Washington Administrative Code › Title 246 - Health, Department of › TRAUMA/EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES › Chapter 246-980 - Home care aide rules › GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR HOME CARE AIDE CERTIFICATION › Section 246-980-150 - Standards of practice

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1) A long-term
				  care worker must demonstrate behavior which maintains and respects client or
				  resident rights and safety. This includes, but is not limited to, the
				  following:
(a) A long-term care worker may
				  not solicit, accept or borrow money, material or property from a client or
				  resident. This subsection does not apply to a long-term care worker who is in
				  an established personal relationship with the client, preexisting the provision
				  of services, where there is no evidence of exploiting the client.
(b) A long-term care worker may not accept
				  from a client or resident gifts of value greater than twice the current hourly
				  minimum wage in Washington state. Gifts are limited to customary gift-giving
				  times, such as birthdays or major holidays. This subsection does not apply to a
				  long-term care worker who is in an established personal relationship with the
				  client, preexisting the provision of services, where there is no evidence of
				  exploiting the client.
(c) A
				  long-term care worker may not accept, borrow, or take alcohol or drugs
				  (prescription or nonprescription), including marijuana, from a client or
				  resident.
(d) A long-term care
				  worker may not ingest, inject, inhale, or consume in any manner any substance,
				  including prescribed medicine, that impairs their ability to perform their job
				  duties during the time in which they are paid to provide care.
(e) A long-term care worker may not solicit
				  or accept a role that gives them power over a client's or resident's finances,
				  legal matters, property, or health care decisions. This includes, but is not
				  limited to, acting as power of attorney, legal guardian, payee, insurance
				  beneficiary, or executor or beneficiary of a will. This subsection does not
				  apply to a long-term care worker who is in an established personal relationship
				  with the client, preexisting the provision of services, where there is no
				  evidence of exploiting the client.
(f) A long-term care worker may not be the
				  landlord for a client or resident they provide care to. This does not apply to
				  adult family homes licensed by the department of social and health services so
				  long as the adult family home license is active and in good standing. This
				  section does not apply to a long-term care worker who is in an established
				  personal relationship with the client, preexisting the provision of services,
				  where there is no evidence of exploiting the client.
(g) A long-term care worker shall respect a
				  client's or resident's privacy and shall not take or disseminate photos or
				  videos of a client or resident that do not respect the client's or resident's
				  dignity and rights. This includes, but is not limited to, social media. A
				  long-term care worker must obtain the written permission of the client or
				  resident, or their legal guardian, prior to taking or disseminating any photo
				  or video of the client or resident, unless the long-term care worker is in an
				  established personal relationship with the client, preexisting the provision of
				  services, where there is no evidence of exploiting the client.