A personal care assistant may be appropriate for a child with medical concerns who does not require home care nursing but requires support with activities and healthcare needs throughout the day. A personal care assistant assists clients with daily tasks at home and in the community.
What Can PCAs Do (and Can’t Do)?
Pediatric patients who require a personal care assistant may be subject to different rules. A patient will only be eligible for these services if the activity is one that a parent would no longer assist their child with (such as dressing or using the bathroom). Any issues you have can be clarified and answered by a county social service employee.
PCA services are divided into four categories:
Daily Living Activities (ADLs)
A personal care assistant assists patients with a variety of tasks such as dressing, grooming, eating, bathing, shifting locations, mobility, and toileting.
Procedures and Tasks Concerning Health
Working on range of motion to maintain or improve a patient’s strength and muscle functioning is an example of a health-related operation or chore.
Observation and Behavior Redirection
A PCA service could entail keeping an eye on a patient who exhibits certain behaviors and has to be redirected in order to stay safe.
Instrumental Activities in Everyday Life (IADLs)
IADLs are normally not included in PCA services for children because these activities are not typically performed by children. Shopping for food or clothing, cooking, laundry, and financial management are some of the most typical IADLs.
What PCA Services Don’t Do:
- Use restraints or put restraint procedures in place.
- Housekeeping or chore services
- Housekeeping services
- Serve solely as a childcare or babysitting service by injecting fluid and medications into veins, muscles, or skin
- Staffing possibilities in a residential or childcare setting
- Medical operations in a sterile environment
A licensed healthcare professional (such as an RN) may delegate health-related procedures and tasks to a personal care assistant if the following conditions are met:
- The procedures and tasks fit the definition of health-related procedures and tasks.
- The personal care assistant is trained and supervised by a certified nurse, and he or she exhibits competency to safely conduct the procedures and tasks.