Individualized Home Supports is one of the more flexible services in a Minnesota support plan. It can help a person manage daily routines, build independent-living skills, stay safe at home, and take part in the community. But the letters “IHS” don’t describe one identical service for everyone.
What are Individualized Home Supports?
IHS is delivered in a person’s own home and community rather than in a provider-controlled residential setting. Under Minnesota’s 245D framework, IHS without training is categorized as a basic support service, while IHS with training and IHS with family training are intensive support services.
That difference matters. The service plan should say whether staff are mainly assisting and supervising, actively teaching skills, or helping family members build the ability to support the person.
The three types of IHS
IHS without training
IHS without training is appropriate when a person needs assistance or supervision to maintain health, safety, and community living, but the service is not specifically directed toward teaching or rehabilitating a skill.
Examples may include authorized support with:
- household routines and maintaining a safe home;
- meal planning, shopping, and daily organization;
- appointments, errands, and community participation;
- communication, reminders, and following established routines; and
- supervision identified in the support plan.
IHS with training
IHS with training connects staff support to measurable skill-building goals. Staff do not simply complete a task for the person; they use instruction, prompting, modeling, practice, and fading of support to help the person learn or maintain a skill.
Training goals may involve:
- cooking, cleaning, laundry, and home-care skills;
- budgeting, scheduling, and personal organization;
- using transportation and navigating the community;
- communication, self-advocacy, and relationship skills;
- health and safety routines; and
- building independence around an assessed need.
IHS with family training
This service supports family members who provide unpaid care. Training is connected to the person’s needs and may help the family understand effective strategies, use consistent approaches, respond to changing needs, or support skills between staff visits.
IHS is not a generic homemaking package
Search results often describe IHS as a list of chores. That misses the point. Every activity has to connect to an assessed need and an authorized service outcome. Two people can receive IHS and have completely different schedules, goals, risks, and staff approaches.
A good plan spells out what support is needed, when it is needed, how staff should provide it, what progress looks like, and when the team should rethink the approach.
Who may qualify?
Eligibility and authorization are determined through the applicable Minnesota program and lead agency—not by a provider alone. A case manager or care coordinator uses the person’s assessment and person-centered plan to determine the appropriate service type, scope, and amount.
IHS may be available through disability waiver programs including CADI, DD, BI, and CAC when program requirements are met and the service is authorized.
Read our Minnesota waiver guide for an overview of those programs.
What should a case manager or family ask an IHS provider?
- Which IHS type is authorized? The service delivery must match the authorization.
- How will staff learn the person’s goals? Ask how the provider turns the support plan into daily practice.
- How is progress documented? Training services should show how support relates to skill development.
- What staffing schedule is realistically available? Confirm days, times, transportation expectations, and backup coverage.
- How will the provider coordinate with the team? Clarify communication with the person, family, guardian, and case manager.
- How are changes handled? Needs and goals evolve, and the service plan may need review.
How Truwell approaches IHS
Truwell provides Individualized Home Supports in Minnesota. We focus on predictable staffing, respectful relationships, person-centered goals, and steady communication with your support team.
To explore availability, submit a referral with the county, authorized IHS type, preferred schedule, assessed needs, and current service authorization.
Frequently asked questions
What are Individualized Home Supports in Minnesota?
Individualized Home Supports, commonly called IHS, are Minnesota home and community-based services that help a person live in their own home and participate in community life. The authorized support may include assistance, supervision, skill development, or family training based on the person-centered plan.
What is the difference between IHS with training and without training?
IHS with training is directed toward helping a person learn, improve, or maintain skills. IHS without training focuses on assistance and supervision needed for health, safety, and community living without a formal skill-training objective.
Can IHS include support in the community?
Yes. When authorized in the support plan, IHS can include support with community participation, appointments, errands, relationships, routines, and activities connected to the person’s assessed needs and goals.
How do I start IHS services?
The person generally works with a case manager or care coordinator to complete an assessment, identify goals and support needs, authorize the appropriate IHS service type and units, and select a qualified provider.
Official source
Minnesota Statutes section 245D.03 identifies IHS without training as a basic support service and IHS with training and family training as intensive support services.
This article is general information. Eligibility, covered activities, units, and service delivery depend on the person’s current assessment, authorization, waiver, support plan, location, and Minnesota requirements.