Home Health Carer's Legal Options Summary

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A Brief Guide to a Home Health Carer's Legal Options The home healthcare worker field is a dynamic one and in high demands. Adults with older parents are sometimes unable to care for their loved ones and need some extra help. Having a home healthcare worker takes some of the pressures off and reassures these adults that their loved ones will not hurt themselves or feel lonely throughout the day. It is estimated that approximately 2.5 million people work full time as home healthcare workers, and this is only expected to grow. Experts predict the field will increase by roughly 70 percent by 2020. Though it is a good profession, the home healthcare workforce does face several major challenges, and it is important that home healthcare workers …show more content…

This was extremely distressing as these workers often provided 24-hour care seven days per week. The act had what was known as the "companionship exemption," which meant that home healthcare workers were not guaranteed minimum wage or any overtime pay. Lawmakers had very broad interpretations of this law, and it allowed them to ignore the rights of home healthcare workers entirely. Now the law has changed, and home healthcare workers must receive an hourly wage as well as overtime. Right to a Safe Environment Whether you're working in a factory or in someone else's home, you have the right to work in an environment that is safe to be in for long periods of time. All employers are required by law to provide working conditions that have no known dangers. In a home environment, there are a few things that your employer should be taking care of. While you are caring for their elderly or disabled loved one, you are not under any obligation to take care of home repairs and routine maintenance (unless this is part of your contract). Your employer should be in charge of: • Ensuring the home is in good condition, meaning no leaks in the roof or cracks in the

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