If you’re a Louisiana Medicaid beneficiary, chances are you know just how critical it is to employ the right personal care attendant (PCA). This hiring decision could be the difference between having relative independence and struggling through every day. But how do you select a professional that you can put your full trust in? That’s what we’ll help out with in this article. Read on for our top PCA hiring tips.
What’s a Personal Care Attendant?
Before moving forward in this process, we urge you to learn all you can about PCAs and what they do. In a nutshell, a PCA is someone who assists with tasks of daily living, like:
- Grooming
- Dressing
- Bathing
- Cooking
- Housekeeping (typically light)
- Transportation
- And more
Note: Perhaps you’ve noticed that no clinical/medical care tasks were listed – that’s important. PCAs aren’t clinical care professionals, like doctors or nurses are.
How to Gain Access to Personal Care Services as an LA Medicaid Recipient
Louisiana Medicaid only provides access to personal care services if you’re enrolled in one of the waiver programs, according to this LA Medicaid resource. The Long-Term Personal Care Services (LT-PCS) Program handles personal care services for anyone who qualifies for LA Medicaid and meets several requirements, as outlined in this LT-PCS fact sheet. These services are also available for individuals eligible for the Community Choices Waiver, the New Opportunities Waiver, and other OCDD and OAAS waivers in Louisiana.
Finding a Medicaid Personal Care Attendant in Louisiana
Now, where do you find Medicaid personal care attendants to hire? If you’re already enrolled in an appropriate program, it’s time to use your LA Medicaid resources, starting with your support coordinator (SC). They can recommend specific personal care service professionals and agencies to choose from. Use your SC to filter candidates and find an individual who seems like the best fit for you.
Screening Candidates Effectively
If you’ve chosen self-directed care, you can hire your own attendants yourself. This means you’ll be responsible for:
- Doing the initial research yourself – finding agencies and individuals in your area.
- Conducting background checks to see if candidates have passed their mandatory screenings.
- Evaluating each person’s level of experience based on your specific needs.
- Checking references.
- Gauging whether the individual has the soft skills necessary to deliver trustworthy, compassionate care.
Making the Hiring Decision
A Medicaid personal care attendant might meet all the technical requirements, but if communication feels strained or you’re uncomfortable, it may not be a good match. Ultimately, we recommend trusting your instincts during the hiring process.
So, there you have it – the basics of finding and hiring a personal care attendant. If you have questions or need additional guidance, don’t hesitate to contact a Medicaid support coordinator. They’d be more than happy to help. We hope you found all the information you were looking for, and we wish you the best as you navigate the PCA hiring process.
