Ensuring Safety in Home Care: Addressing Violence and Risk for Caregivers

In this episode, Michael Greenlee and Hannah Vale engage in a detailed discussion with Robert W. Markette, Jr., CHC, HCS-C, a speaker and expert on workplace safety in home care settings. The conversation centers on the alarming statistics regarding injuries among home care workers, particularly focusing on the prevalence of violence in their home care work environment.

Key Highlights:

• Statistics on Injuries: Bob references a study by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, which reported that from 2015 to 2020, 117,000 home care workers sought treatment for work-related injuries, with 93% being female. Notably, 15% of these injuries were attributed to violence from patients or animals.
• Risks in Home Care: Bob highlights the importance of situational awareness and preparation for staff entering potentially dangerous environments.
• Training and Awareness: Bob advocates for comprehensive training that includes situational awareness and de-escalation techniques rather than physical self-defense methods like tasers or pepper spray. He stresses that caregivers should focus on avoiding confrontations and recognizing red flags in patient behavior.
• Technological Solutions: The episode also explores the idea of using modern safety technologies, such as emergency alert systems that can connect workers to security teams or law enforcement. However, Bob cautions that these systems may not be effective in remote areas where response times could be delayed.
• Legal Considerations: The conversation touches on the legal implications of providing staff with self-defense tools. Bob advises agencies to consult legal experts before implementing such measures due to potential liability issues.

Overall, this episode serves as a critical reminder of the unique challenges faced by home care workers and underscores the need for effective training and safety protocols to protect them in their daily duties.

About our guest: For more than 20 years, Robert W. Markette, Jr., CHC, HCS-C has focused his practice on representing home health, hospice, private duty and DME providers in all aspects of their operations. With more than two decades of experience working with the these industries, Robert has developed a reputation for understanding the operational, compliance and legal/regulatory issues facing homecare providers.

Robert is recognized for his expertise in this space and is a frequent speaker on home health, hospice and private duty matters across the country. Robert has presented to the American Health Lawyers Association, the National Association for Home Health and Hospice Care, DecisionHealth as well as other national speaking events and numerous state trade association conferences and continuing education sessions.  Robert serves on the Board of the Association for Home Care Compliance.  Robert drafted the Homecare Administrator's Field Guide (currently in its 6^th edition) and the Home Health Patient Rights Policy and Procedure Manual

Robert graduated from Hanover College with a degree in Computer Science and received his law degree from Indiana University School of Law in Bloomington, Indiana. Robert is a member of the American Health Lawyers Association, the Health Care Compliance Association and the Indiana and Oklahoma State Bar Associations. Robert is certified in health care compliance by the Health Care Compliance Board. Robert is on the Board fo the Association for Homecare Coding and Compliance. Robert is admitted to practice in Indiana and Oklahoma.