In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) is a State program under the direction of the California Department of Social Services. IHSS provides assistance to eligible individuals who are aged, blind, and/or disabled, who would be unable to remain safely in their own homes without assistance. IHSS is an alternative to out-of-home care, such as a nursing home or a board and care facility.
The Calaveras County Health and Services Agency is committed to providing services to eligible individuals to assist them in living independently in the least restrictive environment.
In an effort to assist eligible individuals to remain safely within their homes, the IHSS program is staffed with social workers trained to assess eligible individual’s needs to receive assistance with completing activities of daily living.
Eligibility Criteria for all IHSS Applicants and Recipients:
- You must physically reside in the United States
- You must also be a California resident
- You must have a Medi-Cal eligibility determination
- You must live at home or an abode of your own choosing (acute care hospital, long-term care facility and licensed community care facilities are not considered “own home”)
- You must submit a completed Health Care Certification form from a Physician authorizing services
The IHSS Program will help pay for services provided to you so that you can remain safely in your own home. To be eligible, you must be 65 year of age and over, or disabled, or blind. Disabled children are also potentially eligible for IHSS. IHSS is considered an alternative to out-of-home care, such as nursing homes or board and care facilities.
The types of services which can be authorized through IHSS are needs such as housecleaning, meal preparation, laundry, grocery shopping, personal care services (such as bowel and bladder care, bathing, grooming and paramedical services), and accompaniment to medical appointments, and protective supervision for the mentally impaired.
To apply call Calaveras County Health and Human Services (209) 754-6448 and ask to start an IHSS referral.
Working together, IHSS and the caregiver ensure that each recipient is able to remain in their home safely, comfortable and with as much independence as possible.