In-home services and supports which may be provided for individuals with developmental disabilities, of any age, include respite care, nursing services,  medical and adaptive equipment, and supplies.

Respite Care is intermittent relief from the additional demands placed on a family raising a son or daughter with a disability.  The regional center contracts with respite agencies, to help meet a family’s  needs for in-home respite.  The agency employs well-trained individuals who come into the home at scheduled times to care for the family member with a disability.  Respite can give parents the time to take care of other important things, go out for a meal with a spouse or a friend, or to spend time with their other children, knowing that the disabled family member is being well cared for at home.  Since every child and family situation is unique, the amount of respite provided is determined by the identified needs of the particular family.  The regional center also offers out-of-home respite in the form of temporary residence in a licensed home.  For more information about respite refer to the HRC "Making It Happen" publication,   Let’s Talk About Respite.  A Guide to In-Home Respite Services.  

Families may also qualify for in home support services through the federal In-Home Support Services program. This program is described in the HRC booklet, In Home Support Services.

In-home Nursing Care is sometimes necessary to enable families to maintain a medically fragile or technology dependent family member with a developmental disability at home.  For many , this type of in-home service is an alternative to living in a skilled nursing or other specialized health facility.   In-home nursing is of two types:  1) periodic home visits by a licensed nurse to monitor the consumer’s condition and appropriateness of services, or to train the primary care giver in techniques for caring for the consumer; and 2) shift nursing for periods of four or more hours to supplement the care provided by the family member who has been trained to administer nursing care and treatment.  The necessity for nursing services as well as the amount and type are determined based on a comprehensive nursing assessment.  For more information, refer to the HRC publication,  In-Home Nursing Care Services: Guidelines for Families.

Durable and Non-Durable Equipment and Supplies.   Durable equipment includes mechanical assistive or adaptive devices designed to sustain life or facilitate mobility, communication, community access, or environmental  control in order to promote increased independence.  Such equipment includes wheelchairs, apnea monitors, and communication devices.  Non-durable equipment and supplies include products, such as eyeglasses, medication, hearing aids, orthopedic shoes, and equipment repairs, that help people maintain their health and promote adaptive functioning.  Often, these types of equipment or supplies are funded by California Children’s Services, MediCal, or private insurance.  The regional center may assist our client/family to access the above resources for generic services. If a client is found to not be eligible for any of these alternative sources, the regional center may be able to fund durable medical equipment and supplies if the equipment or supply will help the client live a more independent or productive life in the community, and if the need for it is directly associated with the client’s developmental disability. 

The regional center may purchase formula, nutritional supplements, or diapers for a client who is 3 years of age or older, only if the family can demonstrate that the service is not covered by insurance, there is a financial need and if there is evidence that such is necessary to enable the client to remain in the family home.