What is ResHab? Residential Habilitation in Idaho Falls, Idaho
ResHab stands for Residential Habilitation — an Idaho Medicaid waiver service (funded under both the DD and Aged & Disabled waivers), certified by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, that provides trained staff who support adults with developmental or physical disabilities to live in their own homes, with their families, or in a certified family home — instead of in an institution. Empowering Human Services, LLC is a certified ResHab agency serving Idaho Falls and all of eastern Idaho.
What a ResHab agency actually does
A ResHab agency employs trained Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) who work one-on-one with a participant, in the participant's own home, wherever they live. The work is habilitation — teaching and reinforcing skills — not just custodial care. A typical week can include:
- Daily living skills: personal care routines, meal preparation, medication support, keeping a safe and healthy home
- Community integration: work, volunteering, shopping, church, recreation, and friendships
- Skill development: budgeting and money management, communication, self-advocacy, mobility
- Behavior support: following behavior intervention plans and teaching socially appropriate alternatives
- Health coordination: appointments, communication with providers, wellness routines
ResHab in Idaho: the basics
In Idaho, ResHab agencies are certified and surveyed by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. Services are paid for by Medicaid waivers for adults who qualify, so there is no out-of-pocket cost to the family for covered services. Participants live in their own homes, with family, or in certified family homes — Idaho's waivers do not fund large congregate group homes; supported living arrangements serve up to three individuals, which is part of why the model works.
Support levels are set by assessment: hourly supports (a set number of staff hours per week), high supports (one staff to up to three participants), and intense supports (one staff to one participant).
Who ResHab serves: two waivers
Most people assume ResHab is only for developmental disabilities. In fact EHS serves participants on both of Idaho's Medicaid waivers that include residential habilitation:
Not sure which applies? Call (208) 537-1463 — we'll help you read the situation before you apply for anything.
- DD waiver participants — adults with developmental disabilities needing an ICF/IID level of support.
- Aged & Disabled (A&D) waiver participants — adults 18–64 with physical or other disabilities, and adults 65+, who need a nursing-facility level of care. Most of our participants are on this waiver. If your family member has a physical disability, a chronic health condition, or aging-related needs rather than a developmental disability, this is usually their path — and we can serve them.
Why families choose Empowering Human Services
Empowering Human Services, LLC is a certified Residential Habilitation agency based in Idaho Falls, serving all nine counties of Idaho Region 7. We were founded by two leaders with 32 combined years in the field — Angel Fell (agency administrator, 18+ years, started as a direct support professional) and Julie Virgin (QIDP, MSW, trauma-informed care certificate, 14+ years).
We respond to referrals within one business day. We take participants other agencies struggle to serve, including individuals with significant behavioral needs — Julie's trauma-informed clinical background is the reason we can. And we keep teams stable: consistent staff, low turnover, direct communication with families.
ResHab is funded through two Idaho Medicaid waivers: the Developmental Disability (DD) waiver and the Aged & Disabled (A&D) waiver. If your family member is already on either waiver, you can choose EHS as your provider. If not, see our Start Here guide for how eligibility works.
Choosing a ResHab agency in Idaho Falls
Ask any agency these five questions:
If you'd like to ask us those questions, email or call (208) 537-1463.
- Who exactly will be in my family member's home, and how do you train and retain them?
- How much say does the participant and family have in staffing and scheduling?
- What is your process when something goes wrong — incidents, injuries, staff concerns?
- How do you support individuals with behavioral challenges or trauma histories?
- Can I talk to a family you currently serve?
Next steps
If your family member is already waiver-eligible: call us or use Begin Enrollment and we'll walk you through switching or starting services — usually within days, not months.
If you're new to the system: start with our Start Here guide, which walks through Medicaid, DD eligibility, assessment, and choosing a provider, step by step.
Frequently asked questions
What does ResHab stand for?
Residential Habilitation. "Habilitation" means teaching skills the person has not yet acquired (unlike rehabilitation, which re-teaches skills lost through injury or illness). ResHab supports adults with developmental disabilities to live in normal community settings with trained staff.
Is ResHab the same as a group home?
Not in the traditional institutional sense. Idaho's DD and A&D waivers fund supported living in homes serving up to three individuals, or services delivered in your family member's own home or a certified family home — not large congregate facilities. See our group homes page for an honest explanation.
Who pays for ResHab services?
The Idaho DD waiver and the Aged & Disabled (A&D) waiver (both Medicaid) pay for eligible participants. Families do not pay out of pocket for covered services. Eligibility starts with Idaho Medicaid — see the waiver guide for both paths.
Can we switch ResHab agencies if we're not happy?
Yes. Participants and families choose their provider and can change agencies at any time. The new agency coordinates the transition with your plan developer and the state.
Do you serve my county?
We serve all of Idaho Region 7: Bonneville, Butte, Clark, Custer, Fremont, Jefferson, Lemhi, Madison, and Teton counties.
Does ResHab only serve people with developmental disabilities?
No. In Idaho, residential habilitation is funded under both the DD waiver and the Aged & Disabled (A&D) waiver. Many of our participants are adults with physical disabilities or chronic health conditions on the A&D waiver. See our waiver guide for how the two differ.