Independent Perspective 1759 with Julie Andrews Krieger on the Advantages of Taking Control CDPAS

Host: Welcome to Independent Perspective, a public affairs presentation of Western New York Independent Living (WNIL). Our guest today is Julie Andrews Krieger, director of the Taking Control program at WNYIL, and I am your host, Ernie Churchwell. Welcome to the program, Julie.

Guest: Thank you for inviting me, Ernie.

Host: It is our pleasure. The agency has in recent days been trying to get the word out more broadly about the availability of Taking Control Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Services (CDPAS) to help people live independently in their home. And could you contrast that with traditional home care aid services?

Guest: I sure can. So, in my experience with licensed home care, which I have had some extensive experience with, I have made the observation between the two types of programs, licensed Home Care Services agencies, and the Consumer Directed program. The CDPAS program affords our consumers a great deal more empowerment and in addition, I have seen the quality of life improve with individuals who are able to recruit and time and task manage and even to terminate their own personal assistance versus the licensed Home Care Services options where there is essentially a revolving door of staff, while they're qualified, they're not necessarily the choice of the people receiving services.

Host: So, in Taking Control, the individuals in the driver’s seat, which is a whole separate dynamic from when all the decisions are being made by the nursing service, County Social Services and the aides themselves. Plus working it through Taking Control allows people to avail themselves of other services found at a center for Independent Living. Would you like to tell us about those?

Guest: That's correct, Ernie. So, what is really unique about the CDPAS program and what we've reminded our consumers of is that essentially as the employer, one of the considerations that they need to make is how do they retain their own staff. That is unique to this role that they're in; and that this is something that if you're provided with care, you're not necessarily thinking of yourself as an employer. But in this context in CDPAS, the consumer is the employer, so they often have to consider what is it going to take to keep their personal assistants and to maintain them and what considerations they may need to make. So, for example if the consumer understands that the personal assistant has to go to their child's soccer game, perhaps they can negotiate the time and task management and then alter their own schedule so that both needs are met. That is, the consumers’ needs as well as the Personal Assistant. In terms of operating from the center of an independent living center, the additional services that can support the consumer and to some extent, even the personal assistants if they need are plenty. When we or the consumer identifies that they have a need, we are able to easily refer them to additional support within the organization.

Host: That sounds like quite the full-featured program to get involved in and as people have suspected, when the consumer being served has the power to schedule, evaluate, and terminate the individual, all of a sudden, that's a whole new dynamic from the traditional licensed home care. Would you believe we're running low on time? Would you like to tell people how they can get in touch with you if they have questions?

Guest: Thank you, Ernie. So, the best way to reach me is by telephone. It is 716-836-0822 ext. 151 or you can reach me by e-mail. That's jandrews@wnyil.org

Host: Terrific, thanks so much for being with us, Julie.

Guest: It is my pleasure.

Host: You've been listening to Independent Perspective, a public affairs presentation of WNYIL. Our guest today was Julie Andrews Krieger, director of the Taking Control program. And I've been your host, Ernie Churchwell.