If you’re a home healthcare worker, you likely spend your days helping others live safely and comfortably in their homes. However, this line of work also comes with risks. Lifting patients, dealing with medical equipment, and moving in confined spaces can lead to injuries. The good news is that home healthcare workers in Florida can claim workers’ compensation if they get hurt on the job.
Understanding workers’ comp for home healthcare workers
Employees who get injured during their work can receive medical benefits and wage replacement through workers’ compensation. In Florida, most employees, including home healthcare workers, qualify for coverage. If you get injured while working, workers’ comp helps cover medical expenses, rehabilitation, and sometimes lost wages.
Types of injuries covered by workers’ comp
Workers’ compensation covers a variety of injuries that occur while performing job-related tasks. For home healthcare workers, some common injuries that may qualify include:
- Back injuries from lifting or assisting patients
- Slips and falls while navigating homes or patient rooms
- Repetitive strain injuries from performing the same physical tasks regularly
- Injuries from medical equipment like wheelchairs or oxygen tanks
- Physical or mental stress from dealing with patients’ emotional needs
If you experience any of these injuries while working in a patient’s home, you can file a workers’ comp claim.
How workers’ comp benefits help home healthcare workers
If your claim is approved, the benefits can ease the financial burden during recovery. Workers’ comp covers medical costs, including doctor visits, surgery, therapy, and medications related to the injury. In some cases, workers’ comp provides temporary disability benefits if you cannot work while recovering. For long-term injuries, permanent disability benefits might be available.
However, workers’ compensation typically doesn’t cover pain and suffering. It helps with medical costs and lost wages, but it does not provide compensation for emotional distress.
Home healthcare workers play a vital role in their patients’ lives, but their own health and safety should also remain a priority. Understanding how workers’ comp works and how to file a claim ensures that you’re protected if an injury happens on the job.