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Companion Services Program
News & Updates
The waitlist for the Companion Services Program is closed and is not currently accepting new referrals.
Overview
The program provides assistance to incapacitated adults and adults over 60 who are within state income guidelines and are unable to care for themselves. Designed to assist adults in maintaining independence or allowing them to remain in their own home, services such as the following are provided:
- Bathing and Toileting
- Dressing
- Eating and Feeding
- Light Housekeeping and Meal Preparations
- Shopping
- Supervision
Services Provided by The Medical Team
The Department of Family Services contracts the in-home services out to The Medical Team, a local home health agency. They provide the aides / companions that will assist you. The Companion Program is not a nursing program. If you need nursing care please talk with your doctor.
Companion Services Program Eligibility Requirements
(October 1, 2020 through September 30, 2021)
- Individuals whose gross income is no more than $2,267 a month
- Families of two (husband and wife) whose gross income is $2,965 a month
Under certain circumstances a family or individual may be able to earn slightly more than these amounts. If you earn less than the above, companion services are available to you at no cost. If you earn over the above amount we would be happy to refer to you other private pay services.
How Income is Determined
We look at gross income, for example:
- Social Security benefits
- CDs
- Interest on bank accounts
- Retirement
We do not make allowances for monthly expenses such as rent or the cost of medicines.
The number of hours that can be provided depend on what services you need.
It can vary from a few hours a week for housekeeping up to 25 hours per week for more intensive care.
Steps to Receiving Companion Services
- Contact the Department of Family Services at 703-777-0353 to request services.
- Most likely you will be put on a waiting list. The amount of time spent on the waiting list will vary.
- If you find your need was temporary, please contact us to have your name removed from the waiting list.
- When your name comes to the top of the waiting list, a Family Services Specialist will contact you to determine if services are still needed.
- A home visit will be made and the following will be discussed:
- Income: you will be asked to provide proof such as a bank statement.
- What help is needed and how many hours are necessary.
- When the help is needed. We try to accommodate days and times as much as possible. Being flexible however, is appreciated if at all possible.
- Medical condition, medications, family involvement, and other relevant information.
If an Individual Is Determined to Be Eligible
- The Family Services Specialist will refer the client information to The Medical Team and they will make every effort to locate an aide within five business days.
- Prior to receiving services, a nurse from The Medical Team will come to your home to do a physical assessment. Most likely the nurse will be asking you questions similar to those that the Family Services Specialist asked when he/she visited your home. Please be patient.
- The Medical Team will contact you when they have an aide available to let you know when he or she will start.
- The aide / companion will begin providing services.
- At times the aide may call in sick. The Medical Team will attempt to find a replacement but it is not guaranteed that a replacement will be found. It is helpful for families to arrange a back-up system if needed.
- The Family Services Specialist from the Department of Family Services will be contacting you at least once every three months to discuss how the companion service is working for you. We encourage clients to contact their Family Services Specialist to discuss any issues with service provision.
Contact
To request more information, please contact the Department of Family Services at 703-771-5742.