{"ref":"CA-HC-SVC-03","title":"Assistance with Medication the Client Self-Administers","category":"Clinical tasks","summary":"Sets the limits of medication help by home care aides under Cal. Health & Safety Code §1796.12(n): aides may assist only with medication the client self-administers and never with medication that needs administration or oversight by a licensed health care professional. Covers deciding whether a client self-administers, what aides may and may not do, recording, refusals and errors, storage, and changes.","inShort":["Help with medicine only if the client takes it themselves and the service plan says so.","You may remind, bring the bottle, open it, read the label and steady the client's hand. Never give the medicine or put it in the client's mouth.","Never fill pill boxes, crush pills, or give drops, inhalers, patches, creams or injections.","Write down every reminder and whether the client took or refused the medicine.","Call the office the same day about refusals, missed doses or side effects. For a wrong dose, call 911 if the client is in danger, otherwise Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222."],"primaryCitation":"Cal. Health & Safety Code §1796.12(n)","citations":["Cal. Health & Safety Code §1796.12(n)","Cal. Health & Safety Code §1796.44(c)(2), (4)"],"federalCitations":[],"surveyorAsks":["What do your aides do when a client takes medication during a visit?","How do you decide whether a client is able to self-administer?"],"forms":[{"ref":"CA-HC-SVC-03-A","title":"Medication Assistance Record"}],"headings":["Terms of Reference","1. Purpose","2. Scope","3. Definitions","4. Policy Statement (Cal. Health & Safety Code §1796.12(n))","5. Deciding Whether a Client Self-Administers","6. What Aides May Do","7. What Aides May Not Do","8. Recording Medication Assistance","9. Refusals, Missed Doses and Possible Errors","10. Storage and Safety","11. When the Client Cannot Self-Administer","12. Responsibilities","13. Records and Compliance Monitoring","14. Staff Training","15. References","16. Related Policies and Forms","17. Approval","18. Revision History"],"version":"1.0","sample":false,"pack":"ca-hca","state":"California","service":"Home care","guides":[{"path":"/guides/home-care-agency-policies/","h1":"What policies does a home care agency need?"}],"agency":{"name":"Sample Agency","legalName":"Sample Agency, LLC","logo":null}}