New to Home Health Care?
What is Home Health Care?
The goal of healthcare at home is to help individuals with illness, injury, or other disability live independently in their own homes. Caregivers assist with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, toileting, mobility, transferring, and eating.
How can The Independence Center help?
As a local nonprofit with over 30 years of experience serving people with disabilities, we offer our clients assistance in choosing how and when they receive these services, along with their choice of caregiver.
What is IHSS?
In Home Support Services
Family and Friend caregivers can be paid for caregiving in Colorado under In Home Support Services (IHSS), a provision allowed in Colorado Long Term Medicaid. IHSS allow for participants on certain Medicaid Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) waivers tor receive care in their home from a family or friend caregiver. The caregiver receives payment for these services. Under IHSS, family and friend caregivers can become employees of The Independence Center, entitled to a host of great benefits.
Who Qualifies?
Spouses, adult children, parents, friends and neighbors who provide care for a loved one may be employed by a home care agency. The agency handles caregiver training, payroll and coordinating with Medicaid HCBS so caregivers don’t have to handle anything alone.
The Independence Center serves participants in the following Colorado Long Term Care Medicaid waivers:
- Elderly, Blind and Disabled Waiver (EBD)
- Spinal Cord Injury Waiver (SCI)
- Children’s Home and Community Based Service Waiver (CHCBS)
Where do I start?
Contact us today!
Phone: 719-471-8181
Email: info@the-ic.org
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Home Health Care
What is a Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) Waiver and how do I qualify for it?
A Waiver is an extension of Medicaid services provided in-home, in partnership with a Home Care Agency like The Independence Center. This allows you to remain in the comfort of your own home without the need for a long-term care facility. You must qualify for Colorado’s Medicaid program and meet the necessary eligibility requirements to receive waiver benefits.
What Home Health services can be covered under my Waiver?
Health Maintenance Activity, Personal Care and Homemaking Health Maintenance Activity (HMA) supports include assistance typically provided by a Registered Nurse (RN) or Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) related to skilled tasks that our agency can train your caregiver to do without the need for certification or licensure. The Nurse Practice Act is waived under the In Home Support Services (IHSS) Waivers and allows you to hire the staff you are most comfortable with such as a family member or friend.
Personal Care services include assistance with activities such as bathing, dressing, or eating.
Homemaker Services provides assistance with various general household duties needed to maintain a healthy and safe living environment. These services can include light housekeeping, laundry, and meal preparation.
Can I receive care 24 hours per day instead of going into a Long Term Care (LTC) facility?
The amount of care you can receive each day is based on the specific tasks approved by the Case Management Agency (CMA). Caregiving support can be available 24 hours per day when needed, similar to a Long-Term Care (LTC) facility.
Can anyone I choose be my paid Caregiver?
To be a paid caregiver, the person you select must pass applicable background and Adult Protective Services (APS) checks, and provide acceptable references.
What happens if I need additional services and support that are not covered by my waiver?
A client can discuss any extra services needed with their Case Management Agency. Additionally, The Independence Center provides a wide variety of various independent living skills through our Independent Living (IL) program free of charge.
I don’t have a waiver, but I have Medicaid and need more help. What should I do next?
Contact the appropriate Case Management Agency (CMA) for your county. In El Paso, Park, and Teller county, please contact The Resource Exchange (TRE). They will help you begin the process to be approved for one of the Home and Community Based Service (HCBS) Medicaid Waivers.
Why should I choose The Independence Center as my Home Health Agency?
The IC was founded in 1987 by people with disabilities who saw a need for Home Health services in our community. Since then, we have been providing quality home healthcare and work to support our clients in both their Home Health needs and their quality of life. We provide resources to help our clients live independently and feel known, valued, and included.
Can The Independence hire and train my spouse, friend, or family member to take care of me?
Once the family member or friend completes the required background and reference check, The Independence Center will train caregivers in accordance with the client’s care plans. Additional training is always available on an as-needed basis.
Once I begin services with you, do I still need to work with my Case Manager, DHS or Medicaid?
The Waiver process is ongoing. Once the Medicaid Waiver has started, the client is required to remain eligible for Medicaid both financially and functionally. The Case Management Agency (CMA) continues to provide case management services with quarterly check-ins and yearly in-person assessments.
Can I request a change in my care plan or services provided by the agency?
Making changes to a care plan once it has been approved is a collaboration between the client, The Independence Center, and the Case Management Agency.