The New York OPWDD has assembled a state-wide network of in-home pediatric care providers. But who qualifies for care under their program, and how does one go about applying? Keep reading to find out.
In the past 10 years, the New York Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) has steadily grown into an incredible hub for educational resources and direct assistance to families. From employment initiatives to the construction of a network of approved care providers the state-led office has not slowed its rollout of new programs, even in the face of recent challenges.
One of the most critical areas in which the Office can offer its assistance is in connecting families with home care programs. To fill this need, the OPWDD is now partnered with a network of over 700 nonprofit service providers covering the entire state of New York. The key question in the minds of many, however, is who actually qualifies for the programs being offered by those providers, which is exactly what we are setting out to explore today.
Pediatric disability home care is a wide umbrella under which a wide range of services exist. Home care providers may offer part-time or full-time live-in care, or, in less severe cases, telehealth monitoring services.
Those who sign up will have access to a wide range of home care options to address varying levels of need. OPWDD-approved providers are available to provide short-term, post-surgery care, or long-term support with daily tasks such as:
Medication management assistance is also typically available, though this may depend on the provider.
In terms of specific qualifiers, OPWDD partners almost exclusively with programs covered by Medicaid. Typically, any patient who exhibits a sufficient level of need, obtains a physician's referral, and possesses the proper documentation. OPWDD operators are also available to pair patients with programs that are most likely to accept them in their area.
One provider, Amelia Home Care, explained that pediatric disability patients tend to respond more positively to in-home care, as it allows them to remain in a comfortable, familiar environment throughout the care process. Families also stand to benefit from this arrangement, avoiding burnout and fatigue while still maintaining involvement in the child’s life.
Another New York provider, Americare, pointed to studies which show that disabled children who grow up in a home setting are more likely to develop independence, gaining valuable skills in the process. Those same children also demonstrated higher emotional stability and decreased stress and anxiety overall.
Pursuing pediatric home care can be as simple as , though you will need a physician's recommendation first. This is due to the fact that most providers require detailed documentation of a child's medical history to develop a personalized model of care.
If you are having trouble with direct outreach, consider contacting the OPWDD; they have agents on standby to walk you through the process of securing care that is both affordable and high-quality.
