What is a personal assistant (PA)?

If you’re finding it difficult to care for yourself, you may want to get some support from a PA. This could be because of your age, a physical or learning disability, or poor general health.

A PA (sometimes called a support worker) is someone who’s paid to help people who need social care support. This helps them to live as independently as possible.

Many people choose to employ a PA because they need the consistent, ongoing support that their own PA can provide.

How a PA can help

Depending on what is included in your support plan, PAs can offer you all kinds of support in your own home. This may include things like:

• Personal care - help with feeding, bathing and toileting.
• Healthcare - catheter management, giving medication.
• Help to live independently - making meals, cooking, health and safety, cleaning, shopping.
• Help to take part in social and leisure activities - taking you on holiday or to appointments, providing interest and activities.
• Helping to look after children.

Visit the Skills to Care website to find more information about PAs.