Client Intake: Document how you assess new clients — needs, preferences, medical history, emergency contacts. Intake must occur before services begin.
Service Agreement: A written contract between client (or representative) and agency specifying services, schedule, fees, cancellation policy, and client rights.
Care Plan: An individualized plan for each client that describes the care to be provided, who will provide it, frequency, and how goals will be monitored.
These documents demonstrate your agency's operational readiness and compliance with CDSS expectations.
What the Law Says
- Who qualifies as a client (§ 1796.12(n)). The law says home care services are for people who "because of advanced age or physical or mental disability, cannot perform these services." Your intake form should document why the client needs help. This is not just good practice — it matches the legal definition.
- "Client" has a specific meaning (§ 1796.12(c)). A "client" is someone who receives home care services from a registered home care aide. Your service agreement should reflect this — the person signing is receiving care from an aide who is on the CDSS registry.
