Personal Care Assistants are the pulse of the health care industry across the United States. They are the men and woman who often spend the most time with patients, making certain that the day-to-day activities that ensure our physical and mental wellbeing are carried out with as little disruption as possible.

The direct care workforce provides assistance to the elderly and persons with disabilities in a variety of settings from nursing homes to adult day care centers. They provide services such as meal preparation, personal care support, transportation, shopping, and much more.

For some, direct care is a step towards a career in nursing. For others, the satisfaction they receive from making a difference in the lives of others makes direct care a life-long vocation. And nearly everyone working as a PCA agrees that the stability, mobility, and flexibility that accompany this line of work are important advantages.









This project is supported by a subcontract from the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services under a "Demonstration to Improve the Direct Service Community Workforce" grant from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.