The job of home care worker might not seem like a position with many dangers, but according to OSHA, the position comes with its own share of hazards. Rare diseases, super bugs, and personal injury are just some of the dangers to be faced while on the job.
What is home healthcare?
Home healthcare is care provided in the client’s home. Here, healthcare workers provide hands-on, long-term care and personal assistance to clients with disabilities or other chronic conditions.
They often — dependent on their training and job duties — help patients with their daily living activities, like meals, bathing, dressing, and housekeeping. They may also perform medical tasks like medication administration, wound care, blood pressure readings, and motion exercises to keep the patient’s body healthy.
Because of the close nature of their work, home health aides and nursing assistants often have home care liability insurance as well as home care workers compensation insurance.
Home health insurance generally covers two factors: the health and safety of the healthcare workers themselves (home health workers compensation insurance), and the liability that can come with any mistakes that could potentially levy a lawsuit against the business (home health care liability insurance).
But what are the hazards in home healthcare that could require workers compensation insurance?
Home healthcare workers may be employed by a home care agency, or they may be self-employed and work directly for their patients. They don’t have control over their work environment, which may present a number of safety and health hazards.
These could include bloodborne pathogens, biological hazards, latex sensitivity, hazards from lifting patients, patient violence, and other such physical threats.
In addition, if their daily work schedule requires them to provide care for multiple patients, they may face hazards on the road as they drive to and from locations.
Home care workers compensation insurance is designed to assist these workers in any illness or physical injury suffered while working on the job.
With an aging population, it becomes imperative that Americans have access to the care they need. That’s what home care workers are there for. By 2050 it is estimated that the number of people in the U.S. over the age of 65 will nearly double, from 47.8 million to 88 million.
As people age, they become more likely to harm themselves in a way that requires home care. In fact, one-third of the population over 65 falls each year. This means there’s a growing need for home health care workers.
These healthcare professionals need home care workers compensation insurance to protect themselves financially and physically. If you are a home health care worker, you should be protected. Call us today and we’ll be happy to answer your questions and discuss a plan to work for you.
