Besides the license to care for the elderly, if you are considering acting in your care as a medical or non-medical care agency, for you to be successful you must have accreditation of CHAP (Community Health Accreditation).
In fact you will be providing care services and you will dedicate yourself to the health of the elderly.
What do I need to get a license to care for the elderly?
While to obtain the license to care for the elderly They may require different steps according to each city or state, usually in the case that you dedicate yourself to this sector as part of a venture and therefore decide to open an agency or business …
You must first obtain a business license and then obtain specific licenses for the activity.
1. The correction plan
For example, the first step for you to successfully obtain the license must comply with the correction plan, that is to say that you must educate yourself on the practices of this activity.
In this way you will educate yourself on the best practices in the care of the elderly and in addition to that you need to educate yourself in a school that ensures CHAP accreditation, because although it is not a requirement in many states, some such as Massachusetts and New Jersey do. You do not have your accreditation, you will not be able to participate in state programs, unless you obtain accreditation CHAP.
For this reason, when you find the school that allows you to choose whether you want classes taught in Spanish or English, you must enroll in state programs and it will be a way to receive help starting the licensing process.
2. Zoning permit
As a small business owner, you should think about the zoning laws in your area as they affect your business in a residential area.
If you violate the zoning law, you must pay a fine and even your business can be closed, as they are laws that refer to residential use, traffic laws and the possibility of parking in front of your building.
For this reason, you should contact your local government to see if the installation of an agency for the care of the elderly in that particular area violates any special zoning ordinance.
Requirements to obtain a license to care for the elderly
License characteristics: The requirements of the license to care for the elderly They are not standardized by the federal government and it is for this reason that they vary from state to state.
Well, the type of services you plan to offer will determine the need for business licenses and how difficult it is for you to meet the requirements of these licenses.
For example, an institution that administers medications must be administered by a licensed medical professional and then it will have stricter regulations and certain requirements of the same tenor for the license, while if you plan to only offer accompaniment and assistance services to the elderly, it will have fewer requirements. .
Security and health : You should even check with the department of social services to see if you meet all the safety and health requirements. Then this department will be in charge of regulating an inspection to the place to make sure that you comply with everything required.
Registry: You must register the business either as a sole proprietor, as a corporation, or as a limited liability company (LLC).
In general, the most common is that you register your business as a limited liability company to protect your personal assets. If you consult a lawyer specialized in commercial law, they can help you make this decision and explain the financial and accounting implications of each business structure.
EIN: Once you register, you must visit the official website of the Internal Revenue Service to obtain the employer identification number or EIN, as you will need this number to open a bank account in the name of the company and to submit the tax forms of business.
Insurance or insurance: The next step is for you to visit several insurance companies to compare what they offer you and the premium prices to purchase the appropriate insurance coverage for this type of company.
Well, this is another of the requirements established by the local licensing office, because if as an owner you do not meet the specific insurance needs that the state requires, you will not be able to obtain your license to operate.
In fact, a care agency generally needs professional liability insurance and fire and theft insurance.
Medicaid: You must contact a Medicare agency in the state where your business is located to process the application that will allow you to be a Medicare provider and even while you are inquiring about your insurance, also ask how you can be a network provider.
Certified workers: Since you will need to hire employees for the care of the elderly you will need to look for certified health workers such as registered nurses, licensed functional nurses and certified nursing assistants.
For this you can contact the employment agenciesor who are dedicated to the search for health personnel and request the search for certified workers with experience in the care of the elderly.
Even if only you will be caring for the elderly, you can search for volunteers in the publications of local newspapers and magazines.
First aid and resuscitation license: Like all types of business oriented to health care, you must obtain a first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation license.
To do this, you must attend the classes that are dictated on health and safety so that you obtain information before operating your business.
Property permit: In the event that you carry out the activity in an apartment or in a house, you must obtain the property permit, that is, the authorization of the home owner so that you can operate your business without problems.
The license to care for the elderly It is essential because it is the first requirement for every health care worker who at the same time will perform various tasks such as administering medications, helping the elderly in their purchases, accompanying the elderly to medical visits, helping them with household chores and other tasks for which the elderly caregiver must take classes and obtain certification.
In fact, in addition to having turned 18 years of age, it is necessary that the caregiver does not have a criminal history, pass a drug test, his health is good and also must be a resident or citizen of the United States.