Personal support services (PSS) are designed to provide assistance and instruction in activities of daily living for an individual recipient. PSS encompass a broad range of activities that are geared towards promoting autonomy, independence, and self-advocacy. In particular, these services provide assistance with activities such as hygiene, nutrition, dressing and grooming, money management, household chores, health care management, leisure activities, transportation needs, communication and social skills development.
Personal supports can facilitate access to social and recreational activities beyond those that are afforded by natural community resources. These supports can be used to extend opportunities for individuals to participate in activities outside of the traditional framework established by their immediate environment. For example, personal supports may enable an individual to attend a cultural event, visit a nearby town or city, or join a fitness class that extends beyond their existing social circle.
Personal supports are essential to foster community integration. Fundamentally, they contribute to the cultivation of an inclusive environment that enables access to diverse opportunities and resources. Personal support services encompass a range of activities and interventions that focus on developing skills and abilities to promote increased independence and self-determination. By addressing individual needs, these programs aim to enhance social connections, foster meaningful relationships across varied contexts, and create spaces for meaningful participation in the broader community.include respite services to a recipient age 21 years or older living in their family home.