IHSS in Colorado: In-Home Support Services Explained
With IHSS, you choose who helps you at home. EliteCare handles hiring, training, payroll and nurse oversight so you can focus on your care.
- Choose a family member, friend or one of our attendants
- Registered nurse support for health maintenance tasks
- Help in English, Russian and Spanish
- CDPHE Licensed #04Z659
- Medicare-Certified
- CHAP Accredited
- In-network: BCBS & Cigna
- Health First Colorado & IHSS
- Open 7 days, 8 AM–7 PM
- English · Русский · Español
In-Home Support Services, or IHSS, is a way for Health First Colorado members to direct their own care. You decide who your attendant is, when they come, and how they help. The attendant works through a licensed IHSS agency.
EliteCare acts as that agency. We hire and pay your attendant, run background checks, provide training, and send a registered nurse to support tasks that need clinical oversight. You keep control of your daily routine.
Do you qualify for IHSS in Colorado?
- You are enrolled in Health First Colorado (Colorado Medicaid).
- An assessment by your case manager shows you need help with daily activities.
- Your case manager authorizes IHSS as your service option.
- You can direct your own care, or you have an authorized representative who can.
- You live in your own home or a family home in the community.
Your case manager makes the final eligibility decision. We can explain the steps and what to ask, but we cannot approve IHSS ourselves.
What IHSS covers
Covered
- Personal care: bathing, dressing, grooming and toileting
- Homemaker tasks: light cleaning, laundry and meal preparation
- Health maintenance activities, such as help with medications or catheter care, under your direction
- Training for your attendant on your routine and tasks
- Registered nurse support for your care plan
- Hiring, background checks and payroll handled by EliteCare
Not covered
- 24-hour continuous care
- Rent, food or other room and board costs
- Care while you are in a hospital
- Medical equipment (billed separately to Health First Colorado)
- Non-medical transportation
- Tasks not listed in your authorized care plan
The number of hours you receive is set by your case manager based on your assessed needs.
How to start IHSS care with EliteCare
- You
Step 1
Talk to your case manager
Ask for an assessment and tell them you want IHSS. Let them know you would like EliteCare as your agency.
- Your case manager
Step 2
Authorizes hours and tasks
Your case manager sets the number of hours and the tasks your attendant can do, then sends the authorization to us.
- EliteCare
Step 3
Hires and trains your attendant
We complete hiring paperwork and background checks for the person you choose, or we offer an attendant from our team.
- EliteCare nurse
Step 4
Supports care at home
A registered nurse visits to review your care plan and train your attendant on any health maintenance tasks.
What to have ready when you call about IHSS
- Your Health First Colorado member ID card
- Your case manager's name and phone number
- Your doctor's name and a current medication list
- The name and phone number of the person you want as your attendant, if you have one
- Recent hospital discharge papers, if you were recently in the hospital
Services available through IHSS
Personal care
Hands-on help with bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting and moving safely around the house.
Learn moreCompanion care
Homemaker help with meals, laundry and light cleaning, part of your authorized plan.
Learn moreHome health care
Nurse oversight for health maintenance tasks your attendant performs under your direction.
Learn moreDementia care
Support for a family member with memory loss, with a consistent attendant and routine.
Learn moreWhat is In-Home Support Services in Colorado?
IHSS is a service option within Health First Colorado. It puts the member in charge. You help pick, train and schedule the attendant who works in your home.
The agency handles the business side. EliteCare manages payroll, background checks, required training and nurse oversight. You do not need to act as an employer.
Health maintenance activities under IHSS
Health maintenance activities are tasks that would usually need a nurse, such as help with certain medications, bowel care or catheter care. IHSS lets a trained attendant do these tasks under your direction.
Our registered nurse assesses your needs, helps write the plan, and checks that tasks are done safely. If your health changes, the nurse updates the plan with you and your case manager.
The role of your IHSS attendant
Your attendant is the person who comes to your home. This can be a relative, a friend, or someone from our team. The key is that you trust them and they follow your routine.
EliteCare hires the attendant from our office at 13710 E Rice Pl in Aurora. We pay them, keep their training current, and answer their questions 7 days a week, 8 AM to 7 PM.
Working with your IHSS case manager
Your case manager authorizes your IHSS hours and tasks and reviews them over time. Keep their contact information handy and call them when your needs change.
We share updates with your case manager when the care plan changes. Keep your Health First Colorado coverage active by completing your renewal paperwork on time, so your IHSS services are not interrupted.
Check your IHSS options with EliteCare
IHSS questions
Can a family member be my IHSS attendant?
In many cases, yes. A relative or friend can be hired as your attendant through an IHSS agency like EliteCare. Some rules apply, so confirm with your case manager.
Do I have to be homebound to use IHSS?
No. The homebound rule is part of Medicare home health. It does not apply to IHSS.
How do I apply for IHSS?
You must first be enrolled in Health First Colorado. Then ask your case manager for an assessment and tell them you want the IHSS option.
How is IHSS different from regular agency home care?
With IHSS, you or your authorized representative choose, train and schedule your attendant. With regular agency care, the agency assigns and schedules the caregiver.
What if I do not have someone in mind to be my attendant?
We can offer an attendant from our team. Our staff speaks English, Russian and Spanish.
Does IHSS cover care around the clock?
No. Your case manager authorizes a set number of hours based on your assessed needs. IHSS is not a 24-hour service.
Related to IHSS in Colorado
Last updated: October 2026