Consumer Directed Services MO

Serving Benton, Henry, Johnson, Lafayette, Pettis and Saline County, Missouri.
Where there's a WILS, there's a way. Care at home.

 

What is Consumer Directed Services?

Consumer Directed Services or CDS is a  Home and Community Based Service program covered under Medicaid that helps people with significant disabilities obtain assistance with personal care. The CDS care at home program assists individuals with daily activities so they can maintain their independence at home and in the community by allowing them to hire a caregiver also known as a Personal Care Attendant or PCA of their choosing- other than a spouse or dependent.

In this program, the individual with the disability is sometimes referred to as a consumer rather than a client or a patient.  The caregiver assists the WILS CDS participant in living independently at home.  

A caregiver does the things that the WILS CDS participant is unable to do alone and assists with the things that would take them an exceptionally long time to do on their own.  The assistance that a caregiver provides enables individuals with disabilities to live more independently and pursue other activities such as school or work.  The duties of the caregiver vary depending on the need for physical assistance with activities of daily living, the nature of disability, living arrangement, and daily schedule.  Caregiver assistance could include meal preparation, cleaning, person hygiene or other tasks determined by each participant’s Plan of Care or POC.  It does not include any task that needs to be performed by a licensed professional.

With the assistance of WILS staff, CDS program participants are trained to hire their own caregiver.  The CDS program participant, is the employer and is responsible for hiring, training, scheduling, and if necessary, firing their caregiver.

Missouri Centers for Independent Living is the original state-certified and leading trusted resource for the care at home program known as Consumer Directed Services. Through our regional centers in Missouri, like WILS, we help people with disabilities remain in their own homes by assisting them in finding caregivers who can provide in-home personal care and support with household chores and daily meal preparation. Learn more about MOCIL CDS providers across the state.

What are the eligibility requirements for the Consumer Directed Services care at home program?

  • Be eligible for Medicaid (MO HealthNet)
  • Be 18 years of age or older
  • Be disabled
  • Be able to self direct care according to needs
  • Hire, train, schedule, supervise and terminate their caregiver
  • Be capable of receiving training on caregiver management from WILS staff

Who pays for the caregiver?

The CDS care at home program and caregiver pay is covered through Medicaid.  The hourly wage range is set by WILS and the amount within the range is chosen by the WILS consumer. WILS acts as the fiscal agent and is responsible for processing the caregiver payroll and taxes, but the WILS CDS participant is the employer of the caregiver.

Are you interested in becoming a WILS CDS Participant?

The first step to become enrolled in the CDS care at home program and become a WILS participant is to complete the intake form by calling our office at 855-945-7929 and ask to complete an intake form.  Once the intake has been submitted, a WILS staff member will contact you and walk you through the rest of the process. We’d be honored to welcome you in as a part of the WILS family!  If you have any other questions or concerns, please call our office Monday through Friday, 8am – 5pm and any WILS staff member would be happy to help.

What is a Personal Care Attendant?

A Personal Care Attendant may also be referred to as a caregiver, PCA,  attendant, or personal care aide.  A caregiver gives assistance to people who are physically disabled, chronically ill, cognitively challenged, elderly and/or fragile, by assisting the individual with personal care needs in the individual’s home.  Caregivers do not need any special license or certifications because they do not do any tasks that should be performed by a licensed professional.

The caregiver  is hired, trained, scheduled, supervised, and if necessary fired by the WILS CDS program participant who is also known as the consumer.

What are the responsibilities of a caregiver?

  • Assist consumers with their needs according to each consumer’s Plan of Care
  • Assist consumer with activities of daily living as needed
  • Assist consumer with grooming
  • Assist consumer with bathing
  • Assist consumer with housekeeping
  • Assist with laundry
  • Assist with meal preparation
  • Assist consumer with essential transportation

Are you interested in becoming a caregiver?

Caregivers must be at least 18 years of age and be able to pass a basic background screening. WILS care at home participants choose their caregiver, but WILS keeps a file of interested caregiver applicants on file for their review.  If you would like to be considered, please fill out the caregiver interest form by calling 855-945-7929.