Background Checks for Home Healthcare

In Louisiana, a home healthcare background check (especially for caregivers, home health aides, and other direct-care staff) is a state-required criminal history screening that employers must run before hiring anyone who provides care to patients in their homes or through an agency. It’s designed to protect patients — including seniors — by making sure caregivers don’t have disqualifying criminal records and are safe to work in private homes. Louisiana Department of Health+1 What Louisiana Law Requires 1. Statewide Criminal Background Check• Employers must obtain a statewide criminal background check through the Louisiana State Police or an authorized agency on all direct-care staff (licensed or not) who will work with patients. Louisiana Department of Health 2. Timing of the Check• The check must be done no more than 90 days before employment starts. Results older than that generally don’t meet the requirement. AmeriHealth 3. What the Check Includes• A verification of criminal history using personal identifiers (like name, date of birth, SSN)• A search of the national sex offender public registry• It may also involve checking other relevant databases as required by state law or regulatory policies. Legal Information Institute 4. Temporary Employment Rules• If staff start working before background results come back, they must be directly supervised by permanent staff or by someone acceptable to the patient’s family until the results are received. Legal Information Institute 5. Employer Responsibilities• Home health agencies licensed by Louisiana must maintain personnel records showing background check results in each employee's file.• Agencies must follow state regulations about screening, hiring, and documenting compliance. AmeriHealth Why This Matters These background checks help ensure caregivers do not have criminal histories that could put patients at risk, especially for abuse, neglect, or exploitation. They are part of Louisiana’s health and safety regulations for home health services. Louisiana Department of Health