Appendix 208-A Authorized and Prohibited Activities

Georgia State Seal

Georgia Division of Aging Services
Home and Community-Based Services Manual

Chapter:

200

Effective Date:

03/01/2023

Section Title:

Authorized and Prohibited Activities

Reviewed or Updated in:

2023-01

Section Number:

Appendix 208-A

Previous Update:

2015

Personal Care Services

Personal care service activities are planned and provided with input from the client, based on the assessment of the client’s needs, degree of functional impairment, current support system, and remaining capacity for self-care and self-sufficiency. Service activities must align with the domains of impairment and essential components indicated by the DON-R. Service activities include assistance related to the care of the client’s physical health.

Allowable activities include:

  • Dressing and undressing

  • Bathing

  • Shaving

  • Dental care and oral hygiene

  • Grooming

  • Toileting

  • Self-administration of medication

  • Transferring

  • Mobility in and around the home

  • Eating

Prohibited activities include:

  • Pet grooming/care

  • Home repair

  • Moving heavy objects of furnishings

  • Physical, speech, or occupational therapies

  • Medical nutrition therapies

  • Medical social services

  • Home health aide services provided by a home health agency

  • Skilled nursing services

  • Meal preparation

  • Housekeeping tasks

  • Household maintenance activities

  • Personal finances and mail

  • Shopping

  • Performing personal care or other tasks for other members of the household

  • Providing friendly visiting only

  • Performing tasks not assigned by the supervisor/case manager and reflected in the care plan

Homemaker Services

Service activities are planned and provided with input from the client, based on the assessment of the client’s needs, degree of functional impairment, current support system, and remaining capacity for self-care and self-sufficiency. Service activities must align with the domains of impairment and essential components indicated by the DON-R.

Allowable activities include:

  1. Housekeeping and home management activities:

    1. Cleaning, vacuuming, sweeping, mopping, dusting

    2. Laundry

    3. Ironing and mending clothes and linens

    4. Washing, drying, and storing dishes

    5. Bagging and placing garbage in collection containers

    6. Making beds and changing linens (only while client is out of bed)

    7. Shopping for household essentials

    8. Assisting in organizing household routines

    9. Performing necessary reading and writing tasks, if requested and indicated by client’s inability to read

    10. Performing essential errands

  2. Meal preparation: a.older person’s needs and are consistent with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (see references)

    1. Preparing and serving meals

    2. Using sanitary practices for handling, preparing, and storing food

  3. Escort assistance:

    1. Accompanying a client on trips to obtain healthcare services and other necessary items and services

  4. Client education:

    1. Instructing clients in ways to become self-sufficient in performing household tasks, when appropriate and beneficial

Prohibited activities include:

  • Administering medications, either over-the-counter or prescribed or reminding clients to take medications

  • Providing household services not essential to the client’s needs

  • Providing only friendly visiting

  • Providing therapeutic/health related activities that are appropriately performed by a licensed healthcare professional

  • Home repair

  • Yard maintenance

  • Moving heavy objects such as furniture

  • Performing services for other members of the household

  • Transporting the client in the worker’s or client’s personal vehicle, unless the provider agency has proof through written verification that the employee has adequate and current liability insurance coverage

  • Performing tasks not in the care plan or assigned by a supervisor

Chore Services

Chore service activities are planned with input from the client whenever possible, or a representative, based upon an assessment of his/her needs and the degree of physical and/or cognitive impairment of the care receiver. Service activities are one-time, seasonal, or occasional in nature and include, but are not limited to:

  • cleaning appliances, including cleaning ovens and defrosting and cleaning refrigerators

  • replacing fuses, light bulbs; repairing electric plugs, frayed cords

  • cleaning and securing carpets and rugs; cleaning and waxing wood or tile floors

  • washing walls and windows

  • installing window shades, blinds, and curtain rods, hanging draperies

  • installing screens and installing and removing storm doors and windows

  • moving or rearranging furniture to provide safe entry, mobility, and egress

  • turning mattresses

  • cleaning closets and drawers

  • cleaning attics, basements, porches and outbuildings to remove fire and health hazards

  • cleaning of exterior surfaces, such as removing mildew from siding or decking

  • pest control, interior and exterior

  • grass cutting and leaf raking

  • clearing walkways of ice, snow and leaves

  • clearing interior and exterior debris following natural disasters

  • trimming overhanging tree branches

  • changing interior and exterior light bulbs

  • changing batteries in smoke, carbon monoxide detectors.

Service activities performed by chore service workers do not include any of the routine housekeeping and home management tasks performed by homemaker service agencies or hands-on personal care tasks performed by licensed providers of in-home services. Chore services also do not include activities that are more appropriately provided through a residential repair or home modification program.