The National Private Duty Association was founded on June 13, 2002. The NPDA's mission is to "enhance the strength and professionalism of private duty home care providers through education and identification of best practices."
As a charter member of the National Private Duty Association, and founding member & past president of our state chapter, Home Instead Senior Care is a strong advocate for improving home care for all Coloradoans. NPDA represents those home care companies who generally are paid directly by the client (i.e., private duty), not by Medicare or Medicaid. In addition, NPDA members, among several other requirements, employ their caregivers, and do not use independent contractors.
In 2006 & 2007, our NPDA-Colorado Chapter, Inc., developed standards for care, training, and supervision. By 2007, Colorado was one of twenty three other states that had no licensure or oversight of won medical companionship and homecare. In 2008, the NPDA-Colorado Chapter, Inc., with accessibility, affordability, and accountability of this type of service in mind, worked with other stakeholders to pass Senate Bill 153 - The Home Care Licensure Bill.
During the summer of 2008, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment appointed Home Instead Senior Care to the home care licensure advisory committee. As one of the 14 members of the committee, Home Instead Senior Care will be working to make sure non-medical companionship and home care reamin affordable, accessible, and accountable.
There are over 900 private duty agencies that have come together to form the NPDA. Each adheres to the federal and state regulations such as witholding required taxes, providing workers' compensation, and conducting background and reference checks.
The National Private Duty Association has several goals:
- Become the recognized resource for information and definition of private duty home care practice
- Develop a national public education campaign that emphasizes consumer safety and informed decision making
- Establish industry standards and a code of ethics
- Develop best practices within the private duty home care industry
- Develop core training and certification programs
- Share resources among private duty agencies and other community base providers of care in the home
- Develop a successful political lobby to address issues related to the care and protection of frail elderly and the disabled
"The quality, history, training and supervision of cargivers is crucial in order to ensure the quality of care. Those who need in-home care are often isolated with no direct supervision. NPDA is here to help you make the best choice possible."
This information was gathered from www.privatedutyhomecare.org.
