Participant Directed Services

Participant directed services or participant direction is a way to provide services that lets you control what services you receive, who provides them, and how and when those services are delivered. This approach provides you with the information and assistance you need to choose and plan for the services and supports that work best for you. This includes being able to hire who you want to provide your services, and can include family and friends. But it also gives you the option of using a service agency, if you choose, such as a home care agency.

The difference is that you have choices and can make the decisions that work best for you. Many publicly funded programs that provide home and community services, such as Medicaid, are using this approach because it is more what people want.

In facility based services you generally don’t have the option to hire someone independently, but you should have choices about which staff members provide your care, the schedule you keep, and the meals you eat.

In home-, community- and facility-based settings, you should have the ability to participate or direct the development of a service plan, provide feedback on services and activities, and request changes as needed.