The major reform set to take effect in December is a unique opportunity for the PCH (Prestation de Compensation du Handicap). The transfer of the wheelchair (FR) cost to the AM frees up significant funds at the Departmental level. The PCH must refocus on what directly concerns us: human assistance and environmental adaptation, crucial elements for the work of our home helpers.
Social Priorities and Advocacy Actions
The optimistic scenario is the immediate strengthening of human assistance. Social Workers must use this liberation of funds to advocate for increased home helper hours and the funding of crucial adaptations. This is a double gain: the FR is funded, and the savings allow for better financing of human assistance, improving the daily life of our home helpers who will have more time for support. My role is to facilitate collaboration between Social Workers and the MDPH.
The pessimistic scenario is the risk of fund diversion by the Department. A failure to reinvest would mean the beneficiary has their FR, but not the necessary human assistance, which would significantly burden our home helpers who would have to manage more tasks in less time. This is unacceptable. Social Workers must exercise political vigilance with the support of coordination.