This policy applies to and governs the professional conduct, discretion, confidentiality, and privacy obligations of all personnel at Cheer Home Care, Inc. (referred to as “Cheer”).

At Cheer, our Caregivers are held to the highest standard of professional service, which inherently includes safeguarding the privacy and personal lives of our Clients.

While Cheer Home Care, Inc. is a non-medical company and, therefore, Caregivers are not legally bound by the strict statutory frameworks of federal HIPAA regulations, we strongly encourage and expect all Caregivers to follow HIPAA guidelines as a best-practice benchmark for privacy because they often are aware of medical information to provide care safely. Ultimately, you are strictly bound to a standard of absolute discretion, professionalism, and respect for Client privacy.

Client & Employee Confidentiality

Caregiver acknowledges that, in the course of providing services, they will have access to confidential medical, financial, family, and personal information of Cheer’s Clients and Employees (“Confidential Information”). This includes but is not limited to names, address, date of birth, Client conditions, care schedules, medication lists, daily logs, care notes, photos of Clients or Client property, and more. Caregiver shall keep all such information confidential and shall not, directly or indirectly, disclose it to any unauthorized person or entity.

Caregiver Conduct & Discretion

– Client Confidentiality: Client names, addresses, and other personal information must never be shared with anyone outside of the Client’s current Cheer care team. This strict confidentiality requirement means you may not discuss Client details with your spouse, family members, friends, or former Caregivers.

– Inquiries from Unapproved Family Members: Caregivers are strictly prohibited from sharing Client information with any Client’s family member who is not on the company’s approved contact list. If an unapproved family member requests information, politely direct them to contact the Cheer office. Family members do not have an automatic legal right to a Client’s private data without the client’s documented consent.

– The Discretion Standard: Protect Client privacy by only accessing or reviewing files necessary for your current shift. Do not discuss Client details with anyone outside of the specific Cheer team members directly involved in the case.

– Verbal Privacy: Keep sensitive topics like a Client’s health, family dynamics, or living conditions limited to private areas where visitors, neighbors, or unapproved family members won’t accidently overhear you.

– Authorized Communications: Keep care updates, daily routines, and medication details secure by sharing them only with individuals explicitly noted as authorized contacts on the Client’s file. Always verify a contact’s authorized status before releasing any Client information.

– Social Media & Photos: Taking photos or videos of Clients, Client property, or their records on personal devices is strictly prohibited. Posting anything about a Client on social media, even anonymously or without using their name, is a severe breach of professional discretion and will result in immediate termination.

Digital & Device Security

– Device Locks: If you use a smartphone or tablet for work applications (e.g., AxisCare), your device must be secured with a six-digit PIN, password, or biometrics.

– Secure Communication: Only use the company’s secure portal, (e.g., AxisCare) to transmit sensitive Client details, daily logs, or care changes or call your supervisor directly. Personal communication tools, including but not limited to standard SMS or WhatsApp are strictly prohibited.

Paperwork & Document Disposal

– Keep Out of Sight: Keep paper care logs, schedules, and binder notes hidden from plain sight while in the Client’s home (e.g., stored in a designated drawer, not left on a kitchen counter).

– Secure Disposal: Never throw Client paperwork into standard household trash or recycling. Return all physical paperwork to the office for secure disposal.

Client Privacy, Discretion & Return of Property

– Return of Property: Upon termination of employment for any reason, the Caregiver shall immediately return to Cheer all company property, devices, digital access credentials, and all physical or digital records containing Client information.

– Post-Employment Client Privacy & Discretion: Cheer’s Clients, including high-profile individuals and public figures, rely on Caregivers for absolute discretion. Caregiver agrees that the identities, locations, schedules, health status, and personal details of all Cheer Clients constitute highly sensitive, proprietary Trade Secrets and confidential information. To protect our Clients, this duty of absolute confidentiality survives your employment indefinitely. You are strictly prohibited from ever disclosing, publishing, or sharing any Client details or identities after your time with Cheer ends.

– Protected Employee Rights: Nothing in this agreement restricts the Caregiver’s right to use their general professional skills, nor does it prohibit them from discussing or disclosing information regarding workplace conditions, wages, or potentially unlawful acts in the workplace. In compliance with applicable laws, nothing here prevents the Caregiver from reporting a suspected violation of the law to a government agency or sharing necessary details with an attorney for legal investigations.

Reporting & Consequences

– Immediate Notification: If you lose or misplace a work-related document, your phone, or suspect Client privacy has been compromised, you must report it to your supervisor immediately. Prompt reporting allows us to secure our systems and protect our Clients without delay.

– Penalties: Upholding Cheer’s standards of privacy and discretion is vital to the trust and quality of care we promise our Clients and families. Violations of this policy will result in disciplinary action, up to and including immediate termination.

Text Messaging (SMS)

Cheer Home Care may send text messages to clients, family members, caregivers and job applicants who have agreed to receive them. These may include visit reminders, schedule changes, follow-ups after a visit, caregiver shift updates, responses to job applications, and links to secure messages.

Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP at any time to opt out, or HELP for help. You can also call us at (858) 868-5500.

No mobile information will be shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes. Text messaging opt-in data and consent will not be shared with any third parties. We may share information with service providers who help us deliver text messages, only for that purpose.