Florida Home Health Aide Competency Practice Test

What should a home health aide do when accused of stealing money by a patient?

1. Ask the other aides if they took the money

2. Ask the patient why they are being accused

3. Offer to give the patient five dollars

4. Notify the agency

The correct answer is: Notify the agency

When a home health aide is accused of stealing money by a patient, the best course of action is to notify the agency. This response is crucial because it ensures that the appropriate steps are taken to address the accusation properly and professionally. By reporting the incident to the agency, the aide can rely on organizational protocols to investigate the claim and protect both their own reputation and the patient's interests. Notifying the agency allows trained supervisors or management personnel to handle the situation according to established procedures. This can include conducting interviews, gathering evidence, or involving law enforcement if necessary. Additionally, this action helps maintain a professional boundary, as personal attempts to resolve the accusation could escalate the situation or lead to misunderstandings. In contrast, asking other aides about the situation could lead to a blame game, while confronting the patient directly might exacerbate tension and potentially harm the patient-caregiver relationship. Offering money to the patient is inappropriate and could be interpreted as an admission of guilt, undermining the aide's position.