The COVID pandemic impacted all communities significantly. The IDD community specifically has experienced a large decrease in the availability of Direct Support Providers (DSP) for all services. Providers all over Colorado experienced this when many DSPs were unable to work with their high-risk clients. Many providers even had to shut their doors for good. This has impacted many families, making parents, siblings and extended family become the caregivers for their loved one’s day-to-day needs.
Providers all over Colorado are feeling this and struggling to find new Direct Support Providers for all their participants and members. Did you know that within your Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) waivers Colorado offers In-home Support Services (IHSS)? It is the Family Caregivers Act. This means spouses, adult children, parents, friends, and neighbors who provide care for your loved one may be able to be employed by a home care agency and receive compensation for the support they are already providing. Providers are looking for more Direct Support Providers to help the IDD community.
If you are interested in more information about this waiver service, please reach out to Whitney Kurka at wkurka@wearewellspring.org.
If you are interested in becoming a DSP or know someone who might be, please reach out to your Case Manager and discuss how to become an approved provider and/or how to add that service to your loved one’s service plan.