1. Personal Care Assistance Tool PCA Orientation Basics The Assessor’s Guide to Evaluating Personal Care Part 2 - Guiding Principles of the PCA Assessment
Introduce team members
Janet Kumka - January 2017
This report has been prepared as advice, opinions, proposals, recommendations, analyses or policy options developed by or for the public body or a minister, as per Section 23(1) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

2. Part 2 - Overview Review of the PCA functional report
Guiding principles for the PCA assessment

3. Guiding Principles of the PCA Assessment
The PCA assessment tool is a detailed comprehensive report and functions to capture all the information about the claimant’s PCA needs. Additional narrative reports are not required.

4. Guiding Principles of the PCA Assessment
The Personal Care Assessment is divided in to 2 sections:
Section 1
Lists the essential activities of home and community management, mobility, self-care and bowel and bladder.
Section 2
Details any special requirements for supervision of the claimant above and beyond any requirements for assistance with PCA activities covered in section one.

5. Guiding Principles of the PCA Assessment
The PCA assessment is a functional assessment based on demonstrated activities, that the claimant must be encouraged to participate as the claimant is able.
Assessments are to be conducted in the claimant’s residence unless special circumstances are indentified and pre-approved by the case manager.
Only the specific needs of the claimant alone are the basis of the assessment.

6. Guiding Principles of the PCA Assessment
When reviewing the relevant PCA activities, keep in mind areas that may create duplication.
Examples:
Basement stairs
Laundry
Banking
Community outings
Bowel and bladder/toileting
Simply state, already captured under…

7. Guiding Principles of the PCA Assessment
Important to note: When assessing the claimant’s abilities to prepare meals for themselves, confirm what is a typical meal choice for the claimant, in order to provide an indication of the task demand.
Provide Range Of Motion (ROM), Manual Muscle Testing (MMT) or balance measures to establish a baseline, then review for consistency or inconsistency with objective findings from your assessment and report on same.

8. Guiding Principles of the PCA Assessment
Independence is evaluated based on the claimant’s level of function that is objectively determined with consideration of recovery guidelines and measures as well as consideration for modifications and assistive devices used in order to facilitate independence with PCA activities. Keep in mind that the claimant’s perspective of independence may differ from the medical rehabilitative approach (i.e., the past vs. the present way of doing things).

9. Guiding Principles of the PCA Assessment
As assessors, it is expected that you recommend equipment that will facilitate independence.
Expectations are that you also provide task modification and education on guiding principles of pacing and activity breakdown in order for the claimant to successfully manage pain symptoms and facilitate functional recovery.
Example: hurt vs. harm principles

10. Guiding Principles of the PCA Assessment
Be aware PCA is for claimant specific needs alone and does not include other family members residing within the home.
Keep this in mind when addressing areas of home and community management.
Example: Bulk shopping, meal preparations, laundry volumes

11. Part 2 - Summary Review of the PCA functional report
Guiding principles for the PCA assessment