All You Need To Know About CDS Agencies In Missouri

The Consumer Directive Services of Missouri is an approach to specialized attendant services that are focused on helping people with disabilities and special needs. CDS provides assistance with personal care and daily activities for people who can no longer do these on their own. Unlike other attendant services, CDS allow their customers who are eligible for nursing home facilities, to appoint a personal assistant of their choice. The consumer has the authority to train, supervise, and even fire their own attendants. They can even choose to employ a friend or family to be their personal care attendant as long as they are not their spouse or their guardian.

CDS is managed by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), while Missouri Medicaid (MO HealthNet) covers the cost of these services. In Missouri, CDS operates in Cass, Clay, Jackson, and Patte counties.

Eligibility For  CDS Program

  1. The consumer’s age must be more than 18 years.
  2. The consumer must have a valid Missouri Medicaid number registered under Title XIX of the Social Security Act.
  3. They must be prepared and be able to direct, employ, and train their own care assistant.
  4. They must have a physical disability or a medical condition that restricts their ability to care for their own self without any help.
  5. The consumer must have the ability to live independently with the help of CDS
  6. The cost of meeting all the required needs must stay within the approved cost of a monthly Medicaid nursing facility. This cost is determined by the department of social services.
  7. They must participate in evaluations or assessments that are conducted by the DHSS from time to time.

Services Provided By The Personal Care Attendants

Personal care attendants aim at providing assistance with activities that the consumer needs to perform in their daily living but are unable to do them on their own anymore. And the best part is, you have the freedom to choose your personal attendant/caregiver under the CDPAP program. Personal care attendants help the consumer maintain and increase their independence and confidence. They provide the following services,

  • Preparing meals and helping with the consumption of the meal.
  • Maintaining personal hygiene by helping with cleaning any bodily excretions.
  • Dressing.
  • Grooming.
  • Housekeeping.
  • Bathing.
  • Help with maintenance and use of prostheses if any.
  • Laundry.
  • Supervising with the timely and proper intake of medications.
  • Help with essential transport.
  • Help with other needs for daily living including ambulation.

For the services rendered by the personal care attendant, they are compensated at the rate of about 10 dollars per hour by CDS and Medicaid.

Starting The Process Of Applying For The CDS Program

  • When you initiate your first call, you will be required to provide some basic information like your name, your social security number, your address, your Medicaid numbers, etc.
  • You will be asked to provide an overview of your current situation and why you need CDS.
  • You will then receive communication from the state which will schedule a  visit to your home for a review of your present situation, your current medication, and the assistance you need.
  • They will then develop a plan of care for you
  • Agency staff will then guide you through the entire process of employing, supervising, and training your attendant and will help you with finishing all the mandatory paperwork.
  • After approval from the DHSS for your care plan, you will be assigned an Independent Living Advocate who will teach you everything about the guidelines of the program. They will also teach you how to complete and submit your attendant’s timesheets.

How To Choose The Right Personal Care Assistant (PCA)

Choosing a Personal care assistant who will be right for you or your loved one can be a daunting task. CDS gives you the opportunity to hire someone you are already familiar with and are fond of, like a family member or a friend. The following points will give you some perspective of a few things you should consider before hiring a PCA:

  • Make sure the person you are employing has a complete understanding of all the tasks they will be required to help the consumer with and are capable of helping them with those duties.
  • Focus on finding a PCA who has the relevant experience to handle the tasks that are required to be done.
  • The person appointed as a PCA should fit well with the work and compensation balance. Ensure that the arrangement works well for all the involved parties for the relationship to work successfully.

To Conclude

Disabled people can have a challenging life. Not being able to do the basic everyday tasks can be really frustrating and depressing for a disabled person. For most disabled people, moving to an assisted living facility becomes the only viable option which can be really disconcerting for the person. A CDS agency in Missouri not only allows the person to have access to assisted living from the comfort of their own home but also offers the choice of hiring someone they already know and are comfortable with.

*collaborative post

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