CDPAP Caregiver Duties and Responsibilities

Did you know New York will pay you to care for a loved one — or pay a loved one to care for you? The Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) gives Medicaid recipients the choice they deserve in caregiving. 

Caregiver duties and responsibilities range from light meal prep to help with managing health conditions. No prior experience is necessary. If you believe you or a loved one might qualify, Amazing Home Care is here to support you.

Introduction to CDPAP

CDPAP is a Medicaid program that allows New York recipients to choose their caregivers. The program is available to disabled or chronically ill individuals who need at-home care or help with activities of daily living.

Who Can Receive Care?

Someone usually qualifies to receive CDPAP services if they:

• Live in New York State
• Have or meet the requirements for Medicaid
• Need assistance with daily living tasks
• Can supervise their own care or have a representative who can do so for them

Supervising your own care means having the mental and physical ability to choose your caregivers, coordinate caregiving schedules, and keep records of services.

If the recipient can’t do these things independently, they can appoint a designated representative. The representative can be any trusted adult other than the person’s CDPAP caregiver or an employee of their intermediary. As a CDPAP program intermediary, Amazing Home Care can’t appoint representatives, but we can help families select someone for the role.

Who Can Provide Care?

A CDPAP caregiver can be any chosen family member, friend, neighbor, or other member of your social circle, with two important exceptions. The caregiver can’t be your spouse or your parent if you’re under 21. Parents can be CDPAP caregivers for adult children 22 and over.

You don’t need any certifications to be a CDPAP caregiver. All you need is dedication, a caring attitude, and the willingness to learn the recipient’s medical needs. 

Key Responsibilities of a CDPAP Caregiver

A CDPAP caregiver’s job description depends on the recipient’s needs. The most common tasks fall into the following broad categories.

Personal Care

CDPAP caregivers care for recipients’ everyday needs, such as bathing, dressing, eating, grooming, and toileting. 

Every recipient is different, and that’s why CDPAP caregiving is so beneficial. Recipients and caregivers can have important conversations about the recipient’s needs and how they’d be most comfortable receiving that help. Those conversations can continue as the recipient’s needs evolve, so care is always personalized and meaningful.

Mobility Assistance

CDPAP caregivers help their loved ones move around at home and in the community. They may assist with walking and help the recipient transition between standing, sitting, and lying down. 

Caregivers can also encourage recipients to do strength-building and flexibility exercises or keep up with physical therapy recommendations. 

Meal Preparation

Caregivers often assist with planning, cooking, and serving meals. They’re responsible for ensuring the recipient follows doctor’s orders, such as reducing salt and avoiding any allergies or intolerances.

Medication Management

Many CDPAP caregivers help their loved ones track medication intake. They ensure the recipient takes each doctor-recommended medication at the right time, providing reminders as necessary. This task often involves putting together a daily medication schedule.

Medication management includes keeping an active list of the recipient’s medications, including any supplements or over-the-counter drugs. That list should be easily accessible and accompany the recipient to doctor’s appointments.

Housekeeping

Home safety and cleanliness are important aspects of caregiving. CDPAP caregivers typically take on at least some aspects of housekeeping, including laundry, bathroom and kitchen cleaning, vacuuming, and light tidying.

Caregivers should also ensure the home’s setup accommodates the recipient’s needs. That means eliminating trip hazards, putting necessities in easy reach, and adding accommodations like grab bars and shower seats.

Transportation

One reason many people choose home care is the freedom to go out in the community. Part of a caregiver’s job is ensuring the recipient can get where they need to go, whether that means driving them or accompanying them in a taxi, rideshare, or bus.

Companionship

Emotional support is as important to a healthy life as physical and medical support. The CDPAP program allows recipients to choose a caregiver who will also be a valued and loving companion. By providing joy and comfort, caregivers can enrich their loved ones’ lives.

Benefits of Being a CDPAP Caregiver

Caregiving through the CDPAP program is a rewarding experience for all involved. Here are three benefits you’ll notice right away.

Flexibility

CDPAP lets you provide the care your loved one needs when they need it. It allows you and the recipient to decide how you’ll help and when you’ll provide that support. And if the recipient’s needs change, the program is flexible enough for your care to shift accordingly.

You might start the program by providing light housekeeping help and transportation to doctor’s appointments. Then, you notice your loved one is struggling more with taking care of themselves at home. The CDPAP program allows you to take on those additional duties without dealing with more paperwork.

Empowerment

Declining health can make recipients and their loved ones feel helpless. CDPAP puts both of you in the driver’s seat by allowing the recipient to decide who helps them and when. You and your loved one can talk about what makes them comfortable and how you can help.

CDPAP is equally empowering for the caregiver, especially with Amazing Home Care’s help. You don’t need to jump through hoops and prove you’re qualified to care for your friend or relative. Their trust is your credential.

Financial Help

You care for a friend or family member in need because you love them. You want them to feel comfortable and safe, even if it means losing wages or donating your limited free time.

The CDPAP program compensates you for the loving care you provide. Those funds can ease some of a caregiver’s financial worries, especially when caregiving hours add up. Instead of stressing about whether you can afford those extra hours, you can enjoy spending time with your loved one.

How Amazing Home Care Can Help

Amazing Home Care helps families navigate the CDPAP program, from sign-up to receipt of services.  As a leading fiscal intermediary for the program, we take care of all the paperwork and logistics so you can focus on caregiving.

How We Help Recipients

Amazing Home Care makes it easy to apply for the CDPAP program. Our personal care specialists lead applicants through the whole process step by step, starting with checking eligibility. If the person is eligible for care and qualifies for Medicaid but hasn’t enrolled, we’ll help them sign up.

We then guide the recipient through the CDPAP sign-up process itself. We ensure you have the right forms and paperwork to smooth enrollment. 

Recipients who sign up through us get free access to a doctor’s advice during the application process. The doctor is there to help you describe your needs and explain what to expect from the mandatory physical exam. We provide this service because we want applicants to feel as comfortable as possible when applying for care.

How We Help Caregivers

Amazing Home Care integrates caregivers into the CDPAP program from day one. After you start working, Amazing Home Care handles your employment logistics, including your payments for hours worked.  All CDPAP caregivers who work with us receive the following:

• Competitive rates
• Same-day direct deposit
• Health insurance
• Paid sick time
• Training and ongoing support

We offer the best possible rate and benefits to each caregiver who works with us. Pay ranges depend on the recipient’s insurance provider and county of residence, but we do everything possible to maximize payout within those constraints.

Our goal is to be an advocate for you and your loved one. Our top markers of success are the thanks we receive from grateful families. Here’s one we’re particularly proud of:

“With Amazing I learned how to get paid for caring for family. I was already doing it for free. Amazing has given me the chance to realize my dream of caring for people.” — Amanda M.

If you and your loved ones would benefit from participating in the CDPAP program, we’re here to help.

Get Started Today

Becoming a CDPAP caregiver is rewarding — and a significant commitment. Responsible caregivers must understand the job and be willing to meet the recipient’s needs.

We’re here to help. If you have any questions about being a caregiver or the sign-up process, call us at (646) 703-0443 or contact us online.