Personal Care Attendants Aid Families in Daily Routine of Living

NORMAN, Okla. – Lt. Gov. Jari Askins says Personal Care Attendants – workers who help home-bound people with the daily routine of living – have a special place in her heart because of the service they provided for her parents.
"We needed somebody to be the eyes and ears for us when we couldn’t be there," Askins said. "My parents told me they had food in the refrigerator and had eaten that day when that wasn’t always the case.”

Askins says PCAs, who work under the aegis of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, help about 19,000 state residents deal with issues their home-bound clients face on a daily basis.

She said the in-home staff who helped her with her parents provided an important communication link and, at the same took her out of the “care-giver” role and let her return to her role as a daughter in her parent’s family.

“I know you are not a companion service," she told a recent gathering of PCA workers, "but you get your clients engaged as a wonderful byproduct."

Personal Care Attendants are community-based workers who provide help with daily living activities such as bathing, grooming, getting in and out of bed, preparing meals and light housekeeping. These services are provided as a Medicaid service for some clients.

While providing care to our seniors, personal care attendants maintain the humanity of our citizens at every age by helping us maintain the integrity of the family unit, Askins said.

Askins said the staff in her parents' home gave her peace of mind, comfort and assurance that her parents were well-cared for. "You are the lifeline who helps fill in the gap."

Askins encouraged those in attendance who work with seniors in Oklahoma to encourage others to join their ranks.

"We have far more people who need your help than people who can provide the services you provide," she said.

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