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February 10,1997
IN BRIEF. . . . to observe for seizures and The Department has made up ment's representativewill ask intervene when one occurs. the policy that "wait time" is what a person eats and how The Department's contrary not a covered service. Unbe- long it takes to prepare each lievable as it may be, the De- item. The same kind of quespament~s representatives tions are going to be asked if a Sv,&Dmment have 4dthattimc involvedin nd assistance form provides that the num- waiting far the e f k t of a bow- eating. ber of FCA hours for "Level I el program fw a person with Behsvior,,, such as hmg qudriplegi. is nr* a cavaed Therearetwomajorproblems oneself or others, is limited to service. Theexclusionof 'wait with this approach. The tbt, the actual time for interven- time" has also been applied in and obvious, one is that there tion of the estimated number meal preparation. Apparently isnobasis to say with certainty of occurrences for the behav- it is a covered personal care how long it takes to do most of ior. This approach is taken service to peel potatoes and the things that PCAs do. The despite the fm that law put them on the stove to boil, e m o n that these W s provides for a PCA to assist butitisuncovered'2vaittime~~ canbeprreiselydefmdissimwith " d i m t i o n and inter- whilethecook. While ply inconsistent with the way lived Sometimes ittakes vention behsvior, inCIud- it is dY appropriatefor a ing observation and monitor- PCA ti, do other things than longerthanothertimes. Someing." There are at least four watch a pot boil, the simple times things just do not get appeal decisions which rec- factthat the FCA must remain done. ognize that the PCA must be present to take the potatoes present to observe and moni- out of the pot, and ought to be The second problem is the tor for these behaviors, and paid for that time, seems lost wholesale invasion of privacy which allow time for that PUT- upon the Department's home in these heariugs. If dressing pose. Nevertheless, the De- care policy makers. is eonsid& the quapartment of Human Services tion be asked what the persists in operating the pro- These policies and practices person wears at night, asifit is gram without regard to what can and sbuld be challenged anybody's business what a *e.law clearly authorizes. by appealing the denial or re- person wears at night. When. duction of PCA time. The time far toileting is in quesThe "hands-on intervention Disability Law Center pro- tion, the ~eprtment'srepreO n l y ~ ~ ~ o f m e D e p * - Fan about PCA wntative the ment ignores the fiict that the appeals-just call (6 12)332- whole process: "Are you on legislature has provided for 1441 and ask for Disability the toilet or on a commode "redirection, monitoring, and La* Center intake. Where observation that is medically chair? How long do you sit on necessary and an intetegnl part mare,h~ever.downsides the stool?" There should be ofcOm~'ning"the pa- tomeapped~oocss. Someof no need lwei of q"& sonal care services described the Department's appeals d-tioning but it goes on in the
New PCA Support Group
The Personal Care Attendant Workingwith people who have equipment or personal assisProgram of the Metropolitan severe disabilitiescan be very Cance techniques that they are Center for Independent Liv- exhausting or stressful. This unsure of. In other words, be a gd O ~ ~ m i t y fthese a can hasafety the people providing these es- valve in a difficultjob. There sential services to talk about is no charge, and no advance the stress. It'll be a way to registration -just show up! resolveanywork-relatedproblems before they get serious, For further information, call and to share ideas on how to Ken Moses,MCIL's Independeal with those problems. dent Living and PCA CoordiPCAs may also use the group nator, at 612-603-20 13. learning Univ~ityAve.W-inSt*~ul-
mg (Mca) is sponsoring a support group for PCAs and fiunily caregivers on the last Thursday of every month (the first ones are February 27, March 27, April 24, May 29, andJune26)startingat4:3Opm at MCIL's facilities in the Spruce Tree Center, 1600
Independent Living Workshop
The Independent ~iving Skills department of the Metropolitan Center for Independent Living (MCIL) is planning a oneday Independent Living woIlcshop fir Saturday, April 19. This will be an all-day event.of informal panel discussionsindhands-ondemonstratims. The morning sessiomwill cover time and budget management,PCA supervisi? shopping for dealmgwith agencies,the gov-
emment, communication, and an introduction to the ADA. The afternoon session will go into practical matters including the selection, use, and maintenance of wheelchairs, urinary appliances, and ventilators, and other topics that will be useful for people with disabilities. This workshop will be open to all people with disabdities and their families, PCAs and others working in the field, and anyone else in-
The Sister Kemy Institute Annual Art Showwill be April dudlineforinclusim in the show is March 22.
&wing, sculprure and p h tography. Entries are judged by mcmbol of the Twin Cities ncommunity.
terested in independent living skills. The cost will be $5.00, which includes lunch. Preregistration is requested. This program will bq held in MCIL's hilitiesinthe Spruce Tree Center, 1600 University Ave. W.in St. Paul. For further information, call Ken Moses, MCIL's Indepemht Living an&PCACoordinaQr, at 6124022013.
Arf show Deadline
eachofthesixcatqrones. Sixty-seven awards were given last Year,,nhlmingS12,000to the artists in awards and sales.
Works will be judged in Ph Awarts are given for Best of For a regimion 863-4205. categ~es:mixedme&, wa- Show, Peoples' Choice, and should tercolor, oils illld kd and thinl in
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v respiratorydistress be provided if the PCA is not there to Another downside is the type observewhatis happeningand of questioning that the person take needed action? How can who is appealing a decision
cess by telephone, actually asked these questions: "Just tell briefly, do you want to tell me how you do her pen care?
Do the decision-makers on these issues atthe Department really believe that a PCA will come in for ten minutes at
When the appeals referee interjected to say it was not necessary to go into that amount ofdetai1,theDepartment'srep resentative said, "It makes a littledifference.It'salotquicker to take out a wipe." And then she laughed. The woman's mother observed that this kind of questioning was kind of embarrassing. The Department's representativeresponded, "I tend to forget they're there when I'm on the phone."
ing additional PCA time, or that person's PCA or supervising nurse, will be asked to statehow much time each little tasktakes. Ifmealpreparation time is involved, the Depart-
IT-MINNESOTA STATE COUNCIL ON DISABILITY
Annual Conference wp Saturday, April 5,1997 - . St. Paul Radisson Inn
Adult Issues: Assisted Suicide Legal and Ethical Issues
Children's Issues: Adoption, Foster Care SSI, and TEFRA (612) 296-6785 1-800-945-8913 (Voice/TTD)
This kind of insensitivity is inexcusable. The PCA program has, indeed, been a success. PCA services are crucial services, but they are received at a price. The apparent pressure to cut back on authorizedPCA hours leads to: enforcement of informal policies inconsistent with the law, the need to constantly appeal proposals that reduce PCA hours, and the relentless probing, in an unseemly and inhumane manner, into the daily livesofpersonswhoneed these services.
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