If you have suffered a brain injury, you may need in-home assistance to take care of your basic personal and medical needs. If that is the case, and you are receiving Medi-Cal health insurance benefits, you may be qualified for In-Home Supportive Services through the state of California.
In-Home Supportive Services
In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) is a government run program that allows disabled and elderly Californians to live in their own homes and get the medical and personal care they need to remain at home. IHSS provides an alternative to assisted living facilities and nursing homes, and allows Californians to live in their own homes without compromising care and support.
IHSS is administered through your local county welfare office. Additional information and resources on the IHSS program can be found on Disability Benefits 101.
Private In-Home Care
If you have the resources available, you may also want to consider private in-home care. There are a number of different organizations in California that provide in-home services for brain injury victims, and other disabled Californians. In-home care providers can assist with a wide variety of tasks, including:
- Personal care services like bathing, grooming and assistance with personal hygiene
- Assistance with mobility, transferring and positioning a bed, chairs or wheelchairs
- Using the bathroom and incontinence care
- Preparation of food and maintaining specific diets
- Household tasks like laundry, light housekeeping and errands
In-home care can also provide ongoing companionship for both the brain injury victims and their family members.
In-home services can make living with a brain injury much easier, and can provide some necessary support and relief for the victim’s family members and caregivers. Living with a brain injury presents several new challenges, and getting all the support you can will make things much easier in the long run.
