Homemaker / Personal Care Services

Contact Person: Lynelle Fraser, Social Worker III

Case Management: A Licensed Social Worker (Case Manager) is provided by the County to assist clients in accessing Homemaker and Personal Care Services. The Case Manager visits the client’s home, conducts a comprehensive assessment of the client’s overall functioning to determine appropriate services for the client, and monitors the client’s condition and services.

Cost of Service: The cost of Homemaker, Personal Care Services, and Case Management Services varies with each person’s situation. Their liquid assets and monthly income, minus certain deductions, determine their fee, which is based on a sliding fee scale. For those clients who must pay a fee, Social Services sends a statement to them around the 10th of each month for the month that service were provided. There is no charge for the services of the Public Health Nurse in conjunction with supervising the In-Home Care Specialists in their provision of Personal Care Services.

Pembina County In-Home Care Specialists provide Homemaker and Personal Care services to enable elderly and disabled adults to remain in their own homes. These services are provided where no alternative services are available, if no relatives or friends are available, and if the help is needed on a regular basis, such as every other week, weekly, or up to three (3) times per week.

Homemaker Services:

Pembina County In-Home Care Specialists provide assistance with the following household tasks:

• Light Housework: such as vacuuming, floor care, dusting, garbage removal, changing linens, etc.
• Laundry: washing, drying, folding, ironing, mending, and related work.
• Meal Preparation: planning, preparing, and serving the meal, as well as clean-up and dishwashing.
• Shopping: for essential needs, such as groceries.
• Money Management: assisting with budgeting and monthly bill-paying.
• Communication: using the telephone, reading, and sending mail.

Personal Care Services:

Pembina County In-Home Care Specialists are able to assist with the following personal care tasks:

• Bathing: bed, tub, shower, or bath.
• Hair Care: bed or sink shampoo, set and comb hair, shave.
• Teeth / Mouth / Denture Care
• Dress / Undress: assist client in getting properly dressed or undressed.
• Feeding / Eating: feeding a client who is unable to feed self, or assist client with routine regimen of eating.
• Toileting / Continence: assist with routine regimen for toileting and care associated with incontinence.
• Transfer in / out of bed or chair.
• Turning / positioning client in bed.
• Mobility (routine movement) inside home.
• Eye Care: routine regimen of non-prescription eye drops, ointment, or eye pad.
• Medication Assistance: limited to assisting client with self-administration of medications.
• Skin Care: application of creams and lotions; treatment of minor skin problems.
• Nail Care: routine finger nail care for homebound individuals (cannot cut toe nails).
• Application of Antiembolic Stockings and Ace Wrap.
• Care of Prosthetic, Orthotic, or Adaptive Device.
• Temperature, Pulse, Respiration, and Blood Pressure.
• Maintenance Exercises.
• Assist Congnitively Impaired Client.
• Other tasks that may be performed:
  • Ostomy Care (general maintenance)
  • Indwelling Bladder Catheter Care
  • Water Bath / Heat (whirlpool, etc.)
  • Postural / Bronchial Drainage
  • Bowel Program (suppository)

Department of Human Services Toll Free Numbers:

• Main Switchboard: 1-800-472-2622
• Child Support 1-800-231-4255
• SNAP / LIHEAP 1-800-755-2716
• Medical Services 1-800-755-2604
• Aging Services 1-855-462-5465
• Children & Family Services 1-800-245-3736
• Children’s Special Health Services 1-800-755-2714
• Disability Services 1-800-755-8529
• Mental Health Services 1-800-755-2719
• Substance Abuse Services 1-800-642-6042

Other Helpful Toll Free Numbers:

• AIDS Hotline 1-800-472-2180
• Alzheimer’s Association 1-800-438-4380
• American Cancer Society 1-800-342-4535
• American Heart Association 1-800-532-8688
• Arthritis Foundation 1-800-437-5845
• Ask-A-Nurse (24 hours) 1-800-552-0190
• BCI Drug Hotline 1-800-472-2185
• Better Hearing Institute 1-800-327-9355
• Domestic Violence 1-800-472-2911
• Drug Abuse Hotline 1-800-642-6042
• Epileptic Foundation 1-800-292-7932
• Farm Stress 1-800-642-4752
• Housing Discrimination 1-800-424-8590
• Legal Aid of North Dakota 1-800-634-5263
• Mental Health Association 1-800-472-2911
• Multiple Sclerosis Society 1-800-437-4757
• Poison Control Center – Fargo 1-800-732-2200
• Red Cross 1-800-832-0120
• Social Security Administration 1-800-772-1213
• Suicide Prevention 1-800-472-2911
• Veteran’s Administration 1-800-827-1000

REV: 04-2010