State of Illinois
Department of Human Services
IDHS/DRS Empowering People with Disabilities through Home Services
The Illinois Department of Human Services' Division of Rehabilitation Services (IDHS/DRS) is the state's lead agency serving persons with disabilities. Our staff work one-on-one with individuals who have disabilities and their families to empower them to reach their employment, education, and independent living goals.
Through the Home Services Program, DRS provides services to individuals with the most significant disabilities so they can remain in their homes and live as independently as possible. Our customers are empowered to live self-directed lives, be actively involved in their communities, and retain control over the ervices they receive.
The following services can enable individuals with disabilities to remain at home:
Individual Provider (IP): Provides assistance with household tasks, personal care and, with permission of a doctor, certain health care procedures. IPs are selected, employed and supervised by the individual customer. As part of this service, background checks can be obtained on any IP hired by the customer.
Homemaker Services: Agency-based services for personal care and household tasks provided by trained and professionally supervised staff.
Home Health Services: CNA, LPN or RN services prescribed by the physician to meet the health, safety, and medical needs of the customer. Speech, physical, and occupational therapies may also be available.
Electronic Home Response: A rented device to provide 24 hour access to emergency personnel in an emergency situation within the home.
Home Delivered Meals: Nutritious meals prepared and delivered to customers' homes through a variety of community-based service providers.
Adult Day Care: The direct care and supervision of customers in a community-based setting for the purpose of promoting social, physical, and emotional well-being.
Assistive Equipment: Devices or equipment purchased, repaired or rented to promote independence, prevent an increase in care, reduce or eliminate another service or ensure the customers' health and safety in the home.
Environmental Modifications: Structural changes within the home environment or exterior for accessibility needs that enhance customer independence, prevent an increase in care, reduce or eliminate another service or ensure the customers' health and safety in the home.
Respite Services: Temporary care for adults and children with disabilities to relieve stress to families.
Respite services may be provided for vacation, rest, errands, family crisis or emergency. Services may include personal assistant, adult day care, homemaker or home health.
Brain Injury (BI) Behavioral/Cognitive: Remedial therapies provided to persons with brain injuries to decrease severe maladaptive behaviors. These services are intended to enable customers to better manage their behavior and be more capable of living independently.
Brain Injury (BI) Habilitation: Services provided to persons with brain injuries that assist with the acquisition, retention, or improvement in self-help, socialization and adaptive skills. These services are provided in a setting separate from the customers' residence.
Brain Injury (BI) Pre-Vocational Services: Services provided to persons with brain injuries that prepare them for paid or unpaid employment by teaching concepts such as compliance, attendance, task completion, problem solving and safety.
Brain Injury (BI) Supported Employment: Services provided to persons with brain injuries for whom competitive employment is unlikely. These services include intensive ongoing support to enable the persons to perform in a paid employment work setting.
Community Reintegration: In conjunction with Centers for Independent Living, provides eligible persons who reside in a nursing home the opportunity for integrated independent community living through self-directed, cost effective options.
To receive services, an individual must meet these eligibility criteria:
- Be under age 60 at the time of application unless in the AIDS or Brain Injury Medicaid Waiver Program.
- Have a significant disability lasting 12 months or longer, or for the duration of life.
- Be at imminent risk of nursing facility placement.
- Have applied, cooperated and obtained a decision on Medicaid eligibility unless already on Medicaid or spend-down.
- Require services in the home costing the same or less than nursing facility costs.
- Be a State of Illinois resident with U.S. citizenship or show proof of legal entry into the United States.
- Have assets under the asset limit which is different for individuals under age 18 and those 18 and older.
- Score the required points on the Determination of Need (DON).
Home Service Program staff will:
- Visit the person at home to discuss eligibility and available services.
- Complete application and conduct financial and non-financial eligibility assessments.
- Obtain needed releases of information for medical documentation.
- Obtain a clear and easily identifiable copy of the customer's State of Illinois Photo ID or valid Drivers License.
- Develop a person-centered service plan and assist in locating service providers.
- Provide alternative resource information and information on appeal rights if eligibility is not met.
For more information:
Call or visit your Illinois Department of Human Services'
Division of Rehabilitation Services Office.
If you have questions about any Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) program, you may call the automated helpline 24 hours a day at:
1-800-843-6154
1-866-324-5553 (TTY)
You may speak to a representative between:
8:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Monday - Friday (except state holidays)
For answers to your questions, you may also write:
Illinois Department of Human Services
Office of Customer Support
100 South Grand Avenue East
Springfield, Illinois 62762
Visit our website at: www.dhs.state.il.us
Programs, activities and employment opportunities in the Illinois Department of Human Services are open and accessible to any individual or group without regard to age, sex, race, sexual orientation, disability, ethnic origin or religion. The department is an equal opportunity employer and practices affirmative action and reasonable accommodation programs.
DHS 4243 (R-12-18) DRS' Home Services Program Printed by the Authority of the State of Illinois. 30,000 copies PO #22-0902
