Our healthcare facility has a relationship with a homemaker/companion service. Often family members will hire companions from this service to sit with relatives during the day.

I see employees of the companion service providing nursing care. Grooming, dresssing. bathing, transfer, etc. Today I asked a few where they went to CNA school. None that I asked.are CNA's. They said they are sitters or companions paid hourly. It all happens out of sight of anyone in charge.

Management and the DoN must know this happens and approve. Or they somehow chart that magic fairies are feeding stroke patients or lifting them onto bedside commodes 'cause no one on staff is charting they have done it. It just seems like some rules are being bent somewhere.

Do I say something or report this to someone? Or does this go on all the time at facilities and I should just consider the patients are lucky to have the one-to-one help. So many things happen that we were taught aren't supposed to happen...

What is the job description for the homemaker/companion? I can't imagine that it wouldn't include personal care such as what you've mentioned.

Florida state law says that a homemaker or a companion cannot provide any hands-on personal care to a client. Personal care means assistance with the activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, eating, or personal hygiene, and assistance in physical transfer, ambulation, and in administering medication.

Similarly, since homemakers and companions do not provide any hands-on personal care they are not required to have TB tests, HIV screening, Hepatitis B vaccinations, nor CPR training.

Florida state law also says licensed personnel must report to the BoN with knowledge of care being provided by unlicensed personnel.

Well, if you report the behavior to anyone you know you will be stirring the pot and will cause a target to be painted on your back, no matter what the attitude is when you bring it up. Your choice is to report it and accept the consequences, to include possibly leaving your job, or to let it go and just get your check every payday. As with most things of this nature, it will most likely you who will receive all the grief and nothing will be done about it. Your choice in the matter. Maybe you should look for another job before you say anything.

Can you provide a link to that statute? I work in home health care and every homemaker service I've seen provides those services. I can't imagine that they are all operating illegally.