For older adults and people with disabilities, getting the right support can make it possible to continue living at home while receiving help with everyday needs.
This is when Home and Community-Based Services (commonly called HCBS) come into play.
Missouri’s HCBS programs provide different types of support based on a person’s eligibility and individual needs. From help with bathing and preparing meals to respite care and certain medical equipment, these services are designed to help eligible Missourians receive necessary assistance in their homes and communities.
So, what services are included in HCBS in Missouri? Here’s a closer look at some of the support that may be available.
Personal Care
Personal care can help with activities of daily living that may become difficult to manage independently.
Depending on a person’s assessed needs, personal care assistance may include help with:
- Bathing
- Dressing and grooming
- Eating
- Mobility
- Toileting
- Meal preparation
- Certain household tasks
Personal care can make everyday routines more manageable while helping eligible individuals continue living in their homes.
Missouri also offers personal care through different service models. This includes agency-model care and, for eligible individuals who can direct their own care, Consumer Directed Services (CDS).
Advanced Personal Care
Some individuals need assistance with tasks that go beyond basic personal care.
Advanced personal care may be authorized when assistance with daily activities involves certain devices or procedures related to a person’s physical needs. For example, this can include assistance with some types of transfers or other approved tasks requiring a higher level of support.
The specific services authorized depend on the participant’s assessed needs and care plan.
Homemaker and Chore Services
Maintaining a home involves plenty of everyday tasks. When health or mobility challenges make those responsibilities difficult, certain HCBS programs may provide assistance.
Homemaker services can include tasks such as light housekeeping, laundry, meal preparation, shopping, and other approved household activities.
Chore services can address certain heavier household tasks when they are necessary to help an eligible participant remain in their home.
The goal is not simply to make life more convenient. These services are intended to address assessed needs that affect a participant’s ability to continue living safely in a community setting.
Home-Delivered Meals
Preparing meals can become challenging for someone experiencing limitations with mobility or other daily activities.
For qualifying participants, Missouri’s HCBS programs may include home-delivered meals. This service can help eligible individuals access prepared meals when their assessed needs and circumstances meet program requirements.
Respite Care
Family caregivers can play an important role in helping loved ones remain at home. They also occasionally need time away from their caregiving responsibilities.
Respite care provides temporary care and supervision for an eligible participant while offering relief to the caregiver who typically provides or coordinates daily care.
Depending on the participant’s needs and eligibility, Missouri offers both basic and advanced respite services through certain HCBS programs.
Certain Medical Equipment, Supplies and Home Modifications
For some participants with specialized needs, HCBS may extend beyond direct personal care.
Certain Missouri HCBS waiver programs can provide specialized medical equipment and supplies for eligible participants. Environmental accessibility adaptations may also be available to make a participant’s home more accessible.
These services are not automatically available to everyone receiving HCBS. Eligibility depends on the specific program, individual circumstances, and authorized care plan.
Authorized Nurse Visits
Some HCBS participants may also qualify for authorized nurse visits.
These visits can include health assessments, care plan reviews, supervision of personal care aides, and certain maintenance or preventive services for individuals with stable, chronic conditions.
Authorized nurse visits are not intended to replace home health care. Instead, they can provide additional monitoring and support as part of an eligible participant’s HCBS care.
Does Everyone Receive the Same HCBS Services?
No. Home and Community-Based Services are based on individual needs.
Missouri’s Division of Senior and Disability Services (DSDS) assesses participants and develops a Person-Centered Care Plan, or PCCP, with eligible individuals. The plan identifies unmet needs and the services that may appropriately address them.
That means one person may receive personal care and homemaker services, while another may need a different combination of authorized support.
You can find additional information about Home and Community-Based Services in Missouri through the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
Finding the Right Support at Home
Understanding what’s included in HCBS can make it easier to explore the type of care that may be available to you or someone you love.
At Kingdom Care, we believe home care should be compassionate, respectful, and built around the needs of each family. We serve families throughout St. Louis County and surrounding communities with Medicaid-covered home care, Consumer Directed Services, and private pay care options.
Looking for home care in the St. Louis area? Contact Kingdom Care to learn more about your options and the services that may be available to you or your loved one.
Disclaimer: Kingdom Care does not determine Medicaid or HCBS eligibility or guarantee authorization of services. Eligibility, assessments, care plans, and service authorizations are determined by the appropriate Missouri state agencies in accordance with applicable program requirements. Available services vary based on eligibility, program requirements, and individual needs.
