Frequently Asked Questions

North Star Oregon provides two core services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) across Oregon: In-Home Attendant Care and Day Support Activities (DSA). Attendant care is available statewide and provides one-on-one support in the home and community. DSA offers structured group programming at locations in Albany, Corvallis, Eugene, Springfield, Salem, Tangent, and Grants Pass/Medford.

North Star Oregon provides in-home attendant care services throughout the entire state of Oregon — from Portland to Pendleton, Bend to the Oregon Coast. Our Day Support Activities (DSA) are currently available at locations in Albany, Corvallis, Eugene, Springfield, Salem, Tangent, and Grants Pass/Medford. We are actively expanding DSA programming to additional regions.

In-home attendant care provides one-on-one support to an individual in their own home and community. It includes help with daily living tasks, personal care, skill building, and community access. Day Support Activities (DSA) are structured group programs that take place during the day. North Star runs DSA Monday through Friday from 10 AM to 3 PM. DSA focuses on community engagement, social skills, recreation, and personal growth in a small-group setting. Oregon rule (OAR 411-450-0060) caps DSA at no more than eight participants per staff member; we operate well below that ceiling.

We serve children, adults, and seniors with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) throughout Oregon. This includes individuals with autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, and other developmental conditions. All individuals must be eligible for services through the Oregon Office of Developmental Disabilities Services (ODDS).

In-home attendant care provides personalized, one-on-one support in the individual's home and community. Services include assistance with personal care (bathing, dressing, toileting), meal preparation, medication reminders, light housekeeping, community access and outings, skill building toward greater independence, and companionship. The specific services provided are based on each individual's ISP and personal goals.

Yes. In Oregon, parents and other family members can be hired as paid caregivers for their loved ones with I/DD in many situations. Family members must be hired through an agency or appropriate channel, meet training and background check requirements, and document hours worked. At North Star Oregon, we employ parent-caregivers as W-2 staff, which provides legal, tax, and benefit protections while honoring the unique role families play. There are limits set by Oregon rule (OAR 411-450-0080): a parent generally cannot be hired by an agency to serve their own minor child, with exceptions for children enrolled in intensive in-home programs or with very high service levels. A spouse cannot be hired by an agency to serve their spouse.

Yes. We will hire family members to work with someone, with limits set by Oregon rule (OAR 411-450-0080). A parent generally cannot be hired by an agency to serve their own minor child, with limited exceptions for children enrolled in intensive in-home programs or with very high service levels (240+ hours/month). A spouse cannot be hired by an agency to serve their spouse. We use a W-2 direct-employment model, which means family caregivers receive the legal and tax protections of formal employment.

Attendant care is ongoing, regular support provided to an individual with I/DD — typically on a daily or weekly schedule. Respite care (also called relief care) is temporary care specifically designed to give the primary caregiver a break. Both are funded through Oregon's Medicaid programs, but they serve different purposes. Attendant care focuses on the individual's daily needs and goals, while respite care focuses on sustaining the family caregiver's ability to continue providing care long-term.

Under IRS Notice 2014-7, parent caregivers who provide in-home attendant care to their child with I/DD in a shared home can exclude qualifying Medicaid waiver payments from their federal taxable income. This can save thousands of dollars per year. Additionally, a 2019 Tax Court ruling allows families to count excluded income toward the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), creating a potential double benefit. We recommend working with a tax professional familiar with Notice 2014-7 to maximize your savings.

Relief care (also called respite care) provides temporary care for your loved one so you, as the primary caregiver, can take a break. In Oregon, relief care is funded through Medicaid — either through the K-Plan or 1915(c) waivers. The amount of relief care available is set in your Individual Support Plan (ISP); standard plans authorize up to 14 days of relief care per plan year without additional Department approval. Contact your Services Coordinator at your county CDDP to discuss adding or increasing relief care in your plan.

In Oregon, transition planning from school-based services to adult disability services should begin by age 16 as part of the IEP. By age 18, families should complete an adult services intake with their local CDDP. The key differences: school services are an entitlement, while adult services are eligibility-based and self-directed. Families need to apply, choose providers, and actively coordinate care. North Star Oregon supports families through this transition with both attendant care and DSA programming.