Service Eligibility Criteria

Listed below is a brief synopsis of IHS eligibility criteria. The list is not intended to replace OSA Operating Standards. Each program should be familiar with and refer to the OSA Operating Standards for detailed explanations of IHS client eligibility criteria.

1. Home Delivered Meals
   1. Participant must be 60+, or be the spouse, partner, or unpaid caregiver of a person 60+, or an individual living with disabilities who resides in a non-institutional household with a person who is eligible for and receiving home-delivered meals.
   2. Participant is homebound; i.e., normally is unable to leave the home unassisted, and for whom leaving the home takes considerable and taxing effort.
   3. Participant is unable to participate in the congregate nutrition program because of physical or emotional difficulties.
   4. Participant is unable to obtain food or prepare complete meals for themselves because of: a disabling condition, lack of knowledge or skill to prepare nourishing and well balanced meals, lack of means to obtain or prepare nourishing meals or lack of incentive to prepare and eat a meal alone.
   5. If there is lack of an informal support system: has no family, friends, neighbors or others who are both willing and able to perform the service or the informal support system needs to be supplemented.
   6. Participant’s dietary needs can be met by the program (meals will not jeopardize the client’s health).
   7. Participant is able to feed him/herself.
   8. Participant agrees to be home when meals are delivered or contact the program when absence is unavoidable.
   9. That the spouse or partner, regardless of age, or unpaid caregiver (if 60+) of an eligible client, may receive a home delivered meal if the assessment indicates receipt of the meal is in the best interest of the participant.
2. Homemaker
   1. Participant is 60+.
   2. Participant is not eligible for services through other funding source (DHS/third party reimbursement).
   3. Participant is unable to perform routine household tasks.
   4. Participant does not have family/friend who is willing or able perform routine household tasks sufficiently.
3. Personal Care
   1. Participant is 60+.
   2. Participant is not eligible for services through other funding source (DHS/third party reimbursement).
   3. Participant needs assistance with activities of daily living (ADL’s); bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, transferring, eating and ambulation.
   4. Participant does not have family/friend who is willing or able to assist with ADL’s sufficiently.
4. Respite Care
   1. Participant is 60+.
   2. Participant is not eligible for services through other funding source (third party reimbursement).
   3. Participant requires a substitute caregiver while their primary caregiver is in need of relief.