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Personal Care Assistants

If you need assistance performing activities of daily living, you may need to have a Personal Care Assistant (PCA) on campus with you. Limited residential space for live-in PCAs is available at no additional cost, however, you are responsible for recruiting, hiring, and paying for their services.

Process for Requesting a PCA 

  1. Identify/ hire a PCA. This person may be a skilled nursing assistant from an agency or someone else who is familiar with your needs and able to provide adequate and consistent care. At times, more than one PCA will be necessary.
  2. Complete a DAO application and indicate that you will require a PCA. Explain the activities of daily living that they will be assisting with, what their schedules will be, and if they will be living in residence with you.  
  3. Complete an Access Meeting with DAO.
  4. Your DAO advisor will request information about your PCA(s) including their names, dates of birth, phone numbers, and email addresses.
  5. A CORI background check must be completed on all PCAs before they are permitted on campus. This process is managed by Harvard and may take several weeks to complete. Please plan accordingly.  
  6. You will be notified once PCAs are approved. They may go to the Harvard ID Office to have a Guest ID created to gain access to residential and classroom buildings.

Important PCA Information

  • DAO does not provide financial assistance for PCA costs or have a list of agencies/employees to work with.  
  • Limited meal plans for PCAs may be purchased through Harvard University Dining Services.    
  • Family members are permitted to serve as PCAs.  
  • Fellow Harvard undergraduate students may not be live-in PCAs but may be considered for non-residential assistance.  
  • PCAs are not note-takers or lab assistants and do not participate in classroom activities. Personal Care Assistants can help unpack backpacks, set up equipment, and attend to physical/medical needs during class.
  • PCAs are required to abide by all Harvard policies, including, but not limited to, the Standards of Conduct in the Harvard Community.