Understand the SSIAD: definition and functioning of home nursing services

23 July 2025

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The Home Nursing Service (SSIAD) plays an essential role in supporting elderly people and adults with disabilities. These medico-social structures, whether public or private, provide, based on medical prescription, care tailored to the needs of this population. By intervening directly at home, SSIAD contribute to maintaining individuals’ autonomy, preventing hospitalization, and ensuring a safe return home after an illness. The quality of care provided relies on an interdisciplinary team, composed of nurses, nursing assistants, and other paramedical professionals, coordinated by a state-licensed nurse. This ensures personalized follow-up and fluid communication between the various medical participants.

The Home Nursing Service (SSIAD) is a medico-social structure designed to meet the healthcare needs of individuals, mainly seniors, who require medical assistance at home. It is a crucial service that allows for nursing care tailored to patients’ needs while facilitating home care.

SSIADs intervene based on medical prescription and are intended for various types of beneficiaries. They primarily address adults under 60 years old suffering from disabilities or chronic diseases, as well as elderly people aged 60 and over who are ill or dependent. This type of patients represents a significant part of the population requiring continuous care in a comfortable and familiar setting.

The interventions offered by SSIADs are divided into technical care and basic care. Basic care includes hygiene and comfort actions such as bathing, medication distribution, or support for feeding and user autonomy. The technical care, on the other hand, encompasses more complex actions such as dressing changes, injections, or monitoring vital parameters (weight, pulse, hydration).

SSIAD teams are composed of health professionals, including nurses, nursing assistants, and other specialists such as occupational therapists. Each intervention is carefully coordinated by a coordinator nurse who supervises all actions carried out by team members and ensures the link between different medical participants, such as doctors and physiotherapists.

A major aspect of the operation of SSIADs is their ability to avoid the hospitalization of their patients. By offering home care, these services not only relieve the hospital system but also guarantee a more reassuring and familiar environment for patients. This promotes their well-being and contributes to the prevention of loss of autonomy.

The costs associated with the services provided by SSIADs are fully covered by Health Insurance, meaning that no fees need to be advanced by the patient. This coverage includes all services provided, allowing everyone to access quality care without financial barriers.

The SSIADs can intervene with patients at home, but also in non-medicalized facilities for elderly people or adults with disabilities. Their flexibility of intervention is a major asset that allows care to be tailored to the specific needs of each patient.

Finally, SSIADs are subject to strict regulations and must adhere to the framework set by the 2002-2 law. Each service must have essential documents such as a welcome booklet, an operating regulation, and a user participation method. This ensures the transparency and quality of the services provided.

To learn more about the topic of SSIADs and home care, you can consult the following resources: Understanding home care: definition and stakes and Understanding nighttime itinerant care: definition and stakes.

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FAQ about SSIAD

What is an SSIAD? A Home Nursing Service (SSIAD) is a medico-social structure that provides home nursing care, upon medical prescription, for elderly people and adults with disabilities or chronic illnesses.

Who can benefit from the services of an SSIAD? SSIADs primarily intervene with elderly people aged 60 and over who are ill or dependent, as well as adults under 60 years old who are disabled or suffering from chronic diseases.

What types of care are provided by the SSIAD? The SSIAD offers technical nursing care (injections, dressings) and basic and relational care (bathing, hygiene assistance), while preventing the loss of autonomy of users.

What is the cost of the services provided by an SSIAD? The coverage of home nursing services is entirely reimbursed by Health Insurance, so users have no costs to advance.

How does an SSIAD intervention take place? The care is provided by nurses and nursing assistants who organize their work under the supervision of a coordinator nurse. They may also collaborate with other health professionals.

Can SSIAD interventions be stopped at any time? Yes, anyone receiving care from an SSIAD can request to stop the interventions if their health improves or for other reasons such as hospitalization.

How can one access the services of an SSIAD? To benefit from the services of an SSIAD, a medical prescription is necessary. It is then sufficient to contact the SSIAD in your area to check if it can intervene.