California’s In-Home Supportive Services program is a Consumer-centered program meant to assist low-income seniors and persons with disabilities to live safely and independently in their own homes. However, IHSS services are only as good as the people who provide them. IHSS Providers work in Consumers’ homes under Consumer supervision to complete tasks that assist the Consumers in living safely and independently. These tasks include cooking, cleaning, shopping and errands, feeding, dressing, laundry, and personal care, among other things.

Consumers of the IHSS program may hire whomever they choose to provide their in-home services.

Many Consumers choose to hire friends and family members to assist them. Others may choose to request referrals from the Public Authority’s Registry of Providers. In either case, the Public Authority will work closely with the Provider to meet enrollment requirements outlined by the California Department of Social Services and to provide ongoing training opportunities and access to health benefits.