Being a family in-home caregiver: Medicaid can help you!

Without a doubt, the year 2020 has handed some big challenges to people from all walks of life. Perhaps you’ve seen changes to your employment status, your child’s school routine, or restrictions on your ability to move about town freely. Whatever has happened to you personally, you’ve no doubt been affected on some level.

If you’ve got an elderly parent or loved one for whom long-term care is essential, it’s important to be aware of the many Medicaid program options. Consider Publicly- Funded Participant Directed Long Term Services and Supports, also referred to as PD-LTSS. These programs are an elegant solution for certain Medicaid patients in need of personalized care. “Participant directed” means exactly that: your parent or loved one has the authority to direct their own care. This includes what services are rendered, and even who the caregiver is.

Hiring A Paid Family Caregiver: Solutions Amid Uncertainty

As of May 2020, the US unemployment rate hovered at about 24 percent. Unfortunately, at this time it’s difficult to say when there will be improvement in those figures. You or someone you know may even be among those affected by the massive loss of jobs. If that’s the case, perhaps a fresh start in a new field is something to consider.

The caregiving market has been growing steadily, by more than 10 percent each year, for several years now. The whole industry is rife with opportunity, even in the midst of one of the biggest market meltdowns ever. There will certainly never be a time when aging people stop requiring care. So perhaps now is the time to team up with someone who requires care, and turn this into a win/win for everyone.

What Does A Medicaid-funded PD-LTSS Look And Feel Like?

PD-LTSS programs help people of all ages, with varying needs, to maintain their independence. The patient determines what mix of services and supports will work best for them, so each plan is perfectly tailored to suit the individual. Patients are given control over the personal care services they receive, including who provides the services. They are given the authority to recruit, hire, train, and supervise the people who furnish the services they require. Additionally, they may even have decision-making authority over how the allotted Medicaid funds are spent. 

This empowering “person-centered approach” means that the individual requiring the care is front and center throughout the entire planning process. A person-centered plan reflects what is most important to the person for whom the care is provided. Their abilities, strengths, and required supports are all reflected in their plan. This puts the focus on a person’s whole life, not just on a menu of available services. Participant direction works on the understanding that the individual receiving the services is in the best position to identify their own needs and to manage their required services.

When A Plan Comes Together

Could this be a solution for you? This is a terrific way to help a loved one and to be helped at the same time. Providing care from home is an option for getting through these uncertain times and staying connected with those you love too. What’s more, once you’ve gone through the training to become a caregiver, those skills can be used to build a whole new career. You may be getting your start with a parent or loved one, but the sky’s the limit as time goes on. The caregiving industry shows no sign of slowing down in terms of growth, so it could be a springboard to a whole different purpose. 

As towns begin to reopen and the economy churns back to life, certain jobs won’t be coming back. The way that we used to live, simply does not exist anymore. We are entering a time when a strong sense of purpose is necessary for us to persevere. For many people, work is not just about a paycheck anymore. It’s about making a difference in people’s lives, and becoming a trained caregiver is a great way to accomplish that.  

Sounds interesting to you? Get in touch with us to learn more about PD-LTSS programs and how you can become an in-home caregiver.