2 out of every 3 private-sector jobs in New York are in the home care sector. Each year sees 27,100 new workers in the state compared to only 24,300 in the rest of the US.
This growth is driven in part by the CDPAP program, which allows individuals who need care to choose their own home care worker.
Traditional home aide programs hire a stranger to provide help, but the program allows them to designate a family member or friend instead. This reduces stress, provides a higher level of care, and more.
This program is a major revolution in-home healthcare that can help fill the rising demand. Read our guide to learn what CDPAP is, the benefits it provides, and how to determine if you’re eligible.
What Is CDPAP?
Home care workers make up one of the fastest-growing occupations in the nation, with 431,000 new workers needed in the next decade to meet demand. The CDPAP program makes it easier to meet this demand.
CDPAP is an acronym that stands for Consumer Directed Personal Assisted Program. It’s also known as CDPAS or Consumer Directed Personal Assisted Services. This state program uses Medicaid to cover the cost of home care.
The individual in need of care is known as the consumer, and the person providing care is a personal assistant. Once they go through the proper process, they’re authorized and paid to provide help.
The program is not only used for elderly care, but also for anyone who struggles to perform necessary daily functions, such as eating and bathing. The condition that needs care must meet CDPAP standards.
New York is also not the only state that offers these types of programs. Many states offer a similar element in their legislation allowing residents to choose their own home care providers.
CDPAP has not replaced traditional health care aides or certified nurses and may never be able to, but its popularity is increasing. It’s a viable alternative for those who want to provide care themselves or cannot afford other methods.
Benefits of CDPAP
Much of the demand for home care aids is being filled by CDPAP certified aides for several reasons. It’s affordable and allows consumers to receive care from the same trusted individual every single day.
CDPAP is a more affordable form of senior care. In fact, it pays the caregiver themselves a reasonable wage of $15-$21.80 in New York and may provide health and union benefits as well.
CDPAP also allows the consumer to be cared for by the same trusted individual. This alone provides several benefits, such as improved care and reduced stress, infection risk, and turnover rate.
Having a trusted individual providing care reduces stress consumers may feel. They’ll know who’s providing them with what services and why. It’s easier for them to adjust to and allows them to stay in the home they love.
When a caretaker knows their patient, medical issues become easier to spot. This allows the provider to remedy them before they become serious. They can administer medicine or call the hospital in emergency situations.
A CDPAP home care provider can provide any form of necessary care. This reduces the number of specialized personnel that need to enter the home and allows for a more complete care program that other providers may not be authorized to do.
Having the same care provider show up every day also reduces the risk of infection. They won’t be exposed to as many different strains of germs.
Using the same individual every day helps consumers avoid the massive 82% turnover rate in the home care field. A family member or friend is less likely to leave them without care.
These are only some of the benefits of the CDPAP program. They’re a valuable alternative to other forms of skilled care, such as nursing homes or home aides.
Eligibility
The first step in becoming a CDPAP qualified caregiver is to submit the necessary paperwork. You’ll then go through an eligibility check where a certified nurse verifies your ability to provide the right level of care.
CDPAP caregivers don’t need training or licenses to provide the care their loved ones need. They don’t need to be a registered nurse or medical school graduate, but may need to demonstrate they’re able to provide the necessary level of care.
Almost anyone can become a CDPAP caregiver for their loved one. The only exceptions are situations where two parties are responsible for one another, such as spouses or parents of children under 21.
One of the most crucial eligibility requirements is having Medicaid. Anyone who wants to apply to the program must be insured and eligible for it, as it’s the primary payment method used. Other insurances may be accepted.
The CDPAP home support worker must be providing services essential to maintaining quality of life. Your request may be denied if they determine you’re using CDPAP for convenience and not to maintain health.
When applying for CDPAP, you must appoint a director to oversee the care provider. This is usually the person who’s receiving care, unless they’re not of sound mind and must designate another director.
If a caretaker passes the eligibility check and meets all requirements, they’ll immediately be able to provide care for their loved one. The entire home can benefit from the advantages of the program.
How Can I Become a CDPAP Home Care Worker?
Hiring the right home care worker is a difficult process. The CDPAP program makes it easier by using Medicare to cover the costs and allowing family or friends to provide care.
Having a trusted individual provide care reduces stress and the risk of infection while preventing turnover and ensuring a higher level of care. The CDPAP program also provides other benefits such as reduced costs.
Almost anyone can become a CDPAP home caretaker, but they must first apply and meet eligibility requirements.
If you’re looking to find a caretaker to step into a home care worker role, you must first find out if you meet the CDPAP requirements. Check your eligibility here.