Licensed Home Health Care Agency
Home Health Care Agencies are required to be licensed by the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH).
Home Health Care Agencies can be a public or private organization, or a subdivision thereof, engaged in providing professional nursing services and the following services: home health aide services, physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy or medical social services. The agency shall provide professional nursing services and at least one additional service directly and all others directly or through contract.
An agency shall be available to enroll new patients and be available to all existing patients seven days a week, twenty-four hours per day, in the patient's home or a substantially equivalent environment. If the agency only seeks to provide assistance with activities of daily living (i.e. home health aide services) to "chronic and stable" private pay clients, then it does not need to be a Licensed Home Health Care Agency.
Licensed Home Health Aide Agency
"Home Health Aide Agency" means a public or private organization, except a home health care agency, which provides in the patient's home or a substantially equivalent environment supportive services which may include, but are not limited to, assistance with personal hygiene, dressing, feeding and incidental household tasks essential to achieving adequate household and family management. Such supportive services shall be provided under the supervision of a registered nurse and, if such nurse determines appropriate, shall be provided by a social worker, physical therapist, speech therapist or occupational therapist. Such supervision may be provided directly or through contract. If the agency only seeks to provide assistance with activities of daily living (i.e. home health aide services) to "chronic and stable" private pay clients, then it does not need to be a Licensed Home Health Aide Agency. However, if the agency also provides an additional home care service (e.g., registered nursing), then they are required to be a Licensed Home Health Care Agency.
Registered Homemaker-Companion Agency
Effective October 1, 2006, an agency that provides homemaker or companion services must register with the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP); sections 52 - 62 of the statute. These agencies are licensed through the Department of Labor (DOL) as an Employer.
If the agency provides assistance with activities of daily living (specifically home health aide services) to "chronic and stable" private pay clients, then it does not need to be a Registered Homemaker-Companion Agency, rather they would need to be licensed as a Home Health Aide Agency. However, if the agency also provides an additional home care service (e.g., registered nursing), then they are required to be a Licensed Home Health Care Agency.
Hospice Services Agency
In order to provide hospice services in the state of Connecticut, the agency must first be licensed as a "Home Health Care Agency" (please see above).
Assisted Living Services Agency
"Assisted Living Services Agency," means an institution that provides, among other things, nursing services and assistance with activities of daily living to a population that is chronic and stable; Licensed Home Health Care Agencies (please see above) are permitted to manage the care of residents of licensed communities known as assisted living facilities.
Private Duty Home Care
Private Duty Home Care Agencies service exclusively private-pay clientele.
If the agency only seeks to provide assistance with activities of daily living (i.e. home health aide services) to "chronic and stable" private pay clients, then it does not need to be a Licensed Home Health Care Agency, a Licensed Home Health Aide Agency, or a Registered Homemaker-Companion Agency. However, if the agency also provides an additional home care service (e.g., registered nursing) or wants to serve a population other than only private pay clients, then they are required to be a Licensed Home Health Care Agency, Licensed Homemaker-Home Health Aide Agency or a Registered Homemaker-Companion Agency (please see above).
