HOME CARE SUPPORT SERVICES OVERVIEW
Home Care Support Services (HCSS) provides Attendant Care services to Arizona Long Term Care (ALTCS) clients in their home. Through in home services such as bathing, meal preparation, housekeeping, and medication reminders provided by Attendant Care Workers, clients may return to or remain living in their own home. 

MISSION
The mission of Home Care Support Services is to 
provide members with in home support services which:

• are individualized to the member's unique circumstances
• foster the member's independent and informed decision making
• enhance the member's quality of life
• support the member's ability to remain living independently in his/her own home, and
• are delivered in a cost efficient manner to maximize the overall benefit of available resources.

VISION
Our vision is to be the premier provider of in home support services in Pima County by: 

• exceeding customer service expectations
• employing and retaining trained and competent caregivers and support staff
• maintaining compliance with regulatory requirements and service authorizations
• collaborating with the member and family, Pima Health System staff, and community based care providers to coordinate services which promote the member's independent living, and designing and implementing operations with a commitment to organizational and fiscal responsibility.

How Home Care Support Services are Obtained
Case Managers refer and authorize clients for attendant care services. The HCSS staff work closely with case management staff to ensure delivery of quality services to clients. Communication is maintained between the HCSS Nurse and the Case Manager to provide client information, to address assignment issues, and to resolve problems. 
The Home Care Support Services Program recruits, screens, hires, matches, trains and supervises the Attendant Care Workers and Personal Care Aides who serve its clients.

The Attendant Care Worker
The Attendant Care Worker is recruited, screened, and hired by Home Care Support Services. Previous care giving experience is not a requirement. Attendant Care workers are often family members or friends of the client. The Attendant Care Worker (ACW) must meet all requirements to work for Pima Health System's Home Care Support Services Attendant Care Program.
Attendant Care services do not include any skilled care.

All applicants who are suitable for the ACW position and meet all requirements are scheduled for a 2 day Attendant Care Program Training course. When successfully completed, the ACW can be placed in an assignment with a client. Nursing staff supervise and monitor the performance of Attendant Care Workers. 

ACW Time sheets
General caregiver information
How to obtain New Assignments
Mileage Reimbursement

Spotter

A "spotter" is an Attendant Care Worker who:

• already has an assignment and would like to work additional hours, 
• has ended an assignment and would like to work until a client match is found. 

A "Spotter" assignment is a temporary assignment only . The day, time and hours worked can vary depending on the client's need.

An ACW who would like to be a Spotter should inform the LPN Monitor or Nurse Supervisor of dates and times of availability and the area of town they are willing to work. The Nurse will then post this information. When the need for a spotter arises the Nurse will check the posted information and then contact the ACW who has available time to meet the client's needs.

Home Care Support Services Staff

The Personal Care Aide
Personal Care Aides provide Attendant Care Services for clients until an ACW is assigned to the client, or during a temporary absence of an assigned ACW. 

Personal care Aides are HCSS employees who must meet all of the requirements of that position. An orientation and training program is provided with extensive information on diagnoses, communication, behavior management and the interdisciplinary team process. 

As with the Attendant Care Workers, Nursing staff supervise and monitor the performance of Personal Care Aides. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HOME CARE SUPPORT SERVICES and THE ATTENDANT CARE PROGRAM, call: 243-8071

To fill out an application to become a Personal Care Aide, visit our office at the Pima County Human Resources office at 150 W. Congress, 4th floor, Tucson, AZ 85701. 
Applications are available Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM at Pima Health System, in the Herbert K Abrams Public Health Center 3950 S. Country Club Road, Suite 400 Tucson, Az 85714.