Attendant Care Management

Moving on with life after a serious spinal cord injury, to achieve an independent and successful lifestyle, is possible even though the odds may be significantly stacked against you. For those who sustain an injury resulting in quadriplegia, there is an added dimension that can make the goal of independence seemingly impossible. This dimension is the added necessity of Personal Care Assistants. Someone and/or something to assist with basic activities of daily living.

A concept that was probably unknown prior to injury, Personal Care Assistants (PCA's) are the lifeline to independence and the ultimate goal of happiness for most quadriplegic who strives to achieve these objectives in their everyday life. However, the complexities of identifying, training, managing and affording quality PCA's are more far reaching than the average person would think.

Providing assistance with basic bodily functions and everyday tasks that most people take for granted, quality PCA's oftentimes mean the difference between success and "failure." True, PCA's do not guarantee success or happiness for anyone. The individual requiring this assistance must also have in place a sound support system along with having the dedication and perseverance necessary to whether through the constant challenges of properly managing their PCA's. Without these characteristics, the task of successfully managing their personal care is almost assuredly going to be a constant uphill battle, thus, making the goal of "success" (whatever the definition) far more challenging or perhaps impossible.

For me personally, understanding the dynamics of and obtaining the necessary skills to successfully manage my personal care has been an ongoing evolutionary process. I have learned to become patient beyond the norm, have come to know the true meaning of adaptation, and have mastered the skills of creative financing and bartering. Along with realizing the importance of treating my PCA's with respect and dignity, and understanding that they are the key to my independence, I have gained a firm grasp of and recognize the responsibility my PCA's assume when taking on this role. As a result, I have managed to survive over 30 years of utilizing PCA's with relatively few problems.

To this day, identifying and hiring PCA's is by far the most stress evoking aspect of my life. However, I truthfully hope that feeling of stress never subsides. Because if it does, I will be prone to the many potential pitfalls associated with poor PCA management.

I will always approach the task of managing my PCA's seriously. I have to…my existence depends on it!