Remote Caregiving Overview
Remote caregiving enables qualified caregivers to provide personal care services to Development Disabilities Administration and Home and Community Services clients through secure video technology, all without entering the client’s home.
Remote caregiving is designed for tasks that do not require hands-on assistance and offers a flexible, person-centered way to support clients.
DSHS-contracted home care agencies in Washington may offer remote caregiving services to clients through qualified caregivers employed by the agency.
Individual providers are not currently allowed to provide remote caregiving services to clients.
Why Remote Caregiving is Important
Remote caregiving expands client access to care in a cost-effective, scalable way while prioritizing client choice and independence. It also reduces strain on in-person services, prepares for anticipated client population growth, enhances workforce efficiency and opportunity, and strengthens the continuum of care without proportionally increasing staffing or infrastructure costs.
Remote Caregiving Eligibility and Remote Caregiving Tasks
People who receive personal care services through Washington’s long‑term care programs may be able to use remote caregiving. Personal care tasks that can be performed remotely are those that include reminding, oversight, monitoring, encouragement, or cueing. Tasks that require hands-on personal care are not available for remote caregiving.
Learn more about who can receive remote caregiving services and which tasks clients may be able to receive remotely:
Home Care Agency Requirements
Any DSHS-contracted home care agency in Washington may offer remote caregiving. Participating home care agencies will work in partnership with Area Agencies on Aging across the state to deliver these services.
Each home care agency will be responsible for determining their ability to provide remote caregiving to clients and for coordinating with case managers to set-up and deliver remote caregiving services.
Remote caregiving may be offered as a stand-alone service for clients who do not require hands-on assistance, or as part of a hybrid model that combines in-person and remote care to best meet client needs.
Home care agencies should also reference their most recent statement of work (contract) for details on meeting program requirement standards before offering remote caregiving to clients.
Additional detailed recommendations for providing remote caregiving services, setting up technology, talking to clients about remote care services, and more can be found in the Remote Caregiving Toolkit.
Remote Caregiving Technology
Remote caregiving uses secure video, allowing the caregiver and client to see each other and talk face‑to‑face during the visit.
While the specific technology platforms and scheduling practices may vary by home care agency, all participating agencies are required to use both audio and video technology to conduct scheduled remote caregiving visits.
Remote caregiving services are not AI and will not be recorded. Home care agencies are encouraged to provide all equipment and software technology needed to perform remote caregiving services.
More details can be found in the Remote Caregiving Toolkit.
Resources for Home Care Agencies
- Remote Caregiving Client Flyer
- Remote Caregiving Toolkit for Home Care Agencies
- Webpages
- Remote Caregiving Management Bulletin
- CY26 Standardized Home Care Agency Statement of Work & Monitoring Tool
- Information for AAA & AAA Contractors
Contact
For additional questions, DSHS-contracted home care agencies should reach out to their AAA Contracts Manager(s). Additional questions may be directed to RemoteCaregiving@dshs.wa.gov