Personal Care services offer assistance to clients, who have experienced a loss in their ability to perform the activities of daily living, to remain in a safe, clean and healthy home environment. Activities of daily living (ADL) refers to activities, including bathing, dressing, transferring, using the toilet, eating, and walking, which reflect clients’ capacity for self-care.

1. Personal Care services include, but are not limited to, the following:

a. assisting with eating, including:

• preparing food for clients with eating difficulties by cutting or pureeing;

• monitoring food and liquid intake;

• following special diets;

• observing eating behaviors; and,

• monitoring eating safety risks such as swallowing and choking.

b. assisting with bathing including:

• bed bathing;

• sponge bathing;

• tub bathing;

• showering; and,

• perineal care.

c. using bath equipment, including:

• tub seat;

• hydraulic tub seat; and,

• hand-held shower wand.

d. assisting with tooth care including:

• brushing permanent teeth;

• flossing;

• using rubber pick; or,

• removing, cleaning, and inserting dentures.

e. assisting/providing grooming, including:

• shaving with an electric or safety razor;

• beard trimming; and,

• applying make-up.

f. assisting/providing hair care, including:

• brushing;

• shampooing; and,

• styling;

g. assisting with bowel regularity, including:

• monitoring bowel movements and appearance;

• following prescribed diets for bowel maintenance;

• giving suppositories; and,

h. assisting with transfers including:

• one person pivot transfer;

• two person transfers;

• using transfer belts;

• using mechanical lifts; and,

• using wheelchair, walker and/or cane.

i. assisting with self-administered medication, including:

• reminding client to take medications;

• placing medication within reach of the client;

• providing water for oral medication;

• opening pill bottles or dispensing medications from blister packs, which have been prepared by a Pharmacist;

• storing medications; and,

• reassuring the client that medication has been taken.

j. assisting/providing basic skin care, including:

• washing and drying;

• applying non-prescription body lotions or creams; and,

• observing skin changes.

k. assisting with dressing including putting on support stockings, which do not require a physician’s prescription;

l. assisting with nail maintenance including;

• soaking;

• trimming;

• pushing back cuticles; and,

• filing, except as outlined in #3a.

m. emptying or changing external urinary collecting devices, including catheter bags and supra-pubic bags.

n. encouraging clients to perform normal body movements, as tolerated;

o. encouraging clients to follow prescribed exercise programs;

p. assisting with prosthetics such as applying/removing/cleaning hearing aids and limbs;

q. assistance with urinals, bedpans and/or commodes;

r. providing bowel and bladder incontinence care;

s. assisting with positioning in bed, wheelchair and other chairs;

t. assisting with positioning cradles, rolls and pillows;

u. assisting with transferring back and forth from bed, wheelchair, toilet and chair;

v. providing colostomy care and emptying ostomy bag; and,

w. emptying, cleaning, and changing urinary drainage bags.

2. Limitations: Personal care services shall not include:

a. giving nail care to clients with circulatory problems or specific medical conditions such as diabetes, calluses, peripheral circulatory problems or loss of sensation;

b. dispensing medications unless the medications have been prepared by a Pharmacist and are placed in a blister pack;

c. inserting or removing tubes or objects into/out of body openings, including catheters;

d. assisting with the application anti-embolic or other pressure stockings, which require a Physician’s prescription;

e. administering syringe feedings, tube feedings and/or intravenous feedings;

f. performing passive range-of-motion exercises on clients;

g. taking verbal telephone orders from Physicians;

h. advising clients/families about diagnoses and/or treatment plans;

i. supervising other Personal Care Attendants; and,

j. doing anything that is beyond the duties of a Personal Care Attendant.

3. The Agency shall follow Workers Compensation regulations when providing Personal Care services.

4. Personal Care services shall be delivered in accordance with State regulations.

Merchant Policies