Home care aides.

Existing law, the Home Care Services Consumer Protection Act, provides for the licensure and regulation of home care organizations by the State Department of Social Services and for the registration of home care aides. Existing law authorizes a registered home care aide to provide certain home care services and assistance to a client, including assisting with medication that the client self-administers. This bill would authorize a registered home care aide to read the client's blood pressure and body temperature, as specified. The bill would specify that authorized home care services include taking a reading of the client's digital blood pressure, body temperature, or oxygen level from a device provided by the client and reporting the reading to the client's nurse, doctor, or family representative and assisting the client with emptying their colostomy bag, catheter bag, or urostomy bag. The bill would clarify that a home care aide may assist with medication that the client self-administers by opening the container, filling the medication pill box organizer, ensuring that the client is aware of the written medication instructions, and assisting the client in the application of topical medication, as specified.