AK Medicaide Program For Elderly and Disabled
As one of the PCA's on the caregiving end of it for over 5yrs now I have seen how the system has failed, how it has gotten worse over the years not only for the clients but as the employees who are giving the care.
It started when the "State" wanted to streemline the assesments. Make sure that everyone was getting there assesments on time ect, ect. BS! It was all a lie. The first round of assessments that occured was a class action lawsuit for cutting most clients hrs in half or more (exp: A client who is getting over 50hrs a week got cut to about 20hrs per week.) They won their lawsuit after about 3yrs. The "State" has been backlogged for just as many years for assessments. Before the "State" stepped in, each company had to have a RN on staff to do the assesments and turn them in to DSS, Each client had a yearly review. They said a lot of fraud was going on under that system. Tell me a system that there isn't going to be some sort of fraud! Shoot taking care of my clients to the best of my ability is actually "FRAUD" because I do MORE than I'm suposed to....and I do NOT get paid for the extra!
I would love to see the people in charge of the assesments get what they should....but it probably is not going to happen....it is the Clients on the wait list and the current clients who really need the service (Since they are talking about cutting some hrs for current clients) that are going to suffer the most. Heck what a way to save money...lets stop the process all together, maybe the ones waiting on services will die in the process!
In this business yes there is going to be fatalities. We're dealing with old people! But death because of sure neglect when there was help before is just cruel.
For those who are interested! As an Employee of 3 diffrent companies who provide these services (chore, PCA, and respite) we get a flat rate, don't really have bennifits, and no vacation time. We are lucky to get time and a half for a handful of holidays. It can be a very thankless job. Now top that off with some clients who think that we owe them, and getting yelled at for bs things. There are days when I wonder why I don't dig out the suits and start looking for an office job again! No this is not what I was trained in. I fell into this work because a friend needed my help and I needed the money. I have not left because I care too much.