While a whole industry of certified home health care professionals is ready to provide quality care for seniors on Medicaid, you may still hesitate to bring a stranger into your home. It can be an especially difficult decision when the person who needs assistance is a beloved family member. You may worry about how they will be treated if you are not around to supervise the interactions. If you are a New Yorker on Medicaid, then you have some good news: rather than hire a stranger from an agency and hope for the best, you can choose, hire, and direct your own personal assistant through New York’s CDPAP (Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program). Home Care Advisory Group, which guides clients through the home care process, says that CDPAP is an empowering option that is relieving the stress and worry of many family members who know that their loved one needs extra help but are unable to provide it themselves.
What New Yorkers need to know about CDAP
What is the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program?
Simply put, CDPAP helps people who are on Medicaid and need long-term home care. Anyone who is eligible, or who they designate as their representative, can hire, train, and supervise the personal assistant of their choosing.
What are the eligibility requirements for CDPAP?
The program’s guidelines stipulate that any person who qualifies for CDPAP will:
- Be on Medicaid
- Have a stable health condition
- Need help with daily tasks or skilled care
- Be able to make decisions for themselves and/or have a representative who can follow the program’s rules
Are there any geographical limitations for CDPAP’s home care services?
As long as the participant is on Medicaid, they can access CDPAP anywhere in the state of New York.
Can family members be a personal assistant in CDPAP even if they are not licensed?
Most family members qualify to be a caregiver, though there are some notable exceptions:
- Spouses cannot provide care for each other.
- If a child is under 21, their parents cannot be their personal assistant.
Regarding certifications or specialized training, so long as the person is legally able to work in the state of New York, they do not require any.
What can a CDPAP personal assistant do, and are they paid?
A directed caregiver can perform both basic and specialized services, including wound care, insulin shots, and other tasks. And, yes, the person will be paid for their work. Exactly how much varies from person to person, depending on how many hours they will be working each day or week.
The potential pros and cons of enrolling in CDPAP
At Home Care Advisory Group, we believe that the path to choosing the right caregiver should be easy, and that begins with accurate information. Before you make the right choice for yourself, we recommend taking some time to consider the possible advantages and disadvantages of CDPAP.
Pros:
- No strangers in the person’s home. That alone can be a big relief for many people.
- No specialized training required. While this could make some individuals hesitate, remember that many tasks become routine within a few days or weeks of performing them.
- More privacy. The person may feel more comfortable allowing a family member or loved one to take care of them vs. a stranger.
Cons:
- When a caregiver cannot come, the consumer or their representative will need to find their replacement.
- Any background checks will need to be handled by the consumer or their representative.
How to decide if CDPAP is right for your situation
We hope the above has given you a good foundation in the details of CDPAP, including its pros and cons. From here, our Home Care Advisory Group specialists suggest asking yourself and the potential caregiver some key questions. With the answers, you will be in a better position to decide which person might be the best choice for a CDPAP personal assistant.
- For the consumer:
- How often do I need someone to come to my home?
- What do I need help doing? At what time of the day or night?
- Will I be more comfortable with a man or woman in my home?
- How will I locate a temporary caregiver if the other person is sick, must travel, etc.?
- Do I have good communication with the person I am considering as my caregiver?
- For the caregiver:
- How often does the person travel?
- Do they have access to reliable transportation?
- How far away do they live?
The answers to those questions will give you a more realistic view of the potential caregiver and help you to choose the right one.
Other practical, effective options in addition to CDPAP
The Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program is not for everyone. Sometimes, the person who needs help might not live close enough to possible CDPAP caregivers. In that situation, feel free to reach out to Home Care For Adults, which has built a trusted reputation for professional non-medical home care services, including:
- Live-in care
- Personal hygiene
- Dementia care
- Companion care at home
- Personal care
- Respite care
- Mobility assistance
- Senior care advocacy
Home Care For Adults will always prioritize stepping into the daily challenges that individuals face and helping them to surmount them with dignity, respect, and compassion. The company’s professionals will also help you understand the maze of options that you have so that you can choose the most beneficial home care alternative for your loved one.
The next steps to take to enroll in CDPAP
At Home Care Advisory Group, we know that navigating the regulations found in senior care can feel difficult, especially when you are grappling with your own emotions and personal responsibilities. Please put all the burden on us. We will answer your questions about CDPAP and other options, take care of the forms, and get you started on the path to enrollment. In the meantime, check out our program page, where we explain our services more in-depth. We promise that connecting your loved one with the right caregiver is not only possible – it will happen.
About Home Care Advisory Group
Home Care Advisory Group streamlines the home care process, ensuring patients will never have to leave their homes or visit the doctor to complete the requirements. Throughout every step, its certified Senior Care Specialists make everything smooth and easy. Whether gathering necessary documentation, completing applications, or troubleshooting issues, team members minimize delays and ensure a hassle-free experience. Home Care Advisory Group’s suite of services include CDPAP, Medicaid applications, the exploration of home care options for patients with Medicare or Medicaid, the management of long-term care insurance claims, assistance with Veterans’ benefits, and more.
For more information about Home Care Advisory Group and CDPAP, please visit https://homecareadvisory.org/cdpap-program/.