Is this illegal?

As long as you maintain the boundary between your job and your home, I see nothing unethical or illegal in this situation. Do not ever mention where you live or give out your personal phone number and you should be fine. If the patient or someone in the household tries to use you as free labor or advice because you're a neighbor, simply refer them back to the agency.

I currently take care of a woman in her home, around the same time I got the job I also applied for my own apartment. Only to later realize that lady the home health agency assigned me a woman who lives in the same apartment complex I applied for. I wanted to know if this is ethical and legal. I have a second fill time job and the in home care work was just extra cash, I was wondering if I should quit my in home care job because I really want to keep the apartment or if it's ok and I should keep taking care of the lady and stay in my apartment.

As long as you're talking care of her in her apartment and not yours I don't see why it'd be an issue. You're just neighbors. I'm sure people get assigned to take care of people in their own neighborhoods quite often. 😀

I cannot see any legal or ethical complications with you living in the same complex as your patient, as long as you maintain her privacy as you would any patient.

I think the patient should be the one who decides if they are comfortable with one of their neighbours being their homecare nurse.

I think the patient should be the one who decides if they are comfortable with one of their neighbours being their homecare nurse.

Well, I don't think our patients get a say on where we live. If it comes up in the normal course of living, I suppose the patient could ask for someone different.

Not long ago I picking up some agency work in a small, small town at a Critical Access Hospital. While shopping at the only grocery in town I spotted one of the young ER Techs (Paramedic) and a sweet elderly lady going over to him. It looked like she just wanted to say hi to him and thank him for the care she received in the ER recently. The ER Tech rudely told her he could not speak to her because of HIPAA and walked off leaving this lady rather bewildered. Unfortunately the town is so small and chances are you were going to see most of the residents at some time in the hospital if you work there long enough.

The point is, don't over think this. Be pleasant if you meet and keep it light without discussing anything personal. I have spent a lot of time stuck in traffic getting to work, having a short commute sounds perfect.

I would add that you should never, never let on to any of the other neighbors that she is one of your clients. And if a neighbor figures it out and asks about her, explain HIPAA and gently refuse to provide any information.

There's nothing illegal nor unethical about your living close to a patient. I live in a very small town, and if we get referrals up this way, I usually take the patient. What happens is that I've probably been the home care nurse at some time or other to half the seniors in our area! There's no problem with acknowledging them in public; just don't discuss their medical information in front of anyone. If someone asks me how so-and-so is doing (and they often know I'm the nurse caring for that person, because they tell each other), I usually say, "Well, I can't talk about that, but why don't you give them a call?"

I would add that you should never, never let on to any of the other neighbors that she is one of your clients. And if a neighbor figures it out and asks about her, explain HIPAA and gently refuse to provide any information.

I was going to say, while it probably isn't illegal, it certainly presents some challenges.

HIPPA becomes tricky to follow as you pointed out.

My experience in homehealth is limited, but I've known people who lived in the same neighborhood and they said it was not fun.

Sometimes the pt begins to think that since you live so close, they can call you for 'help' or 'favors' when you are not scheduled to be with them. You must nip this in the bud, and doing so tactfully isn't easy.

You also have to be careful to maintain a therapeutic relation. They might become overly friendly and want you to chat about details of your home life with them. I'd suggest avoiding this.

And.......well, if you call off sick.......don't let them run into you dressed and ready for a night on the town