In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS)
http://www.dds.ca.gov/SupportSvcs/IHSS.cfm
888-944-4477 Program (Application Hotline)
If you qualify for Medi-Cal you are eligible for the IHSS program. IHSS pays for services for those who are disabled (including children over 6 years of age) and seniors to remain safely in their own homes. Individuals who qualify hire their own provider(s) to assist them with personal care services such as bathing, grooming, dressing and bowel and bladder care; domestic services such as cooking, housecleaning and laundry; supervision for individuals with impairments; paramedical services such as assistance with medications, suctioning, and catheter care; and accompaniment to medical appointments.
In-Home Operations (IHO)
The In-Home Operations waiver is a new waiver designed to assist in supporting a participant in his/her home as an alternative to care in a licensed health care facility. Allows participant to receive up-to the same amount of care provider hours in home as they’d receive inside a facility
www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/ltc/Documents/IHOQuickReferenceGuideandFAQ.pdf
Personal Assistance Services Council (PASC)
877-565-4477PASC is the public authority for In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) in L.A. County. PASC operates a Registry to match IHSS consumers and providers. The PASC Homecare Registry is a free and voluntary service that IHSS consumers can use to obtain referrals of care providers. Registry providers are referred to consumers based on the consumer's needs, hours allotment, and geographical location. PASC is committed to improving the IHSS Program and enhancing the quality of life for all people who receive IHSS benefits.
Find Caregivers Direct
Care
Care.com's premise is simple: Their consumer matching solutions allow families to search for, qualify, vet, connect with, and ultimately select caregivers in a low-cost, reliable and easy way.
Craig – Caregivers & Personal Assistants Resources
https://craighospital.org/resources/topics/caregivers-and-alternative-therapy
Important resources including how to find, hire and keep personal care assistances.
Craiglist Ad
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/search/hea
Great place to find a person to help you with care needs direct is by placing an ad on Craigslist. Start with phone interviews, then meet in a public place for interview, then decide if you have a good match. See sample ad on last page.
Family Caregiver Alliance
California Caregiver Resource Centers
www.Caregiver.org/californias-caregiver-resource-centers
Caregiver Resource Center serves as a point of entry to services available to caregiving families in every county of California. Services are free or low cost. The web site includes useful material for any caregiver, including individual fact sheets.
Care Giver Agencies
AccentCare
With multiple locations for Southern California and with decades of healthcare experience, AccentCare understands how important it is for individuals to not only stay in their homes and remain independent, but do so with an enriched quality of life. We offer a variety of post-acute healthcare services including personal, non-medical care and private duty nursing. Personal Care Services are designed to help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and meal preparation. Private Duty Nursing is clinical care provided by Licensed Vocational Nurses.Accredited Family of Home Care Services
Accredited Home Care specializes in providing in-home caregiver services for the purpose of at maintaining a client’s independence in his or her own homeAdvanced Home Care Services
www.AdvancedHomeCareGivers.com
Advanced Home Care Services is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for our clients and their families. Our services allow clients to preserve their independence and quality of life in the comfort of their own homes and in other living environments such as convalescent hospitals, retirement homes or assisted living facilities. Services provided in San Fernando Valley, Greater Los Angeles and surrounding areas, Ventura and Orange County.
Assisted
Assisted provides In-Home Care in Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara and Arizona locations. They are state-licensed, Medicare certified, Medi-Cal certified and CHAP Accredited.
Lotsa Helping Hands
Regional Centers Directory
Statewide system of regional centers designed to assist families with disabilities.
Family Caregiver Resource Center
FCRC is an Orange County agency focusing specifically on the needs of caregivers who are coping with a loved one’s chronic illness. Services include family consultation, assessment, care planning, counseling, referrals for resources, psycho-educational seminars, respite planning and community education.
Home Care Exchange
HomeCareExchange.org is a FREE community service provided by SEIU United Long Term Care Workers, the largest and most trusted union of in-home caregivers in California. All providers have passed thorough background checks. Caregivers work with private pay clients, as well as those who qualify for California’s In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program.
Southern Caregiver Resource Center
858-268-4432
Helping to pay their bills, taking them to doctor appointments and cooking meals for them to more extensive help such as constant supervision and assistance with personal care needs.
Craig – Caregivers & Personal Assistants Resources
https://craighospital.org/resources/topics/caregivers-and-alternative-therapy
Important resources including how to find, hire and keep personal care assistances
SAMPLE CRAIGSLIST AD
CAREGIVER NEEDED FOR ACTIVE QUADRAPLEGIC BY MONDAY 3/21/XX Caregiver needed starting March 21st for male quadriplegic.
I am XX years old and need a reliable caregiver to help me with daily routine. Approx 30 hours a week on Monday, Wednesday, & Friday.
- Bowel Program/Showers
- Dressing
- Range of motion exercises
- Transfers
- Driving to Appointments
Approx HoursMonday- 7:00 - 5:00 Wednesdays- 7:00 - 5:00 Fridays- 7:00 - 5:00
Must:
- Speak English
- Be legal resident with Social
- Security number
- Drivers license & vehicle
- Pass Background Check
- Trustworthy
- Reliable
- Strong
- Medical Supply Management
- Light meal preparation
- House Cleaning
- Errands
- Clean
- Organized
- Able to work around dog
- Some Flexibility with hours
- Able to learn.
- CNA preferred.
- Experience with people with
Spinal Cord Injuries preferred.
Will train. Need someone who can fit in with my schedule. I lead an active lifestyle and I'm trying to be as independent as possible. Long term employment.
Compensation: In Home Supportive Services (IHSS)
Sample Interview Questions
When interviewing for PCAs, use a standard set of questions as the foundation of the interview. This also includes reviewing the detailed job description (which included details of bowel and bladder care required).
Do the interviews in a public place (Denny's or Starbucks for example) and only take the person home if they pass the initial screening and after checking references (but before completing the background check).
Here are some of the questions included on the interview schedule:
- Have you worked for anyone with SCI or similar disability before? If so, tell me about this.
- Why do you want to do this type of work?
- Tell us a little about your work habits (neatness, reliability, timeliness, self-starter, etc.)
- What would your friends tell us about you?
- Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a felony?
- We require a background check. Will this reveal anything you have not told us about?
- Are you a citizen or have a green card?
- Do you have any questions or concerns about the duties in the job description?
- What is your availability? (discuss hours and days when you need the PCA as listed in the job description)
- Do you have reliable transportation to work? What is that?
- Expectations for holidays and days/time off. (Be sure to include what will or will not be acceptable as far as unexcused absences or tardiness.)
- Describe what would be reasons for termination both with and without notice.
- Salary: rate of pay and payment schedule: questions
- Benefits: use (or non use) of kitchen, TV, computer, stereo and radio, washer dryer, van, etc. Include perks, such as if they go out for a meal, or a movie that we pay for their meal/ticket if this is part of their job. If they prepare a meal, they can also prepare their own using our food, etc.
- Habits/preferences: smoking, drinking (limits on this), music on duty, use/non-use of cell phone for personal calls while on duty, etc.
- One of our main requirements is reliability & dependability. Tell us how you would handle conflicts with your other appointments, jobs, school, or family issues and your work schedule with us?
- We are looking for a long-term employee. What would you anticipate right now to be your availability to fill this position over the next 1-2 years?
- Do you have any problems signing an employment contract?