CHC Long Term Services and Supports Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) provide essential support, enabling individuals with disabilities and older adults in Pennsylvania to remain in their homes and communities. Many of these services are funded through Medical Assistance (Medicaid), a healthcare program supported by both state and federal resources.
"Feel free to download HPC Service Information Packet."
HomePlus Care Personal Assistance Services
Personal Hygiene & Appearance Care
- Bathing Assistance: Includes assistance with bed baths, sponge baths, tub baths, or showers.
- Support with hair care, including brushing, combing, washing, and drying; nail care; and shaving.
- Assistance with brushing teeth, denture care, and other oral care.
- Applying lotions or creams as necessary and ensuring the skin is clean and dry
- Assisting with putting on or removing clothing and other personal items.
- Toileting Assistance: Including help with transfers, hygiene after toileting, changing of incontinence products, and proper hygiene maintenance.
Homemaking
- Light Housekeeping: Dusting, sweeping, mopping, and vacuuming common areas and the bedroom.
- Kitchen Cleaning: Wiping countertops, cleaning sinks, and washing dishes.
- Bathroom Cleaning: Sanitizing surfaces, cleaning toilets, showers, tubs, and sinks.
- Laundry Assistance: Washing, drying, folding, and putting away clothing and linens.
- Changing Linens: Assistance with bed-making and changing sheets and pillowcases.
- Trash Removal: Collecting and disposing of trash in a sanitary manner.
- Meal Preparation: Assisting with preparing simple meals or snacks, ensuring nutritional needs are met.
- Grocery Shopping and Errands: If approved, assistance with picking up groceries and necessary supplies.
- Organizing Living Spaces: Helping maintain an orderly environment for easy navigation and safety.
- Pet Care: Limited assistance with pet care tasks, such as feeding and cleaning.
Transportation (non-medical)
- Transportation to Community Activities: Rides to social gatherings, recreational activities, or community centers to support social engagement.
- Transportation to Grocery Stores: Assistance with transportation to grocery stores for food shopping.
- Transportation for Personal Errands: Support for transportation to locations such as banks, pharmacies, or other essential errands.
- Access to Vocational or Educational Programs: Transport to training centers, educational classes, or vocational programs.
- Transportation to Religious Services: Rides to places of worship or religious events as needed.
- Transportation to Volunteer Sites: Assistance with transportation for volunteer activities that the individual may be involved in.
- Visits to Family and Friends: Transport to visit loved ones within the community, supporting social connections.
- Access to Legal or Advocacy Services: Rides to legal aid offices, advocacy services, or community resource centers as needed.
Transferring
- Bed-to-Wheelchair Transfers: Assistance with moving from a bed to a wheelchair or vice versa.
- Chair-to-Bed Transfers: Support in transferring between a chair and a bed.
- Toilet Transfers: Assistance with safely moving to and from the toilet.
- Shower or Bathtub Transfers: Support for getting in and out of a shower or bathtub safely.
- Vehicle Transfers: Help with getting in and out of a car or other transport vehicle.
- Floor Recovery Assistance: Support in safely returning to a seated or standing position after a fall, if feasible.
- Repositioning Support: Assistance with moving or adjusting position in bed, chair, or other surfaces to prevent discomfort or pressure sores.
- Use of Transfer Equipment: Support with transfer aids such as slide boards, lifts, or gait belts as needed for safe transitions.
Companionship
- Social Interaction: Engaging in conversations and activities to promote socialization and emotional well-being.
- Recreational Activities: Participating in games, hobbies, or arts and crafts to foster enjoyment and creativity.
- Accompaniment: Accompanying the individual on outings, such as walks in the community or visits to local attractions.
- Meal Sharing: Having meals together to provide companionship during dining and to promote healthy eating habits.
- Reading and Storytelling: Reading books or sharing stories to encourage cognitive engagement and entertainment.
- Listening and Emotional Support: Offering a listening ear and emotional support for personal issues or concerns.
- Engagement in Daily Activities: Assisting with or participating in daily routines, such as gardening, cooking, or household tasks.
- Promoting Cognitive Activities: Engaging in activities that stimulate the mind, such as puzzles, trivia games, or discussions on current events.
- Assistance with Technology: Helping the individual with using phones, tablets, or computers for communication and entertainment.
- Transportation for Social Activities: Providing transportation to social events, family gatherings, or community activities.
Supervision
- General Safety Monitoring: Observing the individual to ensure their physical safety and to prevent accidents or falls.
- Medication Supervision: Ensuring that medications are taken on time and observing for any adverse reactions.
- Behavioral Supervision: Monitoring for and managing behaviors that could be harmful to the individual or others.
- Cognitive Support and Reminders: Offering reminders for daily tasks, such as eating, drinking, or completing hygiene routines.
- Wandering Prevention: Supervising individuals prone to wandering to prevent them from leaving the premises unsafely.
- Emergency Response Preparedness: Being ready to respond quickly to emergencies and summon additional help if necessary.
- Meal and Hydration Reminders: Reminding the individual to eat and drink at regular intervals to maintain health.
- Assistance with Daily Routines: Ensuring adherence to daily schedules and routines to provide structure and familiarity.
- Social and Emotional Support: Offering companionship and support to prevent isolation and promote mental well-being.
- Environmental Safety Checks: Checking the environment for any potential hazards, such as tripping risks or other safety concerns.
Respite Care (in-home care to alleviate caregiving burden of a primary caregiver)
In-Home Respite Services: Temporary care in the client’s home, assisting with activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living, and supervision.
PA Community HealthChoices
Long Term Services and Supports
PA Community HealthChoices Program functions under both Managed Care Waivers and Home and Community-Based Services Waivers. For the Program, the state contracts with Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) aiming at improving the delivery and management of Medicaid services and facilitating services (Long Term Services and Supports) in home and community-based settings.
- Personal Hygiene Care (non-medical assistance):with eating, bathing, incontinence/continence toileting, etc.
- Homemaker Services: assistance with housecleaning and doing laundry, preparing meals,
etc.
- Medication Administration & Management
- Respite Care: in-home and out-of-home short-term care to alleviate a primary caregiver
- Supported Employment: job coaching services
- Career Assessment
- Job Finding
- Benefits Counseling
- Counseling Services
- Community Integration: skills training for community living
- Assistive Technology: devices & services to improve functioning
- Adult Day Health Care/ Adult Daily Living: provides daytime supervision and personal care assistance in a group setting
- Home Modifications
- Home Meal Delivery
- Transportation (non-medical)
Eligibility Requirements
1. Residency
- Must be a resident of Pennsylvania.
2. Age or Disability Requirements
- Age 21 or older and eligible for Medicaid.
- Or, age 18 or older and eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare (*dual eligible).
3. Need for Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS)
- Must meet the criteria for needing a nursing facility level of care as determined by the state's standardized assessment process.
- Individuals with physical disabilities who are unable to perform daily activities independently often qualify.
4. Income Eligibility
- Must meet Medicaid financial eligibility requirements.
- Income limits: Medicaid income limits vary based on household size and other factors.
- Generally, income should not exceed approximately 300% of the Federal Benefit Rate (FBR). In 2023, this is around $2,742/month for a single individual.
- Asset limits: Typically, a maximum of $2,000 in countable assets for a single individual. Certain assets, such as a primary home and a vehicle, may be exempt.
5. Medicaid Eligibility
- Must qualify for Medicaid (*Medical Assistance) or be dually eligible for both Medicaid and *Medicare.
6. Enrollment in a CHC Plan
- Must be a willing *Participant in the CHC LTSS program administered by CHC MCOs under contracts with *PA DHS.
7. Functional Eligibility
- Must undergo a functional needs assessment to determine eligibility for LTSS. This assessment is typically conducted by the *Independent Enrollment Broker (IEB) or *County Assistance Office, who evaluates the applicant's ability to perform daily activities like bathing, dressing, mobility, and cognitive functions.
8. Willingness to Participate in HCBS
- The applicant must be willing to receive and participate in community-based services rather than opting for institutional care (such as in a nursing home).
9. Target Population
- Individuals who are dual-eligible or those who qualify for Medicaid long-term care services and who wish to remain in the community.
10. Not Currently Receiving Similar LTSS
- Applicants must not be receiving similar LTSS services from other Pennsylvania Medicaid programs or HCBS waivers unless transitioning to CHC for LTSS.
11. Plan of Service Requirement
- Once enrolled, a *person-centered service plan is developed, which outlines the services the individual will receive in the community. This plan ensures the individual's needs are met in a home-based setting rather than institutional care.
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