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Homemaker companion agency training proposal draws praise and concern over costs and scope
Summary
Multiple agency owners and trade groups told the Aging Committee that SB 13 44’s goal of standardized training for homemaker companion agencies is appropriate, but they warned the bill’s mandated hours, CPR/first‑aid rules, portability and insurance implications could impose unfunded burdens and urged coordination among DCP, DPH and providers.
Homemaker companion agencies and industry groups told the Aging Committee that standardized training for nonmedical caregivers is appropriate but raised operational concerns about SB 13 44.
Tom Gilday of Bright Star Care and Marlene Ciccarella of B & M Homemaking, along with representatives of the Home Care Association of America (Connecticut chapter) and the Connecticut Association for Health Care at Home, said their agencies already provide orientation and some training but that the bill’s proposed requirements — for example, 10 hours of training at hire plus an additional 10 hours annually — could raise costs significantly if agencies must pay caregivers for training time and track certifications. Providers warned the requirement could push unaffiliated registries and private‑hire caregivers to remain outside regulated frameworks if agencies face unsupportable costs.
Multiple witnesses asked the committee to ensure training portability (so a caregiver can carry a recognized training record from one employer to another), to avoid conflict with existing DCP regulations, and to limit medically focused mandates. Tracy Wodach of the Connecticut Association for Health Care at Home said CPR and first aid are medically oriented and are not required of licensed home health agencies, and urged the committee to focus on nonmedical training topics (infection control, dementia awareness, communication, safety and mandatory reporting) more directly tied to homemaker companions’ scope of work.
Marlene Ciccarella and other owners suggested that agencies be allowed to submit curricula for approval to avoid a one‑size‑fits‑all approach and to recognize instructor‑led and online training options, including multilingual modules through platforms such as Relias. Advocates asked that training standards apply equally across agency models (private‑pay, Medicaid‑contracted, registries) to prevent regulatory arbitrage and to protect consumers who hire caregivers directly.
Why it matters: Homemaker companion services are a large, diverse and often underregulated part of the home‑based support system. Standardized training could improve safety and quality, but agencies said the state must fund or phase any new mandates to avoid cost increases passed to vulnerable consumers.
Key speakers: Tom Gilday (Bright Star Care), Marlene Ciccarella (B & M Homemaking; HCAOA Connecticut chair), Tracy Wodach (Connecticut Association for Health Care at Home). The sector urged collaborative rulemaking between the Department of Consumer Protection (current registrar) and Department of Public Health (proposed host of standards).
Next steps: Providers said they would work with the committee and agencies (DCP/DPH) to define appropriate, portable curricula and to model the fiscal impact of the training mandate.
