In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS)

The In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program is designed to provide domestic and personal care services to low-income aged, blind and disabled persons who, without these services, would be unable to remain in their homes and would require placement in costlier long-term institutional care. IHSS services can include assistance with meal preparation, laundry, shopping, bathing, dressing, and personal care.

In order to be eligible to receive IHSS services, applicants must be eligible for the Medi-Cal Program. Find more information on the Medi-Cal Program on our Health and Medical page. Once Medi-Cal eligibility has been established, an IHSS Social Worker meets with the applicant to assess his/her physical and/or mental limitations. If the applicant qualifies for the IHSS program, the Social Worker determines the necessary services and the number of service hours. The Social Worker will meet with each recipient a minimum of once a year, or more often as needed, to reassess the recipient's needs.

To apply, call the Adult Services office at 707-995-4680. You will need to provide information about the disability and obtain a health care certification from your doctor.

IHSS recipients who do not have an IHSS provider can request one from the Public Authority registry.

IHSS Advisory Committee

The Lake County In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) Advisory Committee consists of members of whom at least 50% are current or past recipients of personal assistance services paid for through public or private funds. The IHSS Advisory Committee's membership must be composed of:

  • 4 senior citizen consumer representatives
  • 2 disabled consumer representatives
  • 2 senior community representatives
  • 1 disabled community representative
  • 2 IHSS provider representatives

IHSS Advisory Committee members are appointed by the Board of Supervisors to a 2-year term. Members may be appointed to a subsequent term at the desire of the Committee members and approval of the Board of Supervisors.

The duties of the IHSS Advisory Committee include providing ongoing advice and recommendations regarding the IHSS program to the Board of Supervisors and any administrative entity in the County that is related to the delivery and administration of IHSS.