Personal Assistant

Here are resources used to educate consumers about MN’s Consumer Directed Community Supports, Personal Care Assistance, and Road to Independence programs. The first handbook gives guidance on the processes and protections of consumer direction and also provides sample care plans and assessments. The handbook on personal care assistance is available in English, Somali and Vietnamese and reviews eligibility, management, and use of services. The last guide assists in moving out of an institution.

This evaluation assesses the impact of the "Home Health Aide (HHA) Partnering Collaborative" -- a quality improvement initiative implemented at the Visiting Nurse Service of New York -- in three main areas: patient outcomes, patient service use and aide job perceptions and retention.

This paper was used as a handout at a workshop, held as a catalyst for DALTCP's major new initiative to study ways to expand consumer choice and empowerment in obtaining personal assistance services.

A final rule that would allow more Medicaid beneficiaries to be in charge of their own personal assistance services, including personal care services, instead of having those services directed by an agency, was published in the Oct 3, 2008 Federal Register. The rule, effective Nov. 3, 2008, guides states that wish to allow beneficiaries who need help with activities of daily living to hire, direct, train or fire their own personal care, workers including qualified family members.

The Center for Workers with Disabilities prepared this report for the Virginia MIG advisory committee. It contains an analysis of the ways states provide personal assistance services (PAS) through a personal care Medicaid State Plan Option (SPO) to persons in Buy-In programs. It looks at specific legislation, State Plans and amendments, administrative rules, and implementation manuals. It ends with recommendations from an analysis conducted for Iowa on whether to implement this option there.

Through the Work Ability program, Utah provides employment support such as personal assistance services and the Medicaid Work Incentive health insurance benefit. The attached brochures outline these specific services, and the website provides more detail on all available benefits. Also posted here is a brochure that highlights the advantages for employers of hiring workers with disabilities and points them towards resources that can help them do so.

South Dakota’s Freedom to Work (FTW) project provides supports to job seekers with disabilities. Here are examples of tools used to publicize the project. The FTW brochure summarizes all associated services, while the Personal Assistance Services brochure and poster and the Work Incentives Planning and Assistance brochure provide more detailed information for those particular services. The website has relevant links and quarterly newsletters about FTW.

SCAccess provides this one-stop website for finding aging and disability resources, applying for benefits, and learning about rights. One section contains a directory for finding and tips for hiring the right personal care worker. Another helps individuals connect with information specialists at each Area Agency on Aging. Consumers can also download commonly used documents and applications. Finally, the site is integrated with agency case management tools.

This consumer guide from MetLife is one in a series of guides called "Since You Care" done in cooperation with the National Alliance for Caregiving. It provides information for family caregivers about locating potential home care aides, screening applications, conducting interviews, running background checks and administering payroll, including social security and other taxes. It also provides helpful resources, including books, publications, websites and a sample contract.

A study was conducted on consumer-directed personal assistance services (PAS) cooperatives, with an emphasis on workplace PAS. This report presents case studies of seven cooperatives, describes advantages of consumer-run cooperatives, identifies funding issues and sources, and presents considerations for those contemplating starting. It contains a review of the literature which reveals only a few examples of successful consumer-directed PAS cooperatives in the US, however, they show promise.