What Is Self-Directed Care?
Self-direction, sometimes referred to as ‘consumer-direction’ or ‘participant-direction’, enables aging and disabled individuals to choose where, how, and from whom they receive home and community-based services. Self-direction replaces the traditional home care model and puts control back into the hands of those receiving care.
In traditional models, home care providers maintain a significant amount of control over every aspect of care, which includes choosing who will provide caregiving services. This is a stark contrast to self-directed models, where the majority of care recipients choose and manage their own caregivers (often friends and/or family).
Individuals participating in self-directed programs are often responsible for hiring and managing their caregivers, which they do with help from Financial Management Service providers (such as AssuranceSD). Funding for self-directed programs comes mostly from Medicaid, Managed Care, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.