Personal Care Management Services

Personal Care Management Services

Personal Care Management (PCM) Services enable individuals with a permanent or chronic disability to live in their own residence or community with needed support by a Personal Care Attendant.

Eligibility:

Individuals are eligible if they receive MassHealth, either Standard or CommonHealth, and need physical assistance in two areas of activities of daily living (ADLs).

ADLs include:

• Mobility
• Bathing/grooming
• Dressing/undressing
• Feeding
• Toileting

Services:

The goal of the PCM program is to delay or prevent out of home placements for individuals who cannot safely live on their own. The program is consumer-directed, meaning that the individual with the disability is the employer. This is different from more traditional home health care programs in which the agency provides the worker. As the employer, the individual chooses who to hire, sets up a schedule, and trains their PCA to meet his or her personal needs with the assistance of a surrogate if required. Please note, additional services may be requested once eligibility is determined.

Requirements:

The individual, and a surrogate if required, participates in an initial assessment meeting, which determines their functional capabilities and need for assistance. Following the initial assessment, an evaluation will be conducted by a registered nurse and occupational therapist in the applicant’s home. The application and evaluation must be signed by the applicant's primary care physician and submitted to MassHealth for approval. If approved, individuals are assigned a Skills Trainer for support and information throughout their time in the program. 

Compensation:

Personal Care Attendants are paid by MassHealth through Tempus Unlimited according to a preset pay rate.

Connecting with PCAs:

Do you need help finding a personal care attendant? Rewarding Work is a valuable resource that helps people with disabilities connect with qualified Personal Care Assistants. The goal of Rewarding Work is to give people who need support with daily activities the choice and control in finding personal assistants. 

Our Team:

Staff in the PCM program have decades of experience providing care to individuals with disabilities. They are an experienced, knowledgeable team who are dedicated to supporting those we serve. For more information, please call the PCM team at (781) 335-3023 x2230 or email Lauren Blye at LBlye@ArcSouthShore.org.