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Navigating IHSS and PASA: A Guide for Colorado Caregivers

Introduction

As a caregiver in Colorado, you play a crucial role in providing support and care to your loved ones with disabilities. Whether you’re caring for a child, an adult, or both, you may have heard about programs like IHSS (In-Home Supportive Services) and PASA (Program Approved Service Agencies). In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at these valuable resources and how they can help you in your caregiving journey. So, let’s dive in!

Understanding IHSS (In-Home Supportive Services)

IHSS is a state-administered program designed to provide assistance to individuals with disabilities, allowing them to remain in the comfort and familiarity of their own homes. It’s a lifeline for caregivers and their loved ones, offering support in various aspects of daily life. Support, Inc. specifically works with those who qualify for the Developmental Disabilities (DD) Waiver. We provide residential services to adults and their families over the age of 18.

  1. Eligibility for IHSS

To qualify for IHSS in Colorado, your loved one must meet certain eligibility criteria, including:

  • Having a disability or medical condition that requires assistance.
  • Residing in their own home or a family member’s home.
  • Demonstrating a need for in-home care services.
  1. Services Covered by IHSS

Once eligible, your loved one can access a range of services under IHSS, including:

  • Personal care services (bathing, dressing, grooming).
  • Homemaker services (meal preparation, light housekeeping).
  • Accompaniment to medical appointments.
  • Respite care for caregivers.
  • Assistance with mobility and transfers.
  1. How IHSS Benefits Caregivers

IHSS isn’t just about the care recipient; it also greatly benefits caregivers. By providing necessary support, IHSS:

  • Relieves caregivers of some caregiving responsibilities.
  • Allows caregivers to maintain employment or pursue education.
  • Reduces the financial burden associated with caregiving.
  • Enhances the overall quality of life for both the caregiver and care recipient.

Understanding PASA (Program Approved Service Agencies)

PASA is another valuable resource for caregivers in Colorado, offering a wide range of support services for individuals with disabilities. These services are aimed at improving the quality of life for both caregivers and care recipients.

  1. Services Offered by PASA

PASA agencies provide a variety of services, including:

  • In-home care and support.
  • Assistance with daily living activities.
  • Community integration and recreational activities.
  • Transportation services.
  • Behavior therapy and counseling.
  • Respite care for caregivers.
  1. Choosing the Right PASA Agency

When selecting a PASA agency for your loved one, it’s essential to consider:

  • The specific needs of the care recipient.
  • The agency’s reputation and track record.
  • Compatibility with your caregiving schedule.
  • Availability of trained and compassionate staff.

Combining IHSS and PASA: A Comprehensive Approach

Many caregivers in Colorado find that combining IHSS and PASA services offers a well-rounded approach to caregiving. By utilizing both resources, you can create a customized care plan that addresses your loved one’s unique needs and your own.

  1. How IHSS and PASA Work Together

IHSS and PASA can complement each other in various ways:

  • IHSS can provide basic personal care and homemaker services.
  • PASA can offer specialized services, therapy, and recreational activities.
  • Together, they provide a holistic support system.
  1. Planning and Coordination

As a caregiver, you’ll need to coordinate the services offered by IHSS and PASA. Here are some tips:

  • Communicate openly with both service providers.
  • Share your loved one’s goals and preferences.
  • Develop a comprehensive care plan that integrates both services.

Navigating the Application Process

Getting started with IHSS and PASA may seem daunting, but Colorado offers resources to help you through the process:

  1. Contact Your Local County Department

Reach out to your local county department or human services office to initiate the application process for IHSS. They can provide guidance on eligibility criteria and the application procedure.

  1. Research PASA Agencies

Explore the different PASA agencies in your area. Conduct interviews, ask for references, and make an informed decision based on your loved one’s needs.

  1. Seek Support

Don’t hesitate to seek support from caregiver support groups, online forums, or local advocacy organizations. These resources can offer valuable insights and emotional support.

Conclusion

As a caregiver in Colorado, you have access to a wealth of resources like IHSS and PASA to support your loved ones with disabilities. By understanding the eligibility criteria, services offered, and the potential for combining both programs, you can create a comprehensive caregiving plan that enhances the quality of life for both you and your care recipient. Remember, you’re not alone on this journey, and there are numerous organizations and support networks ready to assist you every step of the way. Caregiving is a rewarding endeavor, and with the right resources, it can be made more manageable and fulfilling for everyone involved.

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New Year Exceptional Services

Join us for DD services between now and January 31st to access these wonderful opportunities.
 
97% of our Employees and Family Caregivers in 2023 agreed that Support, Inc., offers high quality services. And 94% would recommend Support, Inc. as a place to work.
 
So what are you waiting for? Our experienced Intake Team remains well-versed regarding DD topics and concerns. We’re available now and happy to answer any questions you may have!!
 
 
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Provider Town Hall Information

Great seeing many of you on the virtual Provider Town Hall yesterday, June 27th! If you missed it, you can view the recording by clicking here. You’ll need to enter this passcode to view the video: 2.5Y=&e

Below is a link to our STAR (Special Thanks and Recognition) Award presentation from this month. Congrats to the HHP recipients! The last page of this presentation has details on how to submit a STAR Award. We love seeing all the recognition! Click here to view the STAR Awards.

The next HHP Townhall will be scheduled in August – hope to see you there.

Thanks for all you do!

HHP

June Host Home Provider of the Month

We want to recognize and congratulate our June Host Home Provider of the Month- David Sakul! David was nominated by his Residential Coordinators, Rich and Anna. David has been a provider with Support Inc. for many years and does a great job working with the individuals in his home and completing compliance items. Even though David is a very experienced Provider, he continues his effort in getting better by joining the Town Hall meetings or other opportunities the agency provides to learn new things and keep up to date with the requirements asked of HHP’s. David does a wonderful job in getting the individuals in his home out into the community and supporting them in the things they like to do. They have been on several trips to different areas in the state and out of state, and even went on an Ocean Cruise last year. It was the trip of a lifetime for the individuals in services. We appreciate how he sends us pictures of the things his guys get to do when traveling. David has always been very pleasant to work with and is an excellent team player. He consistently communicates the needs of his individuals and supports them with whatever they need. He strives to keep the individuals in his home active and involved in community activities. It is always wonderful to see the fun activities and travels that he takes the guys on. Thank you, David, for being an important part of the Support Inc team and for caring so much about the individuals you work with. We appreciate everything you and your family do. Congratulations on being the June Host Home Provider of the Month!

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Operations Team News

The Operations or “Ops” Team consists of our six Associate Directors (ADs) of Residential Services, the AD of Day Services, the AD of Nursing and me, Director of Residential Services.

The most recent change within our team is the addition of Interim AD (former Senior Residential Program Coordinator) Paulyn Matibag on the Denver Metro 3 (DM3) Team. Paulyn will be covering for DM3 AD Samantha Cordova while she is on leave. We expect Samantha back in October.

As we enter summer, we wanted to share with you some of the things we’re focusing on as a team over the next few months.

The first half of the year we rolled out some big changes including health tracking and the appointment module including the use of Scomms. It was a lot! Not to say you won’t see any changes this quarter, but we are intentionally holding off on large-scale projects so we can all collectively catch our breath. We will take this time to hone our processes related to quarters 1 & 2 changes and recommit to providing quality services that are above reproach to all our stakeholders.

Whether it’s travel, pool-time, or a staycation – I hope you all find some time to relax and recharge this summer.

Erik Nielsen, Director of Residential Services

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Support Inc. Staff Honored

We want to recognize and congratulate Support Inc. Residential Coordinator, Richard Shaw, and Host Home Providers, Diana and Kenny Wijaya, for their amazing work. They were recently honored by Kirk of Bonnie Brae UCC.

From: Vicki Wright and Ann Karlberg, Guardian designees for Kirk of Bonnie Brae UCC.

For the past 38 years, the Kirk of Bonnie Brae UCC has served as the legal guardian for Dean McEahern who receives Support Inc. services. The mission of the church was initiated by a passionate member of our congregation, Carol Rickus, who was called to be God’s servant to the developmentally disabled. Through her activism, Carol inspired the Kirk to become the legal guardian for Dean, who at the time, was only 19 years old, without a family to advocate for him and dependent on the system for his every need.

Ann- Fortunately, Dean began receiving services through Support, Inc., an agency that provides comprehensive community-based services including residential care, a day program and clinical services. His residential program coordinator, Richard Shaw, has worked with Dean for 18 years. Richard’s consistent and dedicated oversight of Dean’s services has provided Dean with the stability he has needed to really thrive. In addition to the excellent residential care Dean receives, his life is enriched through the experiences and opportunities available to him through Support, Inc.’s fine day program. Richard has been instrumental in making sure Dean has received all the resources needed to ensure the best quality of life. We are so grateful to Richard for his devoted service.

Vicki- To tell you a little bit about Diana and Kenny, some of the most compassionate Host Home Providers/caregivers we have come across in all our many years in social work. They are Indonesian by birth and came to the US in the early 2000s when Indonesia was ridding itself of Christians and other non-Muslims. As refugees, they were dependent upon Indonesian friends who came before them. They came to Florida, Virginia, then Denver, where they were told economic conditions were better. Their network in Denver suggested that Diana apply to be a host home provider, as she was new to the community and pregnant at the time. So here they are, 20 years down the road, with 3 disabled adults living in their home, and Dean has been with them for 15 years. They puree his food, feed him, thicken his water so he can drink, help him drink, even had adjustments made to their shower so they can keep him clean more easily. And I think this is Kenny’s favorite part—they take him on vacation and to local events such as Red Rocks.

The Kirk is proud of its guardianship ministry, but we couldn’t do it without the partnership of Support, Inc. and the devoted service of Richard Shaw and Diana and Kenny Wijaya. Their committed efforts have been crucial to Dean’s well-being and very much a part of this ministry. On May 21st, all three were honored for their work with a certificate of appreciation from the congregation. Congratulations Richard, Diana and Kenny!!

 

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Quality Assurance News & Updates

Coming July 2023: New Relias Training Plans.

At the end of 2022 we began an organization wide training project. This project included cleaning up our Relias (our E Training platform) system, reorganizing Relias hierarchies, developing a backend connection between Relias and ADP (our payroll and HR management system) and redesigning our training plans. We have reorganized our Relias hierarchies to assure each employee and contractor was attached to a supervisor. The Human Resources (HR) team is in the process of changing all employees and contractor’s usernames to align with ADP ID numbers. If you have not yet received your new Relias login name, please contact your supervisor. The HR team is also making the final backend connections to integrate ADP and Relias. The final piece of this will be rolling out the new training plans. We have developed new training plans based on job title in an effort to ensure new employees and contractors joining the organization receive training relevant to the work they do. We also streamlined annual training requirements for all positions. The new training plans will be rolled out in July 2023. Watch for emails from the Quality Assurance (QA) team with an official go-live date and a comparison of the changes based on your job title. If you have any questions please reach out to your supervisor, the HR team or the QA team.