Client FAQ
How can Personal Care Assistants help me?
- Daily living assistance
- Health-related procedures and tasks
- Observation and redirection of behaviors
- Instrumental activities of daily living
How many hours should my PCA render?
Your PCA assessment determines the number of hours you should receive from your PCA. Refer to your assessment result for a detailed description of the hours to be rendered. You can also contact usfor more information.
How can I help my PCA?
- Do not ask your PCA to complete tasks not allowed by state law.
- Do not ask your PCA to help or take care of others in your home.
- Keep track of the hours of PCA services you have used.
- Review and sign accurate timesheets.
What services should my caregiver provide?
It depends on the personalized care plan being implemented. Caregivers only cover services and activities as specified in your plan of care. Refer to your assessment or care plan if you have further questions.
Can I change my Personal Care Assistant?
Yes, you are allowed to change your PCA. Reach us here so we can better communicate with you.
What should I do if there are changes in my address or eligibility?
Contact us immediately. To ensure the continuity of our services to you, we would need to send any changes in your documentation to the county, health plan, or state.
What is Qualified Professional Visit?
As per legal requirements, all clients are required to have timely visits from a qualified professional to ensure the safety and reliability of the services being provided for you.
How do I renew my care plan?
For your convenience, Comfort Services LLC will send requests for renewal days before your care plan ends. You can also contact us to know more.
Can I receive PCA services outside of the State?
Yes, you can. However, you cannot receive our services once you are outside the U.S.
What can my PCA do to help me
A PCA may help you with:
- Activities of daily living
- Health related procedures and tasks
- Observation and redirection of behaviors
- Instrumental activities of daily living
What can I do to help my PCA?
- Do not ask your PCA to complete tasks not allowed by state law.
- Do not ask your PCA to help or take care of others in your home.
- Keep track of the hours of PCA services you have used.
- Review and sign accurate time sheets.
How many hours am I approved to receive?
The number of hours you are approved to receive is determined at your PCA assessment, and we receive an authorization for those hours. Refer to your start services letter for the number of hours authorized. It is advisable to limit your hours to the number of hours authorized per week. If you use more hours “over flexing” than you are approved for per week, your hours will not last the full authorization period. For additional hours related questions contact our office.
What is flexible use?
Flexible use means you can use your PCA service units in a flexible manner over two six–month periods. Many recipients divide their time 50/50 between the two six-month periods, however you can divide your time flexibly as long as you do not use more than 75% of your time during one six-month period. Your units are supposed to last the entire service period however, so it is advised flexing is limited to hours per week. For example if you are assessed for 21 hours a week you don’t have to use 3 hours a day. You could have service for 7 hours on 3 days instead.
Can anyone use their PCA units flexibly?
Generally anyone can use their PCA hours flexibly, however, you are not eligible for flexible use if: Your local county agency or tribe denies flexible; DHS denies flexible use; or you are on the Minnesota Restricted Recipient Program
How long are services authorized for?
Services are typically authorized in two, six month dates spans and the hours are divided equally between each six month period.
When can my PCA start working?
Start dates depend on a number of factors and each case is different. Your caregiver will receive a start work letter with the date they are authorized to start to work. Refer to this letter to determine when you caregiver may start work.
How many hours do I have left?
Your caregiver may only check off the activities you are approved to receive care for according to the PCA assessment and PCA Care Plan. Refer to your assessment, care plan, or start services letter if you have questions. If you still have questions contact our office.
What activities should my caregiver complete on the timesheet?
Your caregiver may only check off the activities you are approved to receive care for according to the PCA assessment and PCA Care Plan. Refer to your assessment, care plan, or start services letter if you have questions. For more information contact our office, or ask your qualified professional.
Do I need to review the PCA timesheet?
Yes, review the PCA timesheet to make sure the hours marked are the ones the caregiver worked. If you have multiple workers, also make sure their times are not overlapping. When you sign the timesheet you are stating that the times and activities are true and correct. To do that make sure you are taking the time to review times entries carefully.
Can I sign blank timesheets?
Never sign blank timesheets, and if a caregiver asks you to do do so contact our office and let us know. If you sign blank timesheets you won’t know what hours a caregiver will submit and you are responsible for time submitted to the state for payment. Signing blank timesheets may also be a crime, and make you suspect in later fraud investigations.
Who submits the timesheet?
Either the caregiver or the client can submit the timesheet, but the caregiver and client should each sign the time entry themselves. The caregiver cannot sign for the client and the client may not sign for the caregiver.
My PCA is telling me they did not get paid what should I do?
The most likely reason a PCA does not get paid is because we are missing timesheets or the ones we have contain errors. If your PCA tells you they did not get paid instruct them to contact our office. It is not your responsibility to resolve employee pay issues and we are unable to discuss most payroll related issues with clients due to employment law privacy issues.
How do I complete the PCA care plan?
PCA Choice Clients are responsible for completing the PCA Care Plan. Under the Traditional PCA model this is the agencies responsibility.
How do I change my PCA?
You can change your PCA at any time. Contact us so we may get the information for the new PCA and get them set up to work with you.
How do I hire an employee?
Please contact Dominique Johnson or Hussein Mohamed to fill out an employee application over the phone and schedule a time to come in to sign the application, start your background study and fingerprints. We will need a cleared background study with the Department of Human Services before the employee can start work. As this can take several days to several weeks, please have the employee contact or make an appointment to come in to the office as soon as possible. That way, we can start the process. As always, if you have any questions, please call and ask for Dominique Johnson or Hussein Mohamed, Intake Department.
Can I hire an employee who is under 18 years old?
Yes, individuals who are 16 and 17 years old can be employees. As part of their application procedure, they will submit additional paperwork affirming their age. Supervision of PCA employees under 18 by a Qualified Professional must occur every 60 days until they turn 18.
How can I change my Responsible Party?
Yes you can! Please contact: Dominique Johnson, Client Services to complete the necessary steps to change your Responsible Party.
What do I do if my eligibility or address changes?
If your eligibility or address changes, contact Dominique Johnson, Client Services immediately. When these types of changes occur, we need to send documentation to the county, health plan or state to ensure continuation of services. The documents need to be sent within strict time frames so if you have a change in your eligibility or address let us know right away.
How do I terminate an employee?
If your eligibility or address changes, contact Fardowsa Mohamed, Client Services immediately. When these types of changes occur, we need to send documentation to the county, health plan or state to ensure continuation of services. The documents need to be sent within strict time frames so if you have a change in your eligibility or address let us know right away.
What are Qualified Professional visits
All recipients are required to have Qualified Professional visits from time to time. Under the law we are required to make these visits within certain timeframes. Be sure to call the QP back and schedule a visit to avoid any interruptions in service.
How do I request a renewal when my service agreement is going to end?
Comfort Services sends a request on your behalf 60 days before your service agreement ends to renew your PCA services.
What happens at the end of the authorization period?
Before the authorization ends we will send a referral to the county or health plan to visit you for an annual reassessment. At the annual reassessment the nurse will again determine the number of hours you need. Your hours may go up or down at this time so it is important to answer questions accurately and make sure you understand every question. If you have any questions about the assessment process you can contact us. This appointment is very important, and if you don’t have your assessment before the end of your current service agreement there might be a gap in services.
If I don’t use my PCA time does it roll over?
No. Unused PCA time does not carry over into the next six-month period.
What will happen at the PCA assessment?
At the assessment, a nurse will ask you a number of questions to determine your needs. Based on your answers to the nurse’s questions, you will be given a home care rating if you are eligible and you will be authorized for a number of hours based on that rating.
My PCA hours were cut, what can I do?
If your PCA hours were reduced, you have the right to make an appeal. You may use our appeal to state agency form, and if you need help completing the form please contact us.
Can my PCA work with me while I am in the PCA’s home?
Unfortunately, according to state requirements, PCA services cannot be billed for if they are delivered in the PCA’s home. The one exception to the rule is when the PCA and recipient live together. See the state website on this issue here.
Do I have to use my PCA hours every day?
No, you will be assessed for a daily amount of PCA hours, but you can use them flexibly as necessary. For example, you may choose to get help just two or three days per week; or if you are a parent, you may choose to use a greater number of hours during the summer but less during the school year.
Can I receive PCA services while I am outside of Minnesota?
Yes, you can receive PCA services while outside of Minnesota but you may not receive services outside of the United States. You can find more information about PCA services outside of Minnesota by clicking here. Contact us if you plan on traveling and want to receive PCA services while you are out of the state.
What is PCA Choice?
The PCA Choice option gives people more control of their care than Traditional PCA model. People on the PCA Choice model receive less frequent qualified professional or nurse visits, as they are the ones primarily responsible for their care.
Under PCA Choice, you are responsible for:
- Finding, hiring, training, supervising and scheduling you staff
- Finding back up PCA staff
- Maintain a written agreement with your PCA Choice provider agency
- Develop your care plan, with help from our qualified professional if needed
- Working with your to make sure your health and safety needs are met
- Signing time sheets
What is Traditional PCA
Under Traditional PCA option, individuals receive more support from the provider agency. People on the Traditional PCA model also receive more frequent qualified professional or nurse visits so the agency can be sure services are meeting care plan goals.
Under Traditional PCA, the agency is responsible for:
- Hiring, training, supervising and scheduling
- Monitoring and evaluating PCA staff to ensure care plan goals are being met
- Developing a care plan to meet the goals identified in the nurse assessment
- Maintain back-up staffing in case of an emergency
Note: Under the Choice or Traditional Program you may hire a caregiver of your choosing.
