Core Caregiver Duties in Pennsylvania

When you work as a home care aide, your daily tasks depend on the client’s specific needs. If you are wondering what a caregiver is, the role focuses on non-medical support that helps someone live safely at home.

When a client is approved for programs like the Community HealthChoices (CHC) waiver, a service coordinator creates a person-centered service plan. This plan tells you exactly which services the client needs and how often you should provide them. Pennsylvania groups home care services into specific categories.

Section 12006 of the 21st Century Cures Act requires states to use Electronic Visit Verification for Medicaid personal care services. You must log your start and end times accurately to ensure you get paid for your work and to verify that the client received their approved hours.

What Caregivers May Not Do

Home care agencies provide nonskilled services. This means you do not perform medical treatments. Your job is to support the client’s daily routine, not to act as a nurse or physical therapist.

According to Pennsylvania state regulations, home caregivers may not perform the following tasks:

• Administering medications. You may only assist with self-administered medications, such as opening a pill bottle or reminding the client to take their dose.
• Wound care or changing sterile dressings.
• Giving injections or managing IV lines.
• Performing nursing assessments.
• Providing physical, occupational, or speech therapy.

If a client needs these medical services, a doctor must prescribe Medicare home health care. Medicare home health is delivered by licensed nurses and therapists, not by non-medical home care aides.

Pennsylvania law also protects clients from conflicts of interest. No one affiliated with a home care agency may assume power of attorney or guardianship over a consumer of that agency. You must maintain professional boundaries at all times.

Ready to start working? Call New Century Home Care at 215-974-0000 or fill out our online form. Select “I am a caregiver” and then “I already have a client” to begin the hiring process.

Sample Home Caregiver Job Description

If you are applying for open positions, you will usually see a standard job description. Agencies look for reliable people who can handle both household chores and personal care tasks safely.

Job Summary

We are seeking a dedicated Direct Care Worker or Home Health Aide to provide in-home support for older adults and people with disabilities. You will help clients maintain their independence by assisting with daily living activities, household tasks, and companionship.

Responsibilities

• Assist clients with personal care, including bathing, shaving, toileting, and ambulation.
• Perform household tasks like meal preparation, light cleaning, and laundry.
• Provide companionship and socialization.
• Assist with self-administered medications.
• Recognize and report any changes in the client’s condition or behavior.
• Accompany the client into the community for grocery shopping or pharmacy visits.
• Use an EVV system to clock in and out of every shift.

Requirements and Hiring Process

Pennsylvania law sets rules for hiring home care workers. To meet state caregiver requirements, you must complete specific steps before you can work independently. The hiring process includes:

1. Interview: You must complete an interview, which can be done in person or via two-way video.
2. References: You must provide at least two satisfactory references from former employers or people not related to you.
3. Background Check: You must pass a criminal history report. This requires a Pennsylvania State Police record if you have lived in PA for the past two years. If you have not, you need an FBI background check and a letter of determination from the PA Department of Aging.
4. Residency Proof: You must show proof of residency using a driver’s license, state ID, utility bill, or lease.
5. TB Testing: You must complete a screening for active tuberculosis before having contact with clients. This screening must be dated within one year before starting and updated every 12 months.
6. Child Abuse Clearance: You only need a ChildLine verification if the agency assigns you to serve clients under the age of 18.

Agencies can hire you provisionally while waiting for your background check to clear. This provisional period lasts up to 30 days for two-year PA residents, or up to 90 days for newer residents. During this time, you cannot be assigned to a client until your competency is met, and the agency will monitor you through random direct observation and client feedback.

Schedule Types

Home care offers flexible hours that can fit your life. You can work part-time, full-time, or overnight shifts. Agencies also hire for live-in caregiver roles. In a live-in arrangement, you reside in the client’s home for a set number of days to provide ongoing daily support.

Skills That Matter for Direct Care Workers

You do not need a CNA license to work as a non-medical caregiver in Pennsylvania. However, you must prove you have the right skills. Agencies will test your knowledge before you take on a client. You can prove competency by holding a valid PA nurse’s license, completing a formal training program, or passing the agency’s competency exam.

If you want to learn how to become a caregiver, you should understand the core topics required by state law. General topics include maintaining client confidentiality, understanding consumer control and independent living, and dealing with difficult behaviors.

You must also know basic infection control and universal precautions to prevent the spread of illness. Handling emergencies and documenting your work accurately are required skills. Under the Older Adults Protective Services Act, home care employees must also know how to recognize and immediately report any signs of abuse or neglect to the local Area Agency on Aging.

For personal care specific tasks, your training and testing will cover the exact steps for safe bathing, shaving, grooming, and dressing. You will learn how to provide proper hair, skin, and mouth care. You must also demonstrate safe techniques for ambulation and transferring to ensure neither you nor the client gets hurt. Finally, you must know how to safely prepare meals, assist with feeding, manage toileting needs, and assist with self-administered medications.

Apply for Caregiver Jobs at New Century

New Century Home Care is actively hiring in the Philadelphia area. We offer several roles, and you can apply to be a Caregiver, Home Health Aide (HHA), Direct Care Worker, or Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA).

We value our team and offer excellent benefits. When you work with us, you receive weekly pay, direct deposit, paid sick days, and paid vacation or extra pay. We also provide holiday pay, a $350 signing bonus, a free health insurance plan option, free life insurance, and a 401(k) retirement plan.

Call 215-974-0000 to speak with our staff, or fill out our online form. Choose “I am a caregiver” and then select “I already have a client” to start your application today. You can also explore our caregiver guide for more information on working in the home care field.