POSITION TITLE: Personal Care Attendant (PCA)

QUALIFICATIONS:  

1. Satisfactory compliance with ComForCare bonding criteria.

2. Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate and interact with clients, families, coworkers, and all supervisors.

3. Ability to accurately follow and process written and verbal instructions.

4. Satisfactorily demonstrate and perform competency in clinical skills through competency checklist and skills demonstration test.

5. Minimum score of 80% on competency exam.

SUPERVISED BY:  All administrative employees

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:  

1. Eighteen years of age or older

2. Visual and hearing capacities functioning at a level sufficient enough to provide for the supervisory and physical care needs of clients.

3. Physically capable of performing the “Major Routine Duties” listed below with or without reasonable accommodations.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

The PCA provides specifically defined, non-skilled care services under the supervision of administrative employees to enable the client to remain in the home.  The Personal Care Attendant (PCA) is a non-licensed home care employee who provides attendant care, homemaker, and companion services in the home setting to clients and families who are unable to perform these activities independently according to the service plan.  The personal care attendant (PCA) conforms to all agency policies and procedures including providing care, compliance with the agency Bill of Rights, observing client/family confidentiality, and adhering to agency dress code.

MAJOR ROUTINE DUTIES:

1. Assistance in getting in and out of beds, wheelchairs, and motor vehicles

2. Assistance with routine bodily functions, including bathing and personal hygiene, using the toilet, dressing and grooming and feeding, including preparation and cleanup

3. The provision of medication assistance through providing reminders or cues to take medication, the opening of preset medication containers, and provide fluids to take medications with

4. Homemaker services include household tasks such as housekeeping, shopping, laundry, meal planning and preparation, and cleaning.

5. Companion services provide fellowship, care, and protection for a client, including transportation, letter writing, mail reading, and escort services that are provided to a client at the client's residence.

6. Meeting or exceeding the Company’s attendance policy and procedures for client assignments.

ALLOWABLE ACTIVITIES:

1. Provides assistance with personal care, which includes:

1. Bathing, partial bathing

2. Oral hygiene

3. Hair care including clipping of hair

4. Shaving

5. Hand and foot care

6. Intact skin care

7. Application of cosmetics

8. Dressing

2. Provides assistance with mobility, which includes:

1. Proper body mechanics

2. Transfers

3. Ambulation

4. Use of assistive devices

3. Provides assistance with elimination, which includes:

1. Assistance with bedpan, bedside commode, toilet

2. Incontinent or involuntary care

3. Emptying urine collection and colostomy bags

4. Provides assistance with nutrition, which includes:

1. Meal planning

2. Meal preparation

3. Clean-up

5. Provides assistance with safety, which includes:

1. Use of the principles of health and safety in relation to self and individual

2. Identification and elimination of safety hazards

3. Practicing health protection and cleanliness by appropriate techniques of hand washing

4. Waste disposal and household tasks

5. Reminding the participant to self-administer medications

6. Provides assistance with correspondence and bill paying

7. Transportation of individuals to nonmedical community activities

ACTIVITIES NOT ALLOWED

The following activities are not allowed and will not be reimbursed under Attendant Care services:

1. Services provided to people with unstable medical needs as a substitute for care provided by a registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, licensed physician or other health professional

2. Services provided for a participant regarding specialized feeding (such as difficulty swallowing, refuses to eat, or does not eat enough), unless permitted under law and not duplication of Indiana Medicaid State Plan services

3. Hoyer lift and weight bearing transfer assistance (Note: These services should be considered for Indiana Medicaid State Plan home health services or respite home health aide under the supervision of a registered nurse.)

4. Services provided to a participant requiring management of the following (which must be considered for respite nursing services unless permitted under law and not a duplication of Indiana Medicaid State Plan services):

1. Uncontrolled seizures

2. Infusion therapy

3. Venipuncture

4. Injection

5. Wound care for decubitus

6. Incision

7. Ostomy care

8. Tube feedings

5. Services provided as a substitute for care provided by a registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, licensed physician or other health professional

6. Setting up and administering medications

7. Assisting with catheter and ostomy care

8. Services provided to household members other than to the participant

9. Services provided when the owner of the agency is one of the following:

1. Parent of a minor child participant

2. Spouse of a participant

3. Attorney-in-fact (or POA) of a participant

4. HCR of a participant

5. Legal guardian of a participant

10. Services provided to participants receiving any of the following waiver services:

1. AdultFamily Care

2. Structured Family Caregiving

3. Assisted Living