What is Attendant Care?

Attendant care is skilled assistance to help people with disabilities, and other limitations live more independently. Attendant care workers work with people who have a wide range of disabilities, from physical disabilities like cerebral palsy or spina bifida to cognitive impairments such as Down syndrome, autism spectrum disorder, head injury, or advanced age. Individuals who receive disability support can fully participate in their lives through the skills and compassion of an aide.

How Can Attendant Care Support You?

1. Maintain a level of independence with personal care and hygiene.

2. Disability support can improve self-care skills, including using the bathroom and nutritional needs.

3. Provide companionship, emotional support, and encouragement to live independently.

4. Provide transportation and augmenting services when needed.

5. Maintain a safe environment, including locking doors and addressing safety concerns.

6. Offer health information, counseling, and advocacy for people who wish to plan their future care.

7. Provide information about financial resources for purchasing additional equipment or services that one may need in the future to maximize a person's independence.

8. Assist with life skills, such as being able to make or book doctor's appointments and accessing community resources.

9. Assist with meal preparation, household chores, and other household tasks that assist in living independently.

10. Assist a loved one in planning when they may need to move into an assisted living facility. Attendant care services are available for all ages, which allows the loved one to gradually expand their living choices while maintaining independence throughout the process.

Requesting Attendant Care

People who have disabilities and other limitations may be asked to receive disability support from people in their care, family, or friends. Or they might request the services themselves. Lifetime Care has access to a database of registered attendants. To receive disability support services, you can apply for Lifetime Care. A member of their Disability Resource Center staff will meet with you to determine the level of support you need and match you with an appropriate attendant. If a parent is under age 65, in some cases, one may include their lifetime care needs in their long-term care insurance policy benefit package.

Other states will have a similar process.

The attendant care available through the Department of Health and Human Services comes through Medicaid waivers. Your family or friends can provide the services, or you can arrange for another individual to provide the care. The type of attendant care available depends on:

1. Your specific functional limitations.

2. Your level of need.

3. The availability of financial resources, including family support and Medicare.

4. Your preferences for the type of attendant care you need.

5. The availability of qualified attendants in your area.

6. Your age, physical and mental health status, and the type of disability you have.