Criminal background checks and local licenses are now required for hired caregivers that help elderly and disabled Palm Beach County residents with everything from medication to grocery shopping.

Supporters say the goal of mandating county-issued photo IDs and fingerprinting for in-home workers is to try to stop theft, neglect, financial fraud and other crimes against some of the county's most vulnerable residents.

"A lot of them are isolated from their families. ... They become easy targets," said Detective Erin Giannotti, of the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, which pushed for the new rules that the County Commission approved Tuesday.

Nurses and other medical caregivers working in homes already have to undergo criminal background checks to meet state regulations.