|
|
|  About IHSS What Is IHSS ? | | | In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) is a statewide publicly funded program providing personal assistance services to low-income people with chronic and disabling conditions who need such assistance to remain safely in their homes and engaged in their communities. In San Francisco, most consumers served by IHSS are over 65 years of age. The remainder are younger adults and a small number of children. In-Home Supportive Services include chore and house cleaning services as well as personal care, such as assistance with eating, bathing, dressing, and using the toilet. IHSS allows consumers to live safely at home, where they want to be, rather than in institutions.
| | Back to top | | | About IHSS Why Is IHSS Important ? | | | As the long term care population increases, the need to maintain programs such as IHSS becomes ever more crucial. During 2007, according to December State of California statistics, over 20,700 San Franciscans were served by IHSS. Over 7,000 consumers (34.2%) were over age 80. Over 7,150 consumers (34.7%) were people with specific disabilities who required assistance with housekeeping tasks. Over one-fifth (20.2%) had severe impairments and required 20+ hours per week of personal care. San Francisco County has a higher proportion of people with disabilities than any other county in California. | | Back to top | | | About IHSS Who Provides IHSS ? | | | The majority of consumers (88%) receive services from independent providers (IPs) who are not employed by an agency. About one in eight IHSS consumers (12%) receive services under contract to the IHSS Consortium, which employs home care workers and dispatches them to consumers who are not able to hire or supervise an independent provider. In the independent provider mode, consumers are assured their right to choose their worker and provide ongoing supervision, while the state provides payroll services. The Public Authority works to improve services for consumers and workers who are in the IP mode. | | Back to top | | | About IHSS Who Is The Employer ? | | | Responsibility for employer functions is divided among the consumer, state and county departments that administer IHSS, and the Public Authority. The consumer serves as the employer for the purposes of selecting, hiring, supervising, and, if necessary, firing the independent provider. He or she signs the IP's timesheet, which is submitted to the county IHSS Department and forwarded to the State Controller's Office, which sends paychecks to workers. County social workers also authorize the maximum monthly hours of service and types of tasks that each consumer receives. The Public Authority serves as the employer for the purpose of collective bargaining regarding wages and benefits with the Union representing the IHSS independent provider workforce. | | Back to top | | | About IHSS What Does IHSS Cost ? | | | Please excuse us while we update this information. Visit this site again for current information regarding the costs of providing IHSS. | | Back to top |
| |
|
|
