Oregon expands help with hiring in-home caregivers

The Oregon Home Care Commission unveiled a new service Tuesday that connects people needing in-home care with caregivers.

The Homecare Choice Program provides consumers with access to the OHCC’s online Registry of homecare and personal support workers who have been background checked and trained.

This state-run registry is the first of its kind in the nation because it serves all populations, not just people who have state-funded plans, officials said.

Previously, the OHCC’s Registry primarily served Oregonians receiving in-home care through Medicaid and Oregon Project Independence.

As the 65+ population continues to grow, more seniors and people with disabilities will require in-home care. The Oregon Office of Economic Analysis estimates the number of residents age 65 and over will reach nearly 796,000 by 2020.

The Homecare Choice Program is available to people of all ages and ability levels who need support to stay at home. The Registry can be accessed 24 hours, seven days per week and the hiring process includes doing self-assessment, choosing the services needed, and selecting and interviewing a pre-qualified caregiver.

From there, consumers sign a written service plan, set their schedules and supervise the caregivers in their homes.

Services available through the program include assistance with personal care, household tasks, companionship, meal preparation, pet care, running errands and medication.

“We are thrilled about expanding our existing homecare Registry for everyone to use,” says Cheryl Miller, Executive Director of the OHCC. “The Homecare Choice Program simplifies the process of finding and hiring a safe, qualified caregiver. It also helps people handle the legal requirements, such as payroll and taxes, which lifts a burden of responsibility off of them.”

The Homecare Choice Program was created by the Oregon Legislature in 2014 (SB 1542) to meet the growing demand of those needing in-home care by allowing private pay consumers to purchase homecare services from the OHCC through its Registry. The Homecare Choice Program is managed by the OHCC, which is a semi-independent state agency responsible for ensuring the high quality of homecare services for seniors and people with disabilities that are funded by the Department of Human Services. The OHCC has managed a successful, functioning Registry of homecare and personal support workers in all 36 counties across Oregon since 2008 that serves people receiving in-home care through Medicaid-funded plans and Oregon Project Independence.

For more information about the program, visitwww.HomecareChoiceOregon.com,emailhomecare.choice@state.or.usor call 1-844-494-4227.