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Can A Family Member Be An IHSS Provider?
Date Updated: July 26, 2024
Written by:
Rachel Lustbader is a writer and editor with a background in healthcare and technology. Her work has been published on websites including HealthCare.com, BiteSizeBio.com, BetterHelp.com, Caring.com, and PayingforSeniorCare.com. She studied health science and public health at Boston University.
Both of Rachel’s grandmothers had very positive experiences in senior living communities, and Rachel saw firsthand the impact that kind, committed caregivers and community managers can have on seniors’ and their family members’ lives. With her work at Caring, Rachel hopes to help other families find communities, caregivers, and at-home products that benefit elderly loved ones and make life less stressful for family caregivers
A family member can become an IHSS provider, but they must satisfy their state’s requirements, such as a criminal background check. IHSS can also pay a professional who’s registered via the IHSS Provider Program. The person chosen as a provider can receive payment for helping the senior with day-to-day tasks, such as housework, personal care and meal preparation. The purpose of IHSS is to help seniors who may otherwise need to move into a long-term care facility remain active members of society and continue to live in their own homes for as long as possible.
IHSS Payments Are Based on the Senior’s Care Needs
The IHSS program helps eligible seniors remain in their own homes by offering financial assistance to pay for support with activities of daily living (ADL). To qualify for IHSS, a health care professional must confirm the person requires assistance with ADLs. As part of the application process, the applicant is assessed to determine which tasks they require help with and how much support is needed. Based on this assessment, they’re given a budget to pay for support for a certain number of hours per week. Seniors or their loved ones who disagree with the result of the needs assessment can request more IHSS hours by going through the appeals process.
Family Members and Friends Can Provide IHSS
Seniors can hire a professional to provide in-home care, or they can use their IHSS budget to pay an approved friend or family member to assist them. The maximum hours that a person can work per week as an IHSS provider is 66 hours, and this assumes they’re supporting two individuals. No formal qualifications are required for someone to provide IHSS for a loved one. However, individual states may have age or residency requirements. Providers may also be required to complete fingerprinting, orientation training and a background check.