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The
Pas program is an alternative to home care agencies. You hire your own aide and
the state pays them. Here’s what I’ve experienced with the program, maybe it’ll
help you…………
Your local Center for Independent Living (CIL) facilitates (sets up)
the program. I got the run-a-round at first because neither Social Services nor
CIL knew which set up the program. You have to find a facilitator of the
program to screen you for the Pas. When you are screened the facilitator
determines how many hours you’ll need. There’re two types of hours, ADL for your
necessary needs (bathing, dressing, eating) and IADL for non-necessary needs
(laundry, going to grocery store, using phone, food preparation) The crazy
thing is, they only access you on the first type of hours; the ADLs, which
leaves no time for outside activities! (How can you eat your meals, if there’s
no time to prepare them!)
The two types of Pas programs are merging 2/1/05. The
Elderly and the Consumer Directed Pas will become the ED/CD waiver Pas. Home
care agencies are starting to become facilitators too, which means they still
might not allow the aides to drive. CIL(Center for Independent Living) will as
long as I have van insurance documents. I can have backup aides under the new
Pas because the agencies will be in the loop now. But each group (a) agency (b)
my aide, is allotted certain hours per week. If I mix and match I cannot go
over their allotted hours. Timesheets have a strict schedule that needs to be
followed for the aides to be paid on time. They are mailed into DMAS(Department
of Medical Services) in Richmond and the paychecks are sent to the aide’s home.
Or DMAS has direct deposit, so the aide may get paid faster if they choose
that. Timesheets have a two-week cycle, and need to reach Richmond by Friday.
All timesheets should be copied before they’re mailed to show the facilitator
during home visits. (Not sure why DMAS won’t accept faxed copies, until the
originals arrive. I’ve seen agencies do it. UPDATE 1/07: timesheets can now be
faxed.)
Aide Requirements: (subject to change)
1. The aides will have to do own taxes. (This is better
explained in the Pas manual) This
doesn’t make since to me…if this is run by the state why can’t they handle it?
Maybe because they don’t do federal taxes? But still this would be easier if
somebody made this taxes thing simpler. UPDATE 1/07: Virginia DMAS has a
company (Public Partnership LLC) that cuts the aides paychecks and handles
their taxes.
2. Paid $8.60hr. (May vary by state)
3. TB shot, flu shot, CPR training AND a criminal
background check. (DMAS can reimburse the aide up to $20 for these)
4. Copy of Social Security card and drivers license.
More
Links:
Supreme Court Olmstead Decision of 1999 affirmed the right
of individuals with disabilities to live in their community.
More information off the DMAS site about PAS/Waiver Services
- Rates, regulations, applications, facts regarding the program.
Exercising
Their Independence – Virginian Pilot Article - People in nursing homes
strike out on their own using the ED/CD Waiver.
Beyond
Planned New Facility… - Virginian Pilot Article – Talks about the $458
million proposal to improve services such as the Pas.
(ADAPT)
American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today Website - Focuses on
promoting services in the community instead of warehousing people with
disabilities in institutions and nursing homes.
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The Virginia Association of Personal Care Assistants
(VAPCA) gives caregivers a voice to improve working conditions, reduce
turnover, and build a stable workforce that ensures people with disabilities
and seniors get the care they need to live at home as long as they choose. As PCAs, we work hard to provide the personal care and
assistance that the people we care for need to live independently. To join visit their Website: PCA’s face many challenges: a. Virginia ranks 45th in wages nationally for personal
care assistants. b. PCAs don't receive any health care insurance, sick
days, or vacation time. c. Recently, many PCA's paychecks were delayed for
weeks or months, even as they continued to do their jobs. d. That's why PCAs in Virginia are uniting our
resources and efforts for the strength in numbers needed to make real
improvements. |
My thoughts: How can I get the care and the help to live a
fulfilling life if the state does not provide for my caregivers? It is worthwhile for the state to provide benefits. My
quality of care would rise, and aides would stay long-term. Maybe the state could cut the cost of nursing home care
if in home caregivers got what they deserved. Maybe I’d be more motivated to go to college and employers
would be more inclined to hire me if my aides were more stable. Better provided
for aides means more stable aides. |