Seven-Year-Old Thriving Under In-Home Support Services Program

Seven-year-old Matthew was born with Optic Nerve Hypoplasia (ONH) and Septo-Optic Dysplasia (SOD) that caused him to become blind, along with several other health conditions and delays. 

ONH is the leading ocular cause of blindness and visual impairment in young children. The areas that can be affected involve gross and fine motor skills, intelligence, speech and social interactions. In some people, brain abnormalities associated with ONH cause seizures. SOD causes optic nerve abnormalities and affects the optic disc located at the back of the eye, where the optic nerve meets the retina. 

“I heard about the family caregiver program at Solace Pediatric Healthcare through another Solace therapist who was treating our younger son, Maddox.  She had met Matthew a few times and mentioned that Solace was starting this program that she believed Matthew would qualify for if he applied. We are forever grateful that this information was shared with our family,” said Amy, Matthew’s mother and caregiver.  

“We chose Solace because every person we have ever had interactions with was extremely kind and helpful. I was impressed with Solace as a company from the first time I spoke to someone about Maddox’s speech therapy in 2020 when we moved to Colorado,” adds Amy. 

In-Home Support Services in Colorado

Through the In-Home Support Services (IHSS) program at Solace Pediatric Healthcare, Amy has been providing care to Matthew for the past six months. As an IHSS attendant, she assists him with his basic living skills such as eating, bathing, changing clothes, and personal hygiene.  He requires constant oversight due to his visual impairment because many of these activities he is still learning. 

“We’re so excited that Matthew continues to develop and grow every day. The IHSS program has been an unexpected blessing to our family by alleviating financial burdens and stress as I have been limited in my ability to work to provide additional income outside of my husband’s job.” 

“This opportunity has allowed us to delegate other obligations so I can give Matthew the time and attention he needs without worrying about all that I couldn’t keep up with,” adds Amy.

Determining IHSS Eligibility

IHSS is a home health aide program in Colorado allowing family members and friends to earn a paycheck caring for their loved one at home. There is no schooling process for this program and the caregiver’s skills are verified as competent by a Solace nurse. IHSS is only available to those on specific Medicaid Waivers. Call us today to learn more about this program and how to get started! We are here to guide and offer support through this process every step of the way.

• STEP 1: Call Solace at 303.432.8487, ext. 6 (or familycaregiverservices@solacehealthcare.com) and we will help you schedule the assessments to determine program eligibility.
  
• STEP 2: Solace will work with you to ensure any forms and requirements for participation are complete.
  
• STEP 3: The caregiver will complete a brief orientation and officially become an employee of Solace.
  
• STEP 4: The attendant will be paid weekly for their care after an in-home training with a Registered Nurse from Solace.

“Each employee makes you feel important and takes the time to understand what it is that you need and could benefit you and your family the most. I have always felt everyone from Solace has our best interest in mind and treats us with respect and care.”

“Solace has been a fantastic company to partner with both in the journey with IHSS and also because another son receives speech services through Solace and has made incredible strides as a result of their care.  We highly recommend Solace Pediatric Healthcare to everyone that could benefit from the multitude of services they offer,” adds Amy.   

About Us

Solace Pediatric Healthcare is the leading provider of family caregiver, occupational, physical, speech and feeding therapy services. Since 2005, our clinicians have provided pediatric care to children from birth to 21 years of age. We offer comprehensive pediatric therapy services in Colorado and Arizona. At Solace, we’ve instilled a culture built on trust, communication, teamwork and accountability. Our mission is to provide pediatric clinical services to help children and families live their best lives.

Reference: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke