The Basics

Personal Care Assistants (PCAs) support people with disabilities to live more independent lives. A Personal Care Assistant works directly with the person with a disability.

The role of a PCA is to help you be able to do your daily life activities. Your assistant may help you with getting dressed, going from one place to another, preparing meals, bathing, or other activities. PCAs can also help you in the workplace to do different types of tasks. They can help with personal care, like in the restroom or at lunch breaks, or with job-related tasks, like help with reading, interpreting, lifting or reaching work materials, or with travel between work sites.

These services, whether they are at home, in the community, or at work, are called Personal Assistance Services (PAS) or Personal Support Services. You can pay for these services yourself or, if you qualify, Medicaid may pay for them through a Medicaid waiver program. Note: For children, regular Medicaid may pay for PAS even without a waiver program.

If you need extra services because of your disability so you can live safely in the community instead of an institution, you may qualify for a Medicaid waiver program. For example, if Medicaid determines that you can live in your own home, but only if somebody helps you with getting up and bathing in the morning, Medicaid may pay for your personal assistant through a waiver program.

This article will explain PAS in more detail and will also tell you how you may be able to get publicly funded PAS. It will also explore important issues, such as using PAS in the workplace, hiring your Personal Care Assistant, and making sure that you have a good relationship with your PCA.