Personal Care Aide Training Curriculum Form – Fill Out and Use This PDF

The Department of Medical Assistance Services

PERSONAL CARE AIDE CURRICULUM

Foreword

The Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) allows provider agencies to develop a Personal Care Aide (PCA) training program within their agency. The purpose is to assist providers in recruiting, effectively training, and retaining nursing aides to provide services to Medicaid Waiver recipients.

DMAS has developed this curriculum to be used by providers who desire to have a PCA training program within their agency. In the past Medicaid required providers to submit a copy of their PCA training curriculum to the Long Term Care and Quality Assurance Division of DMAS for approval.

Beginning July 1, 2002, all agencies that have not previously received a letter of approval and authorization must use this curriculum as a part of their training program. The provider must complete and submit the Request for Authorization form (DMAS-260) and receive a letter of authorization from the Waiver Services Unit (WSU) at DMAS, and use this curriculum as a part of their program. All authorized programs will be added to the list of Medicaid approved PCA training programs. This list is regularly updated and posted on the DMAS web site.

The DMAS Personal Care Aide training program must give a minimum of 40- hours of nursing aide training and be supervised and taught by a RN who is currently licensed to practice in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The RN must have at least two

(2)years of related clinical experience as a Registered Nurse or as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). Clinical experience may include work in an acute care hospital, public health clinic, home health agency, or nursing facility.

Graduates of this PCA program are only authorized to provide personal care nursing aide services to Medicaid Waiver recipients. All students must understand that this program will not be recognized by the Virginia State Board of Nursing, nursing and medical facilities, or other state nursing boards, but only by DMAS Waiver programs.

The personal care aide training class may include any number of students; however there must be a ratio of one (1) instructor to every ten (10) students. The purpose is to ensure adequate training and instruction for each student.

This aide training curriculum is not intended to include all information and practical training that is appropriate for personal care nursing aides. This outlined curriculum is information that DMAS is requiring as a part of the training program. DMAS created this curriculum to ensure that certain issues and subjects are taught to students who will be providing Medicaid services. All techniques, procedures, tasks, and assigned duties within this curriculum should be demonstrated and observed by the trainer prior to assigning the nursing aide to an independent setting such as a recipient’s

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The Department of Medical Assistance Services

PERSONAL CARE AIDE CURRICULUM

home. The Appendix includes a skills check list and a test to be used at the end of the training. These documents can be altered to include any specific requirements of a locality or training area.

DMAS suggests contacting other resources to assist with the training, such as the police and fire department to put on in-services for the students in areas of safety. There are aspects of caring for a recipient in the community that the aides may not be aware of, such as how to remove a bed-bound recipient from the home in the case of a fire. The trainer may want to include some education on Hospice, death and dying, or any other topics that would assist the aide in providing quality care to the recipient.

If you have any questions, concerns, or would like assistance with this curriculum, please contact the Waiver Services Unit at (804) 786-1465.

Waiver Services Unit

Long Term Care and

Quality Assurance Division

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The Department of Medical Assistance Services

PERSONAL CARE AIDE CURRICULUM

Page

Foreword

I.Introduction

II.The Elderly

III.Personal Care and Rehabilitative Services

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The Department of Medical Assistance Services

PERSONAL CARE AIDE CURRICULUM

I.Introduction

A.This program has been developed by the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) to establish a uniform training curriculum. Its purpose is to train and teach qualified persons to provide personal care services under Medicaid Waivers. DMAS hopes that this program will assist in recruiting and retaining qualified personal care aides.

B.DMAS Requirements for Personal Care Aides (PCA) include:

1.Must be 18 years of age or older;

2.Must be able to read and write in English to the degree necessary to perform the tasks expected; and

3.Must be able to perform the tasks required.

II.The Elderly

A. Physical and Biological Aspects of Aging

1.Cardiovascular changes:

a.The heart rate slows, causing a slower pulse and less efficient circulation1

b.Blood vessels lose elasticity and develop calcium deposits, resulting in narrowing1

c.Blood pressure increases because of changes to the walls of the blood vessels1

d.It takes longer for the heart rate to return to normal after exercise1

e.Veins become enlarged, causing the blood vessels near the surface of the skin to become more prominent.1

2.Respiratory Changes:

a.Lung capacity is decreased because of muscular rigidity in the lungs2

b.Cough becomes less effective, allowing pooling of secretions and fluid2 in the lungs, increasing the risk of infection2

c.Shortness of breath may occur on exertion2

d.Less effective gas exchange takes place in the lungs2

3.Urinary System Changes:

a.Bladder capacity decreases, increasing the frequency of urination3

b.Kidney function increases at rest, causing the elderly to get up during the night to urinate3

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