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“Without a program like CDPAP, my only options would be a nursing home or a costly institutional care setting, neither of which reflects how I want to live and neither of which would be affordable for long.”
I’ve always called New York home: born and raised in Manhattan, now proudly living in the Bronx. But today, at 68 years old, living in New York City is a lot harder than it used to be. I deal with arthritis in my knees, consistent mobility challenges, and high blood pressure. Yet I’ve always believed that those things shouldn’t stop me from living my life.
Fortunately, New York’s Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) helps make sure of that. CDPAP allows older adults and people with disabilities to choose and hire their own caregivers—including trusted family members—so they can remain safely at home and in their communities. It’s a lifesaver for both people like me who rely on home care and for our family members who provide it.
Without a program like CDPAP, my only options would be a nursing home or a costly institutional care setting, neither of which reflects how I want to live and neither of which would be affordable for long. For people like me, this program is the difference between staying home and being forced to leave it.
Like many people, when I first needed extra help at home, I worried about losing my independence. What I found instead was a program that allowed me to keep living on my own terms while making it possible for the person who knows me best to provide it.
My daughter is a personal assistant (PA) in the CDPAP program. In this role, she is able to dedicate her time to caring for me at home. She makes sure I take my medication, ensures I have groceries and clean clothes, assists me getting in and out of the shower, and is there to help with activities as simple but important as getting up from the couch.
These may sound like small things, but they make a huge difference in my ability to stay safely in my home and community. And it gives my daughter the financial support to dedicate her time to helping me, all while developing a skill that has brought us closer together—a gift that goes far beyond my medical need.
My daughter and I didn’t always see eye to eye. Like many families, we had our disagreements over the years. But through dedicated and consistent home care, we’ve learned how to communicate better, support one another, and appreciate each other in new ways. Our relationship today is stronger than it has ever been thanks in large part to this program.
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With so many political conversations at the state and local level about the value of Medicaid programs, relationships like ours often get lost in the noise. Programs like CDPAP don’t just support the person receiving care. They also support families financially and emotionally.
Without this program, my daughter would not be able to sustain the level of support she is able to provide and that I need to live safely and independently at home. That would almost certainly mean moving away in a more expensive arrangement. CDPAP keeps me home at a fraction of that cost, and it keeps my family together in the process.
Without a doubt, the success of this program is thanks in part to the organizations who make it work. Just over a year ago, Public Partnerships LLC (PPL) became the sole fiscal intermediary for CDPAP statewide, handling administrative aspects of the program like paperwork and payroll. They are the reason my daughter and I now have seamless new technologies—something as simple as an app on our phone—to help manage my care and her compensation.
Meanwhile, local CDPAP facilitators like Royal Care have helped guide us through the transition with local, specialized support. Whenever we’ve needed assistance, we’ve received quick responses and helpful information from both organizations. All of which is leaps and bounds better than what the program used to be, and certainly better than what our life was like before we joined the program.
Most importantly, it gives me peace of mind. It helps me feel safe, respected, and supported. It allows me to remain in the Bronx community I love while being cared for by family.
As our city and state continue looking for ways to support older adults and people with disabilities, I hope we remember what programs like CDPAP make possible. They don’t just help people live independently. They strengthen families, support caregivers, and keep communities connected.
Home-based care like CDPAP is one of the most cost-effective ways New York can serve its aging and disabled population while honoring their dignity and independence. I know many, many others can say the same.
Karol Davis is a Castle Hill resident and a consumer in New York’s Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP).