The purpose of the Personal Assistant Services (PAS) program is to help people with disabilities find individuals to aid with personal care and housekeeping.
The coordinator for the PAS program is Bhumit Shah. A young man, who uses caregivers himself, Bhumit understands firsthand the importance of finding compassionate, qualified aids.
Bhumit says that he appreciates the personalized approach that the Dayle McIntosh Center (DMC) uses to connect people who are in need of assistance with those, who want to help.
Who Is Eligible to Receive PAS Services
Individuals with disabilities, who require help with personal care, housekeeping, or other activities of daily living, are eligible to be consumers of the DMC Personal Assistant Services program. Both recipients of In-home supportive services (IHSS) benefits and persons, who have private resources for paying caregivers, are able to use the DMC PAS registry service.
For more information about the Personal Assistant Services program call 714.621.3300 or complete the online form.
Referral Process
Potential consumers are referred to the Personal Assistant Services program by a variety of sources such as case managers from senior centers and community-based organizations, hospital discharge planners, medical personnel, family members, friends, and others, who have used the service. Individuals may also be self-referred.
Using the PAS Program
The PAS Coordinator conducts an intake process with individuals, who want to obtain services through the program. Each person fills out a detailed consumer needs questionnaire which identifies the amount and types of caregiver services required. An Independent Living Plan or goal statement is then developed with the consumer so that a clear course of action is in place.
Available Services
Counseling regarding methods for recruiting and managing personal assistants, as well as, the eligibility criteria and application process for the In Home Support Services (IHSS) program.
A personal assistant registry is maintained for use by consumers seeking caregiver services. In order to locate individuals, who are interested in working as personal care assistants, the program coordinator advertises online and conducts community outreach activities.
Prior experience is verified through a screening process. Applicants are logged onto the DMC PAS registry for referral to consumers, who interview and choose personal assistants for themselves.
Mediation assistance is provided by the program coordinator to aid a consumer and his or her caregiver to address and resolve disagreements and related issues that affect their working relationship.
Services in the PAS program continue until goals in the consumer’s independent living plan have been reached or until he or she is no longer interested in receiving assistance through the Dayle McIntosh Center. Following the closure of a case file, a consumer always has the option to request services again at a later date. All participants are given an opportunity to complete a satisfaction survey to express their opinions of the effectiveness of the PAS program.
Program Success Story
A middle-aged man contacted the Dayle McIntosh Center to request help with obtaining an increase in caregiver hours through the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program. He also asked for aid to locate a personal assistant willing to work under the IHSS program. After several months of advocacy, the PAS Coordinator was finally able to gain approval for more caregiver hours for the consumer. An IHSS approved personal assistant was also identified. Additionally, the PAS Coordinator assisted the man to acquire a Hoyer lift through Medi-Cal. Without this support, the consumer may have been forced into a nursing home.
