It's estimated that there are twice as many uncertified aides as certified aides in home care's underground economy. Most of the families who hire them are not being negligent. Many simply cannot afford to pay for a certified aide. In choosing these aides, many families are stretching their dollars to get more hours of care. But they may not realize they are giving up important safeguards.
Home care can be unpleasant, tedious, and frustrating.
The work is hard, and the pay is low. Certification is no guarantee of safety, either, as The Record's series outlined last Sunday. Only recently certified home health aides are checked for criminal backgrounds, not the majority who were already certified when a new law took effect last year. But efforts are now under way in the Legislature to require that all certified home health aides, not just new hires, have the background checks. Certified aides are subject to at least some state regulation.