In-Home services assist older adults and people with disabilities to live safely in their own homes. These services range from grocery shopping and pet care to assistance with eating and bathing.

What are in-home services?
In-Home services vary greatly based on the type of assistance that is needed. An In-Home worker may perform household tasks such as cleaning and shopping, or drive a client to doctors' appointments. For many, In-Home services provide assistance with daily tasks such as dressing, eating, and toileting. One can receive home care for a few days or weeks while recovering from an injury or illness, or for many years.

How do I hire an in-home worker?
People receive in-home services from private agencies or from individuals whom they hire directly. If you hire a worker through an agency, the agency assigns you a provider, schedules visits, and is responsible for employer taxes. Some agencies provide back-up services in the event that your regular caregiver is ill or on vacation. Before contacting an individual worker or an agency, you may wish to print copies of the In-Home Services Checklist, which includes detailed questions to help you learn about and compare providers.

How do I pay for in-home services?
Consumers usually pay for in-home services themselves, but some long-term care insurance plans cover these services. Agencies tend to be more expensive than individual workers. In return, an agency frees you from some of the tasks associated with employing a provider directly. People with limited income may be eligible for Medi-Cal and qualify for in-home services. They must have significant limitations with their activities of daily living such as bathing, eating, transferring and toileting, which impairs their ability to perform these activities.