Fresno County In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS)
In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) is a program through Fresno County. The program helps adults who are older, blind, or disabled and who can’t take care of their daily living needs. This program helps people who would be living in an institution, like a nursing home, if they did not receive help at home. IHSS is not a “comfort” program, or a friendly visitor program. The purpose is to help people live independently, and safely at home.
How to Qualify for IHSS
All IHSS recipients must receive Medi-Cal. They must have a disability that makes it difficult to safely accomplish their daily needs and activities without assistance. This could be related to their age, blindness, or some other physical, mental or cognitive disability. The disability must be certified by a physician on a form required by state law.
How to Apply for IHSS
There are two ways to apply. You can call IHSS at 600-6666, or request an application online. You will then receive a letter acknowledging the application and a Healthcare Certification Form (SOC 873). This form needs to be completed by a licensed healthcare professional, usually a doctor, and returned within 45 days. A social worker will then contact you to conduct a needs assessment.
The Assessment Process
The assessment process requires you to have proper identification, and list all of your medications. You will be asked many questions, all intended to figure out the types of help you need, and who might be able to help you. Family members and caregivers can be present to help answer the questions. Interpreters are available if needed.
Questions They Ask
They will look at your living arrangement, and whether you have a spouse or other adult to help. They are looking for barriers to your independence, so they will consider the use of assistive devices (like wheelchairs, walkers, bathroom safety), a person’s strength and ability to perform daily tasks, and any memory, orientation or judgment issues which affect independence.
Services Provided by IHSS
Home Care
Their home care services can include light housekeeping (dusting, mopping, laundry), help with grocery shopping, meal preparation, and clean up. IHSS can also help with essential errands.
Personal Care
Personal care services include help with dressing, bathing, grooming and dental care. They also help with more intense personal care, such as feeding, bowel and bladder care, and help walking and transferring in an out of bed. In-Home Supportive Service providers can also be trained to help their clients with range of motion exercises, assist with breathing devices, prosthesis, and medications. Clients who are not self-directing and may harm themselves might qualify for protective supervision.
Medical Care
Under the direction of a licensed medical professional In-Home Supportive Service providers can also help with some medical care services, such as injections, diabetic glucose testing, dressing wounds, tube feeding, and home dialysis.