Assemblymember Dodd Protects Seniors with Introduction of New Legislation

SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Bill Dodd (D-Napa) recently introduced new legislation to expand the Home Care Services Consumer Protection Act to safeguard seniors and disabled people by requiring background checks for in-home care aides. Currently, agencies that refer in-home care aides to seniors are not required to see if those aides have a criminal background.

"Many seniors rely on in-home care and they have the right to know that they can trust the people providing that care in their time of need," said Assemblymember Dodd. "We must continue to support our seniors and people with disabilities, and I am committed to ensuring that their needs are met."

A recent report by the Public Policy Institute of California projects that the senior population will nearly double in the next two decades. As many as 4 million seniors are projected to be living in California by 2030. That growing senior population is more likely to live alone, with many likely to require in-home assistance.

"Navigating the senior care system can be very overwhelming and leave many people vulnerable to deceptive practices," said Rochelle Sherlock with the Senior Coalition of Solano County. "It's incumbent upon us, as a society, to put protections in place for our most vulnerable citizens. I applaud the introduction of legislation that protects seniors."

Senior issues have long been a focus in Assemblymember Dodd's public service. As a Napa County Supervisor, he was instrumental in mandating in-home care providers to pass a criminal background check and register with the county, which was the first such law passed in California history. Last year Assemblymember Dodd passed legislation helping seniors more easily access critical services, and he set a framework for our state's first state-wide program to assist low income residents pay their water rate bills.  

"Senior citizens and the disabled deserve high quality care in their own homes from properly vetted caregivers. That was the goal when I first started working with Bill Dodd on this issue as a member of the Napa County Commission on Aging." said Betty Rhodes, an advocate for senior issues in Napa County.  "Nearly a decade later, I'm pleased to see Bill is continuing the fight to ensure quality care for the elderly and the handicapped."