How to Find Care for Spina Bifida in Georgia
How the GAPP Program Supports Families at Home
Spina bifida is a complex condition that can affect a child’s physical health, mobility, and daily life. For families in Georgia raising a child with spina bifida, it’s common to wonder: “What kind of help can we get at home?”
The good news: Georgia Medicaid’s GAPP program may cover skilled in-home nursing and personal care aide services for children with spina bifida at no cost to the family.
What Is Spina Bifida?
Spina bifida is a birth defect that occurs when the spine and spinal cord don’t form properly in the womb. It can cause a wide range of medical and physical challenges, depending on severity.
There are several types of spina bifida, but the most serious (myelomeningocele) may lead to:
Paralysis or difficulty walking
Loss of bladder or bowel control
Hydrocephalus (fluid buildup in the brain)
Skin ulcers or wound care needs
Frequent medical monitoring
Many children with spina bifida need daily support, not just from their parents, but from trained caregivers or nurses.
What Kind of Care Might Be Needed at Home?
Spina bifida can affect a child’s ability to move independently, use the bathroom, or care for themselves, and often comes with medical needs that require close attention. That’s why many children with spina bifida qualify for both skilled nursing and caregiver support through Georgia’s GAPP program.
Skilled nursing care for catheterization, shunt care, wound care, or seizure monitoring
Personal care support for bathing, dressing, toileting, and mobility
Assistance using medical equipment such as braces, wheelchairs, or feeding tubes
Help with transfers in and out of bed or chairs
Families often provide much of this care on their own, but you don’t have to.
What a Skilled Nurse Can Help With
Children with additional complex medical needs, such as hydrocephalus, seizures, wound care, or frequent catheterization, may benefit from a Registered Nurse (RN) or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in the home.
Skilled nurses may assist with:
Catheter changes and bladder management
Monitoring for signs of infection or pressure sores
Administering medications or injections
Tracheostomy or G-tube support (if applicable)
Emergency care readiness for seizure activity or shunt malfunctions
Documenting clinical notes and reporting to physicians
Nurses can provide part-time or full-time care, depending on the level of need approved through Medicaid.
What a Caregiver (or Parent) Can Help With
Children with spina bifida often also need help with daily living tasks, even if they don’t require a nurse all day long. That’s where a personal care aide or Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) can make a big difference.
Caregivers may support your child with:
Getting in and out of bed or a wheelchair
Bathing, dressing, and hygiene routines
Toileting or incontinence care
Meal prep, feeding assistance, and light housekeeping
Keeping your child safe and supervised throughout the day
Many families find that having both a nurse during the school day and a caregiver in the morning or evening creates a well-rounded support system.
💡 Every Child’s Needs Are Unique
Spina bifida presents differently for each child, and their care plan should reflect that. Whether your child is ambulatory with minimal assistance or relies on medical technology for daily function, the right combination of care is available, and we’ll help you access it.
GAPP: A Medicaid Program That Helps at Home
The Georgia Pediatric Program (GAPP) is a Medicaid program that provides free in-home care to medically fragile children under age 21. This includes:
Registered nurses (RNs) or Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs)
Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) or trained personal support aides (including parents)
To qualify for GAPP, your child must:
Be under 21 years old
Have a qualifying medical need, like spina bifida
Be covered by Georgia Medicaid
Live in the service area
How Is Eligibility Determined?
A physician completes a form called the PPOT (Physician’s Plan of Treatment), documenting your child’s needs. Medicaid reviews this along with recent medical records and determines:
If your child qualifies
How many hours per week will be approved
Whether services will be skilled nursing, personal care, or both
At Miralta, we work with your child’s doctors to make this process smooth and effective.
Miralta Home Care: Your Partner in Pediatric Home Nursing
We specialize in helping families navigate the GAPP application and receive the care they’re entitled to, without stress or confusion. We:
Guide you through every form
Coordinate with your providers
Match you with experienced, caring nurses and aides
Support families in Fulton, Cobb, Gwinnett, Clayton, Forsyth, Cherokee, and beyond
Whether your child needs a few hours a week or full-time support, we’re here to help.
