Washington Home Care Association

The Washington Home Care Association was formed in 2005 to advance the field of Home Care in Washington State and support member home care agencies. WAHCA is the state chapter of the Home Care Association of America (HCAOA)

FINIDING
IN HOME CARE

About the Washington Home Care Association (WAHCA) and Home Care For Your Family

WAHCA members are Washington State Licensed home care or home health agencies that provide caregivers (home care aides) who perform companion care, personal care, and homemaker services. Although the majority of WAHCA agency clients are older adults, WAHCA agencies also care for those who need in-home help due to issues concerning illness or disability. WAHCA member agencies may also provide private nursing care or nurse delegation services. In addition to such tasks as errands, shopping and transportation, housekeeping and meal preparation, caregivers from WAHCA member agencies usually assist with ambulation, transfers, medication management, toileting, bathing, grooming, and dressing. Most agencies also provide specialized Alzheimer’s/dementia care, and can assist with end-of-life comfort care if the client is working with a Medicare certified hospice agency.

Check with individual agencies to find out the specific services they offer.

Most WAHCA member agencies do not provide “skilled” medical care, and are not Medicare certified. The most common methods for covering the cost of home care is through long-term care insurance, or out of pocket.

Members of Washington Home Care Association are licensed by the Washington State Department of Health, employ trained and supervised caregivers, and assume all responsibility for payroll and all related taxes.

We are your In-Home Care Resource

WAHCA is the state chapter of the Home Care Association of America (HCAOA). WAHCA was formed in 2005 to advance the field of Home Care in Washington State. We support member home care agencies in Washington state to be in compliance with the Department of Health, lobbying efforts on behalf of businesses, caregivers, and the people we care for. With the goal to provide excellent In-Home Care to seniors and those in need across the state of Washington. 

WAHCA is also wonderful community resource to help you on your journey find the right In-Home Care for you, a loved one, or someone you support as a professional.  Let us support you by answering your question and providing resources. Licensed In-Home Care companies prevent you from becoming an accidental employer and taking the worry out of the process!

I NEED TO FIND HOME CARE FOR AN AGING FAMILY MEMBER.

What are the differences between a WACHA member licensed home care or home health agency and a caregiver from an employment agency, online registry, or another source such as Criagslist?

Home care choices can be difficult (and expensive) and we realize there are several options available to you. To help you, ask yourself some questions:

  1. Do I have the time and am I qualified to screen, interview, perform reference and background checks on a caregiver to work with a family member?
  2. Should a scheduling conflict occur, do I have qualified and reliable backup caregivers in place?
  3. Am I comfortable with a caregiver who is not certified, supervised, bonded and insured?
  4. Am I able to provide all the caregiver direction and supervision my family needs 24/7?
  5. Do I have the knowledge, resources, and time to handle payroll and required taxes for the caregiver?

If your answer to these or most of these questions is no, find a WAHCA member in your area.

Home Care can be contracted by the client and does not require a physician approval. The Home Care agency will assess the client and develop a customized care plan that meets the specific needs of the client and their family that may include, but not be limited to the following elements:

  • Personal Care
  • Transportation
  • Medication Assistance
  • Meal Preparation
  • Light Housekeeping
  • Pet Walking and Care
  • Assistance with Exercise Programs
  • Transferring and Positioning
  • Companionship
  • Nurse Delegated Care
  • Respite Care
  • Toileting and Incontinence care

In addition, WAHCA member agencies:

  • Screen potential caregivers and perform reference and background checks
  • Only use caregivers who are employed by the agency directly – no independent contractors
  • Must employ only caregivers who are certified, or have certification pending as Home Care Aides or Certified Nursing Assistants, and have at least 12 hours of continuing education per year
  • Work with each family to match each client with an appropriate caregiver
  • Develop an individualized Plan of Care with input and approval from the client and family
  • Have 24/7 on-call availability
  • Monitor and supervise services and make regular visits to the home
  • Carry liability insurance to protect families and Labor and Industries insurance to protect caregivers
  • Have Standards of Ethics guidelines they have agreed to

For more information, please see our Frequently Asked Questions page specific to looking for in-home care.

Frequently Asked Questions