That nice person sent by the in-home care agency to assist your elderly relative with day-to-day living could have been convicted of embezzlement, theft or drug charges. But no one bothered to check.
They do not have to.
There are fewer restrictions on people opening a carwash or salon than for those overseeing people who care for the aged or infirm.
Background screenings for caregivers are often minimal, even for those workers sent by a county agency funded with taxpayer dollars. Some private agencies require extensive background checks using a national database. Some check California criminal records. Some, like the county’s In-Home Supportive Services Public Authority, only look at local criminal history. And others do not screen at all.
