Companion Services, Intellectual Disabilities Medicaid Waiver

The Loudoun Department of Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Developmental Services' offers Consumer Directed (CD) companion services, which are available only for adults, assist individuals with housekeeping, shopping, and community activities. This support can provide individuals with opportunities to get to know people in their communities and to participate more fully in community activities that interest them. Companion Services is the only Consumer Directed service that is available to individuals who receive congregate residential services under the Intellectual Disabilities Medicaid Waiver.



Individuals who receive services through the Intellectual Disabilities (ID) Medicaid Waiver can select Consumer Directed (CD) Services or agency-directed services, or a combination of the two, when developing plans to help them live successfully in their communities. Consumer Directed Services allow the individual to be the employer. As the employer, the individual is responsible for hiring, training, supervising, and terminating his or her employees. When services are consumer-directed, the individual and sometimes his or her family decide what service is needed, who will provide it, when it will be provided, where it will be provided, and how it will be provided.



The amounts and types of supports and services that individuals receive from caregivers vary greatly from person to person due to individual circumstances and preferences. The program is coordinated through a service facilitator who oversees the contract, develops and monitors individual service plans, supervises caregivers to ensure effective and appropriate delivery of services to the consumers, and responds to parents, families, or guardians' needs and concerns.