Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP)

Balancing Flexibility, Freedom and Caregiver Support

It is a top priority of Heritage Christian Services to elevate care professionals and the work that they do. When care professionals have longevity in their jobs, the people they support benefit from consistent quality care. We have made strides toward this goal for staff who fall under Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) funding streams, but we know our work isn’t over.

The Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP), which operates under the auspices of the New York State Department of Health (DOH), allows people to direct their own care at home and gives them flexibility and freedom in choosing their caregivers. Among other benefits, CDPAP can provide family members with pay for caring for a loved one.

However, proposed New York State budget reductions threaten the choices of the person who is self-directing and impede progress toward higher pay rates.

Family stakeholders and people who self-direct CDPAP services have the power to change the minds of elected officials, and to advocate for continued program and staffing funding. The Consumer Directed Personal Assistant Association of New York State (CDPAANYS), an independent association that supports CDPAP stakeholders through strong advocacy for systems change, has information about advocating for CDPAP services. Aligning with CDPAANYS to advocate for CDPAP services is critical for both people who are self-directing services and their staff. It is imperative that staff, individuals and families communicate with their elected officials about aligning pay with this important work.

In addition, consider contacting the governor and posting on social media using the hashtag #FairPay4HomeCare advocating for increased wages for CDPAP staff.

Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program

This service provides an array of options for long-term care. People, or their designees, can hire family members, friends, neighbors or other people they trust to be an attendant.

An attendant can perform all the tasks usually assigned to a home health aide, such as assisting with bathing, eating, dressing and bathroom needs. An attendant can also perform tasks that nurses usually perform, such as administering medication, cleaning wounds, suctioning tracheotomies, giving insulin injections and administering oxygen to a person on a ventilator.

CDPAP is overseen by the NYS Department of Health.

Eligibility

• Must be a NYS resident
• Must qualify for Medicaid
• Must be elderly, have a disability or require assistance with activities of daily living or need skilled care
• Must be medically stable and capable of overseeing own care or have a designated representative.