In this compelling video from the Personal Assistance Services Council (PASC), you will hear personal stories from people with age-related needs or disabilities who receive much-needed services from in-home caregivers. Their caregiving services are provided through the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program in California, which enables them to live quality lives with more autonomy and independence than they could have imagined.
In Their Own Words: “My Caregiver is a lifesaver.”
Hear firsthand accounts from consumers on how in-home caregivers from the IHSS program have changed their lives for the better. Discover how IHSS is a lifeline that upholds dignity, autonomy, and quality of life for thousands of Californians.
What is IHSS?
The IHSS program provides in-home assistance to eligible aged, blind, and disabled individuals. In-home caregiving services can be an alternative to nursing home care. IHSS enables recipients to remain safely in their own homes by receiving care from an eligible care provider through the PASC Homecare Registry.
IHSS caregivers can provide services to individuals in their home — the environment where they are most comfortable. An IHSS provider may work with a care recipient (consumer) for many years. IHSS caregivers learn to be very sensitive to the needs of their consumers over time and often become like another family member, but they cannot know everything about providing care services without proper training. That is where the Center for Caregiver Advancement (CCA) comes in.
CCA Provides Caregiver Training as a Partner to IHSS and PASC
The Center for Caregiver Advancement (CCA) is proud to partner with the IHSS and PASC to provide caregiver training. CCA caregiver training courses are offered free to eligible IHSS and PASC members. The CCA courses provide caregivers with the essential skills they need to improve the quality of care they provide to people with age-related issues, chronic conditions, or disabilities. Skilled caregivers help consumers better manage their health and their daily lives.
What Caregivers Learn in Free Classes at CCA
CCA caregivers learn practical skills, such as communication styles grounded in clear messaging and respect. Caregiving skills taught in CCA classes may also include how to use proper body mechanics when moving a consumer, optimal hygiene and sanitary protocols for germ control, safety measures to follow during emergencies, special approaches to use for consumers who have memory loss or specific conditions like diabetes, and more.
Whether you’re a caregiver, a policymaker, or someone who benefits from IHSS, this video underscores the urgent need to protect and expand access to these vital services for thousands of Californians.
This story was curated from the video produced by the Personal Assistance Services Council (PASC) of the greater Los Angeles area.
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVGN_VNcG-8
https://www.youtube.com/embed/IVGN_VNcG-8?si=yC0nRRRv9G5qd46c
Photo and video credits: PASC LA
