Special Care for Seniors and People with Disabilities
In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS)
The original page explains that IHSS pays for in-home services for eligible people so they can remain safely in their own homes. It identifies blindness, disability or age 65 and older, together with a need for the services, as the principal historical eligibility categories. IHSS is presented as an alternative to care outside the home in a nursing or residential-care facility.
Services described include personal hygiene, meal preparation, laundry, shopping for food and necessities, housecleaning, transportation to medical appointments and protective supervision for a person with a mental impairment. The page notes that, subject to restrictions, a spouse or a child’s parent may sometimes provide services.
The archived eligibility section says a person might qualify when services are needed to continue living at home and the person receives SSI or CAPI, even while working; does not receive SSI but meets SSI medical conditions and is excluded because of income or immigration documentation; or meets SSI disability or age conditions. A person living in an institution may also have qualified if IHSS would make a safe return home possible.
The page lists historical income and resource limits of $2,000 for one person and $3,000 for a couple, excluding a home and one vehicle used for work or medical care. It explains that someone above the SSI income limit might still qualify with a share of cost, and that some Medi-Cal IHSS recipients did not have a share of cost. These figures are from the original early-2000s page and are not current standards.
The archive says that receiving IHSS provided Medi-Cal eligibility and that an IHSS recipient with a share of cost could enroll in Medi-Cal without an additional share of cost.
The original application instructions direct Los Angeles County residents to call 888-944-4477. A social worker would arrange a home visit, determine eligibility and decide what services and hours IHSS could authorize. Applicants were advised to describe special problems and personal needs fully.
After approval, the recipient could hire, train, supervise and dismiss the IHSS provider and was considered the employer. The archived page states that providers received the minimum wage—then $6.75 per hour beginning January 2002—were paid by the state, could choose federal and state tax withholding, and had workers’ compensation coverage. Recipient and provider had to complete, sign, date and return time sheets. It also mentions historical Special Circumstances funds for urgent needs, advance payment for some people with severe disabilities, and the IHSS appeals number 888-678-4477. It lists (562) 404-6339 for Chinese-speaking home-care-worker information.
Long-Term Care Services
For a patient certified by a physician as needing around-the-clock long-term professional nursing care, the original page directs readers to the Long Term Care District at (626) 854-4987. It describes referrals to board-and-care homes, skilled nursing facilities, psychiatric hospitals and other residential care for people who cannot remain at home.
It also lists the State Central Registry at 800-451-2273 for three referrals at a time and recommends inspecting a facility carefully before admission and requesting additional referrals if none is satisfactory.
Food for Seniors and the Homebound
Congregate Meals
The original page says anyone age 60 or older could participate in congregate meals and that a participant’s spouse could attend regardless of age. It describes about 200 Los Angeles County meal sites, many in churches, synagogues and community centers, without requiring membership in the sponsoring organization. Some programs offered transportation or delivered food to people temporarily ill or confined at home. Participants could help plan menus, suggested donations and meal times. The archived information number is (213) 738-4004.
No fee was required, although meal providers commonly requested an anonymous voluntary donation and some could accept donated food stamps. The page also mentions a historical $20 farmers-market voucher for people over 60 and gives (213) 439-1070 for the Los Angeles Coalition to End Hunger and Homelessness.
Brown Bag Program
For low-income people age 60 or older, the page describes a Brown Bag Program providing two bags—about 18 pounds—of canned food, dry goods, frozen vegetables, bread and dairy products each month. An application was required; a small membership contribution might be encouraged but was not mandatory. Participants could volunteer to distribute food. The original page refers readers to an information line or food-for-free.org.
Home-Delivered Meals
Some organizations delivered scheduled meals to homebound people. Each set its own frequency, dates and times, and most required proof that illness, frailty or disability prevented cooking or shopping. Some offered special diets. Federally funded providers could not charge a meal fee but could request a small donation, and some Meals on Wheels programs accepted food stamps. The archived Los Angeles County number is (213) 738-4004.
Project Angel Food
The original page says Project Angel Food delivered free hot meals to homebound people living with AIDS in Venice, East Los Angeles, Pasadena, North Hollywood, Silver Lake and South Central. It lists (323) 845-1800 for meal delivery and (323) 845-1816 for volunteering.