What CAHSAH Certified means
The California Association for Health Services at Home ("CAHSAH"),is a statewide home care association whose focus is on home care services for all of California. CAHSAH, founded in 1966, has long been serving the home care industry and the public. CAHSAH's mission is to promote quality home care services and enhance the overall effectiveness of its members.
Home Care Aide Organizations, such as Love 2 Live Care Services. are companies that provide a wide variety of support services to those in need of assistance either with home management and/or non-medical personal care. Some of these services may include homemaking, meal planning and preparation, live-in attendants, supervision and assistance with feeding, dressing, bathing and toileting, respite/companion, childcare or pet care, running errands or transportation services.
The State of California does not currently provide any type of licensing or regulation over the home care industry. There are no certification standards that a Home Care Aide must meet in order to work in home care settings. CAHSAH has stepped in to fill this void by implementing an industry wide certification program for the benefit of all older adults and their families. All home care organizations are encouraged to participate in this new certification program. We at Love 2 Live Care Services also have a Certified Companion Aide class to provide expert training to our caregivers.
The CAHSAH Certification Program is a voluntary program open to all CAHSAH members and non-members. Home Care Aide Organizations that wish to apply to become CAHSAH certified must submit proof that the applicant company does all of the following:
Have General and Professional Liability Insurance coverage
Have Workers' Compensation Insurance coverage
Have Crime / Employee Dishonesty Bond coverage
Perform Pre-employment Background Clearance on all Home Care Aides
Perform Pre-employment Tuberculosis Screening of all Home Care Aides
Provide signed Service Agreement including a specification of fees before service begins
Once these standards have been met and verified, the CAHSAH Home Care Aide Organization certificate is issued to the applicant company indicating that the company has met CAHSAH's certification standards. The certification is valid for one year and must be renewed annually.
Benefits of the Certification Program
The establishment of CAHSAH's certification standards will help to protect the organizations themselves as well as the older individuals that they serve. The program intention is to help standardize the industry as a whole by providing consumer and worker protections for the benefit of all involved.
Whenever anyone is brought into your home, it is important that the individual be thoroughly and properly screened. Unfortunately, these days it is not enough to simply 'trust' in the home care aide or manager. A higher standard must be met in order to provide security and peace of mind. That is why it is so important when screening any organizations to make sure that they meet CAHSAH's certification standards before you entrust them with the care of your loved one. Love 2 Live Care Services also requires that our caregivers complete the CCA program within 90 days of employment and we perform a personality assessment test which helps us conduct behavior-based interviews to really understand how a prospective caregiver thinks, communicates, makes decisions, and solves problems.
By implementing and advocating certification, CAHSAH hopes to promote and ensure quality standards, guide ethical conduct and promote best practices for home care providers.
