If someone needs help with three ADLs, how many IHSS hours is that?

There is no statewide conversion. The county ranks functions and authorizes tasks. Do not copy an hour total from a blog.

Are IADLs covered by IHSS?

Some related household tasks can be authorized when the assessment supports them. Companionship and ordinary family errands are usually a different need. See coverage.

Do Medicare and Medi-Cal use the same list?

They use related ideas with different rules. Ask each program. This page is the vocabulary, not the benefit.

GlossaryNeed words

Need words

What are ADLs and IADLs?

Updated September 16, 2026. Reviewed September 16, 2026 against public CDSS, DHCS, Medicare.gov, VA, and CareScout 2025 California tables. County wages, hours, and wait times still change. Official .gov pages decide.

ADLs are basic self-care tasks such as bathing and dressing. IADLs are household and community tasks such as meals and shopping. They describe need. They do not set IHSS hours.

Based on public CDSS, DHCS, Medicare.gov, VA, and California Department of Insurance pages retrieved 2026-09-16. County, Medi-Cal, Medicare, VA, and insurer staff decide what actually pays. Hourly rates, hour totals, waiver slots, and wait times are local and change.

Short answer

Activities of daily living (ADLs) are basic self-care tasks such as bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, continence, and eating. Instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) are household and community tasks such as meals, shopping, housekeeping, laundry, transportation, managing medications, using a phone, and managing money. Counties and clinicians use these words to describe need. They are not a statewide IHSS hour chart.

Who decides

The county IHSS worker uses state assessment tools, not a family’s printed ADL checklist, to authorize hours. Clinicians may use ADLs in notes. Those notes do not replace the Notice of Action.

What to do next

Write a typical day in plain language. Bring that list to the IHSS visit and to any hospital discharge meeting. Open the care-need planner if you want a worksheet.

How to use the words at the county visit

Say what happens in the bathroom, at the stove, and when the person is alone. You do not need the acronym. The worker still uses Functional Index Rankings and Hourly Task Guidelines. Preparing for the IHSS home visit is the practical list.

Questions people ask

If someone needs help with three ADLs, how many IHSS hours is that?: There is no statewide conversion. The county ranks functions and authorizes tasks. Do not copy an hour total from a blog.
Are IADLs covered by IHSS?: Some related household tasks can be authorized when the assessment supports them. Companionship and ordinary family errands are usually a different need. See coverage.
Do Medicare and Medi-Cal use the same list?: They use related ideas with different rules. Ask each program. This page is the vocabulary, not the benefit.

Official sources for this page

Official program pages: CDSS: In-Home Supportive Services, CDSS: IHSS for children, County IHSS offices, CDSS: IHSS providers, CDSS: county IHSS wage rates, CDSS: provider orientation, CDSS: Electronic Visit Verification, CDSS: Electronic Services Portal, DHCS: Medi-Cal, Apply for Medi-Cal, BenefitsCal, CDSS: hearing requests, CDSS: forms catalog, CDSS: IHSS overtime and workweek, DDS: regional centers.