Supporting Empowering and Safe Personal Care - Guidance From Experienced Employers of Personal Care Attendants

Aug 30, 2026

Supporting empowering and safe personal care for consumers who hire personal care attendants (PCAs), with guidance focused on feeling safe, respected, and comfortable during hiring, employment, and intimate care. The guide explains employer rights, stresses the value of taking time for oneself, and provides structured safety tools for recruitment, screening, onboarding, and decision-making when firing. It also addresses sexual harassment and sexual violence, includes help-seeking resources, and offers coping guidance for survivors.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages56

Reading Time2 h 21 min

AccessFree to download

Part 1: First Things First

Section 1: Introduction to the Tool

Section 2: Your Rights

Section 3: Importance of Taking Time for Yourself

Part 2: Safety in Hiring and Firing

Section 1: Safe Hiring Worksheet

Section 2: Guidance Around Firing a PCA

Part 3: Communicating Boundaries

Section 1: Your Boundaries: Boundaries and PCA Job Responsibilities Worksheet

Section 2: Talking about Your Boundaries with your PCA

Section 3: Put Boundaries and Agreements in Writing

Section 4: Creating Safe Work Environment for your PCA

Part 4: Sexual Violence Information and Resources

Section 1: Sexual Violence Information

Section 2: Getting Help

Section 3: For Survivors of Sexual Violence: Managing Personal Care

Appendix

Supporting Empowering and Safe Personal Care: GUIDANCE FROM EXPERIENCED EMPLOYERS OF PERSONAL CARE ATTENDANTS EXPERIENCED EMPLOYERS OF PERSONAL CARE ATTENDANTS 1 The following information is a new perspective from consumers, like yourself, in navigating the often challenging process of hiring/firing Personal Care Attendants (PCAs) . One of our goals is to ensure that, you, the consumer feel safe, respected and comfortable, whether you are an old pro or new to the hiring of PCAs. In the creation of this tool, three of us consumers, all with different personal needs, provide you with suggestions, safety tips and examples of our mistakes and triumphs in hiring our PCA’s. Feeling safe and comfortable with your PCA is very important, especially when you receive intimate care. In the following pages, we provide some guidance to help identify your needs in order to have a conversation with prospective and/or a current PCAs about respecting your personal boundaries while creating a comfortable environment for both of you. We will also address a hidden, not often talked about subject, sexual harassment and abuse. As employers of PCAs, you should be aware of what constitutes sexual harassment, how to have a conversation when hiring a PCA regarding boundaries in the process of giving intimate care. We hope that our experiences and suggestions will help you have a very productive search for a PCA that will fit in well for your needs. EXPERIENCED EMPLOYERS OF PERSONAL CARE ATTENDANTS 2 Part 1: First Things First Section 1: Introduction to the Tool Section 2: Your Rights Section 3: Importance of Taking Time for Yourself 􀁸 How taking time for yourself can help 􀁸 Making a plan to take care of yourself Part 2: Safety in Hiring and Firing Section 1: Safe Hiring Worksheet 􀁸 Posting for a PCA job opening 􀁸 Phone screen 􀁸 In-person interview 􀁸 Checking references 􀁸 Background checks 􀁸 First weeks of employment 􀁸 Safety checklist for hiring a PCA Section 2: Guidance Around Firing a PCA 􀁸 Considerations around firing 􀁸 Brainstorming what you would like to say Part 3: Communicating Boundaries Section 1: Your Boundaries: Boundaries and PCA Job Responsibilities Worksheet Section 2: Talking about Your Boundaries with your PCA Section 3: Put Boundaries and Agreements in Writing Section 4: Creating Safe Work Environment for yourPCA EXPERIENCED EMPLOYERS OF PERSONAL CARE ATTENDANTS 3 Part 4: Sexual Violence Information and Resources Section 1: Sexual Violence Information 􀁸 What is abuse? 􀁸 What is sexual violence? Section 2: Getting Help 􀁸 Options and resources – support for you Section 3: For Survivors of Sexual Violence: Managing Personal Care 􀁸 Triggers 􀁸 Coping with triggers Appendix 􀁸 Learning More 􀁸 CORI Form 􀁸 SORI Form EXPERIENCED EMPLOYERS OF PERSONAL CARE ATTENDANTS 4 Part 1: First Things First Section 1: Introduction to the Tool How This Tool Was Developed We created this tool because employers of PCAs expressed a need for help with safety concerns and PCA employment. The voices of PCAs and employers of PCAs are central to this document. Three employers of PCAs participated in the committee that developed these materials. They provided suggestions, safety tips, and examples of written agreements and job descriptions based on their experiences. How This Tool Can Be Helpful This tool is designed to help you feel safe, respected, and comfortable while using PCA services. We hope that you can learn something new regardless of whether you are new to hiring a PCA or have plenty of experience. We also developed the tool to be interactive, so that you can include your own thoughts and experiences. If you have questions or would like to discuss this information more, contact your Skills Trainer. Note: We hope that this information is also useful for surrogates, parents hiring PCAs on behalf of their child, or other individuals who may be assisting someone

FAQs

What is the main purpose of this tool for consumers hiring PCAs?

It helps consumers feel safe, respected, and comfortable while using PCA services, including guidance on identifying needs and starting conversations about personal boundaries for both current and prospective PCAs.

What safety steps are included when hiring a PCA?

The guide provides a Safe Hiring Worksheet covering posting a job opening, phone screening, in-person interviews, checking references, background checks, first weeks on the job, and a safety checklist.

How does the tool address sexual harassment and sexual violence?

It explains what constitutes sexual violence and abuse, describes help-seeking options and resources, and includes strategies for managing personal care for survivors, including triggers and coping.

Aug 30, 2026

Upload by Alex Sinclair