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Mary Killough, Acting Director Senior HelpLine: 1-800-252-8966 (711 TRS)

In-Home Care

In-home care refers to paying for personal and/or healthcare/medical services provided in the home. In Illinois, there are various options for in-home care based on the needs of the individual.

I need assistance with Activities of Daily Living and personal care in the home such as:

  •  Companionship
  • Household assistance, meal prep, light housekeeping, errands
  • Bathing, dressing, grooming
  • Walking and moving around my home and community
  • Preventing falls
  • Transportation
  • Medication reminders

Programs providing assistance with Activities of Daily Living and personal care include:

Community Care Program (CCP)
IDoA operates the Community Care Program (CCP) aimed at assisting older adults age 60+ in maintaining their independence and providing cost-effective alternatives to nursing home placement. In-Home Service is one type of service available in CCP delivered by home care aides on a daily or weekly basis. Persons who meet CCP eligibility criteria and enroll in the program receive services at no out-of-pocket cost.

Home Services Agencies
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) licenses Home Services Agencies to employ home care aides to deliver assistance with Activities of Daily living and personal care on a daily or weekly basis to clients of any age. Clients served by Home Services Agencies pay out-of-pocket for care.

I need assistance with healthcare/medical conditions in the home such as:

  • Skilled nursing care
  • Chronic disease management
  • Medication administration including injections and IVs
  • Wound care
  • Physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language therapy


Programs providing assistance with healthcare/medical conditions include:
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) licenses Home Nursing Agencies to deliver skilled nursing care in the home as prescribed by an individual’s healthcare professional. IDPH also licenses Home Health Agencies to deliver skilled nursing, physical, occupational and speech therapy in the home as prescribed by an individual’s healthcare professional. These agencies employ Registered Nurses (RNs), Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), Certified Nurse Assistants (CNAs), Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, and Speech Language Therapists. Depending on the circumstance, Medicare, Medicaid, and/or private insurance may cover theses services. 

I am under age 60 with a severe disability and need assistance in the home such as:

  •  Personal Assistant (PA): Provides assistance with household tasks, personal care and, with permission of a doctor, certain health care procedures. PAs are selected, employed, and supervised by individual customers.
  • Homemaker Services: Personal care provided by trained and professionally supervised personnel for customers who are unable to direct the services of a PA. Instruction and assistance in household management and self-care are also available.
  • Maintenance Home Health: Services provided through a treatment plan prescribed by a physician or other health care professional. Other services include nursing care and physical, occupational, and speech therapy.
  • Electronic Home Response: Emergency response system offered by hospitals and community service organizations. This rented signaling device provides 24-hour emergency coverage, permitting the individual to alert trained professionals at hospitals, fire departments, or police departments.
  • Home-Delivered Meals: Provided to individuals who can feed themselves but are unable to prepare food.
  • Adult Day Care: The direct care and supervision of customers in a community-based setting to promote their social, physical, and emotional well-being.
  • Assistive Equipment: Devices or equipment either purchased or rented to increase an individual's independence and capability to perform household and personal care tasks at home.
  • Environmental Modification: Modifications in the home that help compensate for loss of ability, strength, mobility or sensation; increase safety in the home, and decrease dependence on direct assistance from others.
  • Respite Services: Temporary care for adults and children with disabilities aimed at relieving stress to families. Respite services may be provided for vacation, rest, errands, family crisis or emergency. Services may include personal assistant, homemaker or home health.

The Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS) operates the Home Services Program aimed at assisting adults under age 60 with a severe disability in maintaining their independence and providing cost-effective alternatives to nursing home placement. Persons who meet eligibility criteria and enroll in the program receive services at no out-of-pocket cost.

I have a developmental disability and need assistance with:

  • In-Home Supports: Services and supports to help people live more independently in their home. 
  • Day Service: Skill training or job coaches to help you succeed in the workplace.
  • Residential Living Arrangements: Services that are provided in homes with staff available 24 hours per day.

Other Supports
The Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) operates programs aimed at assisting adults and children with a developmental disability. Learn more here.

I need assistance with managing symptoms of my serious or terminal illness such as:

  • Expert assessment of the physical, functional, psychological, practical and spiritual consequences of a serious illness
  • Focus on quality of life and management of pain and other symptoms
  • Assessment and support of caregiver needs
  • Care coordination

Palliative care can provide people living with serious or terminal illness and their caregivers relief from the symptoms and stress of the illness. Palliative care is offered in various settings and by various organizations such as physician practices, health systems, cancer centers, dialysis units, home health agencies hospices and long-term care providers. Talk to your healthcare provider about options for palliative care.

I need assistance with end-of-life care such as:

  • Skilled nursing care
  • Physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language therapy
  • Personal care
  • Medical supplies and medications
  • Pain and symptom management
  • Emotional support
  • Caregiver support

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) licenses Hospice Agencies to deliver care in a variety of settings including the home, hospital, nursing home, assisted living or hospice residence when an individual has a life expectancy of six months or less. An interdisciplinary team of hospice professionals including a physician, nurses, therapists, home health aides, social workers, chaplains, and volunteers deliver services according to the goals of the patient. Hospice is covered by Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance plans.

Hiring Caregivers

Depending on the payor of your services, some caregivers are employed by an agency and assigned to you and others are hired directly by you. If a caregiver is employed by an agency, the agency is responsible for background checks, training, and supervision of the caregiver. If you hire a caregiver directly, you should check the IDPH Healthcare Worker Registry to ensure the caregiver is eligible to work in-home care. Search the Registry.

Complaints About In-Home Care?

If you are unhappy with the services you are receiving and would like to file a complaint, contact:

  • If you are receiving Community Care Program (CCP) services, contact:
  • If you are receiving services through a Home Services Agency, Home Nursing Agency, Home Health Agency, or Hospice Agency, contact the Illinois Department of Public Health at 800-252-4343 or file through the Portal.
  • If you are receiving services through the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) Division of Rehabilitation Services Home Services Program, contact the Home Care Ombudsman at 1-888-252-8966 or email Aging.HCOProgram@illinois.gov.
  • If you are receiving services through the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) Division of Developmental Disabilities, follow the instructions.
  • If you have a report of abuse, neglect, self-neglect or exploitation of an adult age 18-59 with a disability living in the community or an older adult age 60+ living in the community, call the Adult Protective Services (APS) Hotline at 1-866-800-1409.

Related Resources

Caregiver Action Network

Caregiver Action Network - The Family Caregiver Toolbox