Direct Funding Link opens in new tab gives you the flexibility and control that being your own employer can bring. But that’s not where its benefits end. The control and flexibility of determining your own schedule has plenty of additional perks that are well worth considering when deciding if Direct Funding is for you.
Being in charge of who your attendants are can ensure a better fit. You can hire people who speak your language, choose the gender of your assistants, or even hire people you just get along better with – the oversight is yours. You can schedule them to work when and where you need them, and decide what tasks are and aren’t acceptable – never again will you be told, “I’m not allowed to do that.” You’re the boss.
Another perk of having this control: many participants have found that Direct Funding helps strengthen their relationships Link opens in new tab with family and friends. For many, living with a physical disability that requires attendants brings with it a sense of being completely dependent on the employees providing assistance. The relationship between attendant and consumer can be confusing that way, especially with an agency as an intermediary.
When you employ your own attendants, the dynamic changes from attendant-patient to employee-employer – attendants tend to be more responsive to you, compared with working for an agency. This can make for more straightforward interactions, where you can directly arrange for your needs to be met. What’s more, by ensuring their needs are being met by their attendants, participants often feel less dependent on their family and friends, enabling them to focus on their relationships.
By managing a small business, participants can also learn the important life skills such a responsibility brings with it. Scheduling, management, negotiation, and being up-front about what you’re looking for are all part of the job, and will serve you well in life.
Their are plenty of success stories Link opens in new tab and testimonials Link opens in new tab that speak to the positive effect that Direct Funding can have, particularly by allowing participants to receive care in-home that was previously only available in long-term care facilities. This solution allows for much more privacy, dignity and convenience – and is much more cost-effective than staying in a facility.
When it’s right for the participant, Direct Funding is a win-win by all measures. It can give a sense of control and autonomy to its participants, and that good feeling can cascade throughout their lives in many small ways. It’s good to be the boss.
