FAQ’s

Our direct care support provider is responsible to provide direct services to you and your loved one including but not limited to:

• Assistance in the maintenance of a clean safe environment
• Respect you and your loved ones’ rights and assure they are met
• Ensure you or your loved one maintain self-esteem
• Ensure you/your loved ones is clean and neat in appearance at all times
• Document on all you/your loved one’s programs as determined by the person-centered plan
• To know and document how you/your loved one’s behavior intervention plans as designed
• Remain alert to your/your loved one’s behavior or physical changes and notify the program administrator immediately
• Provide you/your loved one with activities of daily care, using resources as appropriate.
• Assist you with medical administration and handle mediation with safety if appropriate
• Provide you/your loved one with emergency care as needed until trained licensed personnel arrive
• Accurately spend and account for you/your loved one’s purchases
• Ensure that you have the information needed to make thoughtful decisions about your activities

MHCS provides services for individuals with developmental and/or intellectual disabilities who participate in Indiana’s Home and Community Based Services Program (HCBS) through the Family Supports Waiver (FSW) and Community Integration and Habilitation Waiver. The purpose of this program is to provide individuals who might otherwise be faced with institutionalization with access to community-based services and supports that are important to them and are provided in a manner that respects their personal beliefs and customs.

MHCS provides services in Northern Indiana counties. Most referrals come from case management companies in our areas. We screen all referrals and do not discriminate in any way among those who have chosen us. We further ensure that our services are accessible to everyone. Once you have chosen our company, you will be contacted by our coordinator within 48 hours of the date that we receive your referral from case management. The coordinator will set a time to meet with you, typically within two weeks of the initial contact.

At your first meeting, you will engage in an initial person-centered planning. This process will ensure that what is “important to” and “important for” you take center stage in the creation of your person-centered plan (PCP). It also ensures that you are accorded the respect that you deserve, and are given the tools to make progress toward the life you would like to create. As part of the PCP process, the coordinator will educate you about our services. The coordinator will also review with you the Individualized Support Plan (ISP) that will be used as a guide when training our staff to work with you. We will then create a working schedule that is agreeable to you. Behind the direct care providers is a program administrator who will follow your service to ensure satisfaction in the services provided. The program administrator will provide you with the support, education, and resources you will need to make decisions about how to achieve your desired life outcomes.

In addition to all mandated state trainings, our direct care provider is continuously trained to increase their overall level of waiver knowledge, advocacy skills, person-centered thinking, and professionalism so no one is better equipped to partner with you in your waiver journey.

Person-centered planning is a process used to identify the strengths, capacities, preferences, needs, and desired outcomes of the individuals served. The process includes participants chosen by the individual or guardian who assists the individual to identify personally meaningful life outcomes, as well as goals or stepping stones toward achieving those outcomes.

What is “important to” and “important for” the individuals we serve are at the core of our PCP process, and their self-identified outcomes are the drivers for all that we and the members of the Individual support team (IST) do on their behalf. In addition, all MHCS staff receive training on person-centered thinking so that they can understand and implement better the PCP process.

What is “important to” is what matters most to people, and is how they define a quality of life for themselves. It encompasses those things in life which help one to be satisfied, content, comforted, and happy. It includes:

• People to be with /relationships
• Things to do
• Places to go
• Rituals or routines
• Rhythm or pace of life

What is “important for” people include factors that we need to keep in mind regarding:

• Issues of health or safety
• Physical health and safety, including wellness and prevention
• Emotional health and safety, including support needed
• What others see as important to help the person be a valued member of their community

You will see your program administrator as often as was decided by you, your administrator will visit you frequently, at least every two weeks to supervise the direct care provider. Your administrator will meet with your direct care provider on a regular basis to get updates on your individualized plan of care.

An individual has the following responsibilities when receiving waiver services:

• To participate in planning your services
• To work on achieving your goals
• To inform our direct care provider about any changes that are pertinent to your participation.

MHCS’s direct care providers monitor the quality of your waiver services on an ongoing basis, using a variety of methods to ensure that the services meet the standards set forth in your individualized support plan (ISP) and in DDRS regulations. They will work with and will review with you on your satisfaction with the service.

Additionally, the program director will perform both unannounced and announced visits to check on the quality of services being provided. MHCS will be responsive to any issues that you may have with your services and will work to ensure that those issues are resolved or will give you the opportunity to seek other service providers

The family supports waiver and community integration and habilitation waiver (CIH) contain integrated funding that supports the cost to individuals and their families for waiver support services. The cost is a fixed fee set by the DDRS and is the same for all individuals served regardless of their level of need or of the case management company that serves them.

You are always able to reach someone at MHCS, no matter the time of day or night. You can call your direct care provider during regular working hours. If he or she is not available and you want to speak to someone immediately, you may call our immediate line at 574-276-9831.

Absolutely! You are not limited to only making one choice about any of your waiver providers or services. You can change your direct care provider, services, or service providers at any point at which you are not satisfied, or feel that your needs have changed. MHCS will assist you.

Anyone who is 16 years of age or older is eligible to take the CNA course. In order to take the Indiana state exam, you must be able to speak, read and write in English.

• CNAs have responsibilities that include assisting patients/residents with activities of daily living, which include: Feeding/ eating, bathing, grooming, taking vital signs and monitoring intake and output.
• CNAs provide the majority of all direct care in facilities.
• They are the eyes and ears of the healthcare team, and may provide life-saving information.
• CNAs are trained to observe individuals for changes in condition that may include fever, high blood pressure, weakness, and loss of appetite, slurred speech, pain, swelling, skin changes, disorientation and other concerns.
• CNAs are required to make immediate notification to the nurse of an individual’s complaint of chest pain, nausea, numbness or difficulty breathing, which can facilitate necessary medical attention.

Healthcare professionals are in great demand due to the aging population. Three million baby boomers will hit retirement every year until 2029 (The Bureau of Labor Statistics). Unfortunately, there are not enough nurses or nursing assistants to care for them, creating opportunities for healthcare careers. The demand for CNAs is high in the extended care facilities and at other care settings. According to the National Network of Career Nursing Assistants, there are over 4 million caregivers, providing direct care to individuals in nursing homes and other care settings.

CNAs work at a variety of settings, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, assisted living, medical offices, clinics, memory care, hospice care and home health care setting. A CAN has the freedom to choose the kind of setting they want to work at.

• Communicates with patients in a caring, compassionate manner
• Observes changes in the patient’s condition and reports these to the charge nurse in a timely manner
• Takes and records vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature)
• Responds to call lights when patients requests assistance
• Turns, repositions and transfers patients
• Documents patient information regarding intake and output
• By words and actions, conveys that each patient is valued and that his/her concerns are heard
• Grooming and bathing patients with low mobility
• Preparing each patient room with necessary items like blankets, pillows, medical equipment and bathroom needs
• Helping patients eat and take medications
• Making sure they have regular meals and proper medication dosages
• Monitoring vitals and patient behavior and reporting them to the nursing and medical staff
• Assisting patients with mobility needs, transferring them from wheelchair to bed
• Exercising patients by helping them walk

• Individuals considering becoming an aide should have a genuine passion for caring for others and find it rewarding to assist them with the activities of daily living.
• Those wishing to become CNAs should have kindness, patience, good listeners, attentive to detail, reliable, responsible, adaptable, and enjoy learning. Physical strength is important, to be able to transfer and lift patients. He/she needs to be ethical and be able to follow protocol, be a good communicator, and have a positive attitude and a cheerful demeanor. It is also essential to be calm in a crisis, non-judgmental, compassionate and empathetic. A CNA always shows respect to individuals, supervisors and co-workers and acts with integrity at all times.

The lead nurse instructor at Miami Homecare is a nurse, who started her care career as a CAN. All training personnel are passionate about the quality of care and they understand that it is a privilege to train Nursing Assistants. The instructor has many years of nursing experience. She has worked in critical care settings, long-term care, and has been a school of nursing instructor. and in-home care including pediatrics and senior care. She has professional experience in program administration, accreditation Surveyor, education, and is currently working in care management.

Students can attend class in casual attire. The days that are exclusively lab sessions and clinical days require wearing scrubs and closed-toe shoes. Miami Homecare will provide students with one set of scrubs as part of the course tuition.

Miami Homecare will provide a Nurse Aide workbook, stethoscope, blood pressure cuff, thermometer, gloves and a two piece scrubs uniform.

When you successfully complete the written and practical exam Miami Homecare, you will hold the necessary certificate to take the NNAAP exam. You will be registered, and the fee is included in your course registration at Miami Homecare Services.