Illinois Rehabilitation Services
The Lupus Community Navigator received a call inquiring about state services for residents on disability.
The Illinois Department of Human Services – Rehabilitation Services (DRS) has 4 major bureaus – including the Bureau of Home Services that provides a wide range of services to individuals with the most significant disabilities to enable them to remain in their homes and live as independently as possible.
DRS serves people with severe disabilities under age 60 who need help with daily living activities in their homes. Many of these people are at risk of moving into a nursing home or other facility. (For those 60 and over, please contact the Illinois Department on Aging.)
the following programs are offered:
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.
We also provide specialized services for people with HIV/AIDS and/or traumatic brain injuries (TBI).
And our Community Reintegration Program helps individuals with disabilities who live in nursing homes move into community with the supports they need to live as independently as possible.
The first step is to complete an online referral (https://wr.dhs.illinois.gov/wrpublic/wr/dynamic/referral.jsf)
Services are provided in 48 local offices located in communities throughout the state. Use the DHS Office Locator and search for Rehabilitation Services to find the nearest local office or call toll-free: (800) 843-6154 (Voice, English or Español) or (800) 447-6404 (TTY).
More Information & Resources
Home Services Program – DHS 4243
Home Services Program (Spanish Version) – DHS 4243S
If you have any questions, please contact the Lupus Navigator at 312-648-6053 or email [email protected].
