Consumer Directed Services in University City, Missouri

Communicare Elite delivers MO HealthNet Consumer Directed Services to University City. The attendant is your choice, and can be a family member so long as they are not your spouse; we manage payroll, paperwork and Medicaid billing.

Why home care matters in University City

University City has an unusual mix for a suburb: dense older apartment buildings along the Delmar corridor, substantial early-twentieth-century houses in the north and west, and a long-established population that includes many people who have lived here since the neighborhoods were new. The housing is characterful and, from an accessibility point of view, frequently difficult — narrow stairs, small bathrooms, and apartment buildings that predate elevators.

The other local factor is that U. City has an unusually engaged older population who are often managing their own affairs well into their eighties. That suits Consumer Directed Services particularly well, because the program is built around a consumer who directs their own care rather than receiving whatever is provided. If you are the kind of person who would rather instruct someone than be managed, CDS is the model that fits.

How CDS works for University City residents

MO HealthNet eligibility first, then an in-home assessment through the Department of Health and Senior Services on 866-835-3505, then your authorized care plan. Step by step.

What your attendant can be paid for

Which tasks are paid is decided by your plan — personal care, meals, housekeeping, transport. The covered list.

Paying a family member in University City

University City families often have a relative already providing daily help. Every relationship but spouse can be paid. How to set it up.

Distance from our office

Communicare Elite is at 4477 Woodson Rd, Suite 106, St. Louis, MO 63134, minutes from Lambert International Airport — roughly about 20 minutes from University City. Most business is handled by phone, but you are welcome at the office; call ahead so someone is expecting you.

Questions from University City families

I live in an older apartment near the Loop with no lift. Is that a problem?

Not for eligibility. It is likely to increase the help you are assessed as needing, since stairs make groceries, laundry and appointments harder.

I manage my own affairs and do not want to be told what to do. Is CDS still right for me?

That is precisely who the program is designed for. You direct your own care — you decide what help you need and how it is provided.

Can I hire someone from my own neighborhood?

Yes, and it is usually the best arrangement. Anyone other than your spouse can be hired if they clear background screening.

What are my rights in the program?

You direct your own care, and there is a defined process if something goes wrong. Your rights and responsibilities.

Will using CDS affect my other benefits?

CDS is delivered through MO HealthNet; questions about interaction with other benefits are worth raising at the assessment. How the assessment works.

Nearby communities we also serve

St. Louis City · Kirkwood · St. Louis County · Ferguson — or see the whole service area.