Unlocking Potential: How HealthKeeperz and CAP Afford Disabled Adults the Opportunity To Live Their Best Lives

By  //  May 10, 2023

Everyone wants to live their best life and disabled adults are no exception. Unfortunately, disabled adults deal with numerous challenges that the nondisabled population doesn’t, and without appropriate planning and intervention, many of them face the all-too-real prospect of being consigned to living out their days in long-term care institutions.

In North Carolina, however, thanks to the Medicaid Community Alternatives Program for Disabled Adults (CAP/DA) and holistic case management services provided by home health service providers such as Pembroke-based HealthKeeperz, there’s a far superior alternative.

According to the North Carolina Division of Medicaid Benefits, “CAP/DA is a Medicaid home- and community-based services (HCBS) … waiver program [that] provides a cost-effective alternative [to intermediate and skilled care in a nursing facility] … for a Medicaid beneficiary (age 18 and older) who is medically fragile and at risk for institutionalization … CAP/DA services allow the beneficiary to remain in or return to a home- and community-based setting by supplementing, rather than replacing, the formal and informal services and supports already available to an approved Medicaid beneficiary.”

With an emphasis on maintaining dignity and satisfying the stated desire of disabled adults and their families for them to receive in-home care, CAP/DA was designed to address the personal care needs of the patient while providing relief to the caregiver/family across a range of in-home and community-based services for adult Medicaid recipients not covered by North Carolina’s regular Medicaid program.

How CAP and Effective Case Management Improve the Lives of Disabled Adults

According to HealthKeeperz CAP management, the main benefits of CAP/DA are twofold: The first is to help disabled adults remain in their homes and stay connected to their families and community while enjoying the finest quality of life and the best care possible. For disabled adults, this is a best-case scenario that fosters the feelings of autonomy, self-determination, and security so necessary to maintaining a positive mental attitude.

The second objective of CAP/DA is to ensure that caregivers get the practical and emotional support they need to allow them to maintain uninterrupted continuity of care. “One of the chief benefits of home care is knowing that a loved one is safe and well cared for,” the Aging Care forum reports. “Whether your loved one has a cognitive or physical disability, disrupting routines can be stressful to anyone. Staying in a familiar environment often fosters feelings of safety and comfort.”

Understanding the Unique Needs of Disabled Adults 

Disability is a blanket term that encompasses a broad spectrum of physical and cognitive challenges, as well as mental health conditions. The National Disability Institute estimates that “there are between 40 million and 57 million people with disabilities in the United States, which is about 13-20% of [the] population.” 

Generally speaking, the extent of disability is commensurate with the level of care required for a person to safely remain in a home environment. When coordinating the optimal home regimen for a disabled adult, case managers and caregivers must take into account the person’s individualized special needs, which may include such practical considerations as accessibility and mobility concerns, personal hygiene tasks, dressing, bathroom/incontinence support, meal preparation/nutrition, shopping, errands, and light housekeeping. 

Also essential is including disabled adults in suitable socialized settings that provide them with mental stimulation, psychological/spiritual support, and the feeling of connectedness to the community, each of which plays a vital role in their continued emotional well-being. Due to the often complex nature of disability cases, evaluation by an experienced CAP/DA case manager (most often a registered nurse or professionally trained social worker) to determine appropriate care and services is highly recommended to achieve best outcomes. 

HealthKeeperz: Providing Comprehensive Services for Disabled Adults 

The first step in connecting clients with appropriate resources and services is for a CAP case manager to develop a personalized care plan. After evaluating the extent of the client’s physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges, their CAP case manager can formulate a routine that incorporates services such as in-home rehabilitation, assistive technology solutions, necessary home alterations (including wheelchair ramps, doorway widening, safety railing and non-skid surface installation, and shower/bath modifications), assistance with day-to-day activities, and respite for family caregivers.

“Our case management team will visit you at home to complete a thorough assessment of your needs,” HealthKeeperz explains. “You, your doctor, and your family will work with the case management team to design a care plan that is right for you. A social worker will work with you to arrange services and monitor your care. A nursing assistant, supervised by a registered nurse, may be available during the day.” 

Additionally, case managers take access to community-based services and financial assistance for those who qualify into consideration. After assessing all the variables of an individual case, the case manager then creates a care plan and coordinates their efforts with North Carolina CAP/DA to set it in motion.

But there’s more. 

Effective CAP Case Management Must Evolve With Patients’ Changing Needs

Providing an optimal home care environment for disabled adults also requires the understanding that as the client ages, their condition will likely deteriorate. This is why ongoing case management oversight that includes efficient patient monitoring and appropriate response to change is crucial to ensuring a continuum of high-quality care.

As the case management experts at HealthKeeperz can affirm, establishing and maintaining a safe, healthy, and rewarding home environment for disabled adults takes teamwork. Providing the highest quality of life for people with disabilities requires a well-orchestrated collaboration between the client, their medical team, caregivers, CAP case managers, and the North Carolina CAP/DA. Always keeping their self-determination, dignity, and personal wishes in mind, HealthKeeperz is committed to ensuring that each of its CAP/DA clients is afforded the opportunity to live their life to their richest, fullest potential. 

“This program is a wonderful alternative for many North Carolinians seeking to avoid placement in a nursing home, and it’s just one of the ways we enjoy providing care with compassion that promotes dignity and a more active lifestyle,” the HealthKeeperz website states.

“HealthKeeperz CAP case managers develop plans of care for each client, and these plans are aimed at ensuring that the client is safe at home and receives the services he or she needs.”