Residential Habilitation Services in Idaho Falls and Eastern Idaho
Residential habilitation is a Medicaid-funded service that places trained support staff with adults who have developmental disabilities, in their own homes and communities, so they can live independently rather than in an institution. In Idaho it is certified and surveyed by the Department of Health and Welfare, and delivered by agencies like Empowering Human Services, LLC.
What residential habilitation includes
Every participant's plan is different, but residential habilitation generally covers four things: daily living support (hygiene, meals, medications, home safety), community integration (work, recreation, errands, relationships), skill development (budgeting, communication, self-advocacy, mobility), and health and behavior support (appointments, behavior intervention plans, crisis prevention).
The measure of success is growth toward less support: goals are written to increase independence over time, and support levels are re-assessed as skills develop.
Who qualifies in Idaho
We serve adults on two Medicaid waivers. The process for both is: apply for Medicaid → eligibility determination → independent assessment → plan development → services begin. Our Start Here guide walks through every step.
- The DD (developmental disability) waiver — adults 18+ with a qualifying developmental disability needing an ICF/IID level of support.
- The Aged & Disabled (A&D) waiver — adults 18–64 with physical or other disabilities (and adults 65+) who need a nursing-facility level of care. Many of our participants are on this waiver.
Levels of support
- Hourly supported living — typically 30–70 staff hours per week in the participant's own home
- High supports — 24-hour staffing, one DSP serving up to three participants
- Intense supports — 24-hour staffing, one DSP dedicated to one participant
How EHS delivers residential habilitation
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).
Our model is deliberately small and stable: consistent DSPs assigned to each participant, direct access to leadership (you call us, you get a founder), person-centered plans reviewed with the participant and family, and a trauma-informed approach to behavior support that Julie Virgin (QIDP, MSW) leads clinically.
We coordinate with targeted service coordinators, plan developers, guardians, healthcare providers, and the Department of Health and Welfare, so families don't have to manage the paperwork web alone.
Referrals and enrollment
Healthcare providers, case managers, and families can refer directly: call (208) 537-1463 or email info@empoweringhumanservices.com. We respond within one business day. If your family member is on the waiver already, switching providers is straightforward and we handle the transition.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between residential habilitation and supported living?
In Idaho the terms overlap heavily — supported living is the hourly model where the participant lives in their own home and staff come for a set number of hours, while residential habilitation is the broader certification covering hourly, high, and intense support levels, funded by both the DD and A&D waivers. See supported living.
How long does it take to start services?
For someone already waiver-eligible with an approved plan, services can typically start within days to a couple of weeks, depending on staffing for the specific schedule. New families should budget time for Medicaid and DD eligibility first.
Are your staff certified?
Our DSPs complete Idaho's required orientation and ongoing training, First Aid and CPR certification, medication assistance training where applicable, criminal history background checks under IDAPA 16.05.06, and additional training in trauma-informed and behavior support practices.
Can residential habilitation happen in our family home?
Yes. Services are delivered where the participant lives — their own home, the family home, or a certified family home.
Does the Aged & Disabled waiver cover residential habilitation too?
Yes — the A&D waiver explicitly includes residential habilitation for adults 18–64 with physical or other disabilities and adults 65+ who need a nursing-facility level of care. Many of our participants are on the A&D waiver.