Individualized Home Support
What Can IHS Address?
Individualized Home Supports (IHS) is designed to help people develop, maintain, or use the skills they need to live more independently in their home and community. Unlike a service that is primarily focused on completing tasks for someone, IHS can focus on helping the individual learn, practice, maintain, and strengthen skills.
Minnesota DHS currently describes three IHS options: IHS without training, IHS with training, and IHS with family training. Services can include support, guidance, cueing, instruction, skill maintenance, assistance with activities of daily living, coordination of community living activities, and direct supervision within covered service categories.
Why It's Important?
One of the most important ideas behind IHS is supporting the person rather than automatically doing everything for them.
For example: Instead of simply preparing a meal, a caregiver may help the individual learn how to plan the meal, gather ingredients, follow steps, and safely participate in cooking.
Instead of simply managing a household routine, the caregiver may help the individual create a system they can continue using.
The objective is to help the person retain abilities, gain confidence, and participate more independently in everyday life.
Present Help Supports
Our IHS approach starts with the individual. We identify what the person wants to accomplish, what skills they already have, where they need support, and what strategies may help them progress. We celebrate small victories because independence isn't always one huge milestone. Sometimes independence looks like preparing breakfast independently. Sometimes it's remembering an appointment. Sometimes it's learning how to manage a weekly budget. Sometimes it's confidently going into the community. Every step forward matters.
