What is the purpose of this service?

The Home Services Program (HSP) provides services to individuals with severe disabilities so they can remain in their homes and be as independent as possible.

What services are offered?

Our program offers numerous options for independence:

• Personal Assistant (PA): Provides assistance with household tasks, personal care and, with permission of a doctor, certain health care procedures. PAs are selected, employed, and supervised by individual customers.
• Homemaker Services: Personal care provided by trained and professionally supervised personnel for customers who are unable to direct the services of a PA. Instruction and assistance in household management and self-care are also available.
• Maintenance Home Health: Services provided through a treatment plan prescribed by a physician or other health care professional. Other services include nursing care and physical, occupational, and speech therapy.
• Electronic Home Response: Emergency response system offered by hospitals and community service organizations. This rented signaling device provides 24-hour emergency coverage, permitting the individual to alert trained professionals at hospitals, fire departments, or police departments.
• Home Delivered Meals: Provided to individuals who can feed themselves but are unable to prepare food.
• Adult Day Care: The direct care and supervision of customers in a community-based setting to promote their social, physical, and emotional well-being.
• Assistive Equipment: Devices or equipment either purchased or rented to increase an individual’s independence and capability to perform household and personal care tasks at home.
• Environmental Modification: Modifications in the home that help compensate for loss of ability, strength, mobility or sensation; increase safety in the home, and decrease dependence on direct assistance from others.
• Respite Services: Temporary care for adults and children with disabilities aimed at relieving stress to families. Respite services may be provided for vacation, rest, errands, family crisis or emergency. Services may include personal assistant, homemaker or home health.

We also provide specialized services for people with HIV/AIDS and/or traumatic brain injuries (TBI).

And our Community Reintegration Program helps individuals with disabilities who live in nursing homes move into community with the supports they need to live as independently as possible.

Who can receive these services?

We serve people with severe disabilities under age 60 who need help with daily living activities in their homes. Many of these people are at risk of moving into a nursing home or other facility. (For those 60 and over, please contact the Illinois Department on Aging.)

How are services provided?

Customers may hire their own PAs to assist in their home, based on the service plan they have jointly developed with their DRS rehabilitation counselor.

Homemaker agencies may supply workers for persons who need someone to supervise their PA in the home.

How to apply?

Use the online Rehabilitation Services Web Referral to refer yourself or someone else for services.

We provide services in 47 local offices located in communities throughout the state. Use the DHS Office Locator and search for Rehabilitation Services to find the nearest local office or call toll-free: (800) 843-6154 (Voice, English or Español) or (800) 447-6404 (TTY).

More Information & Resources

Home Care Ombudsman Program

The Home Care Ombudsman Program helps customers of the Home Services Program receive quality services by advocating for their interests and helping them identify resources, understand procedures, resolve problems, and protect their rights. You can learn more about the Home Care Ombudsman Program by visiting the Illinois Department on Aging’s Long Term Care Ombudsman Program website.

Source