health Aides” and read about what is required of aides in order to receive certification. Also, you can access “A Consumer’s Guide to Homemaker-Home Health Aides”, which is an informative booklet (published by the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, Division of Consumer Affairs, New Jersey Board of Nursing) that fully covers the profession from requirements to responsibilities and also discusses resources for questions and complaints. (You may call our office at 732-901-0702 and we can send you the booklet.)