Guide to Resources for Older Adults, Family Members, and Caregivers

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Navigating aging can pose challenges to older adults, family members, and caregivers. Health care needs may change, or individuals may want to be proactive in planning ahead so they know what’s available in case they need it. Having information around various services and resources for older adults can help equip them, their families and caregivers when considering their options for aging in their place of choice, whether at home or elsewhere. Caring for the health and wellness of older adults not only includes access to medical doctors, but extends to help at home, transportation, social opportunities and mental health.

It can feel overwhelming knowing where to go for this information: Where do I start? Do I go to my Primary Care Doctor? The local senior center? As a family member or caregiver, how do I know what’s available to support my loved one?

Below, please find information about services available to older adults, what the organizations do, and how to contact them to get the services that are needed.

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Getting Started

Aging Service Access Points (ASAP)

Every town in Massachusetts has a designated Aging Service Access Point (ASAP). The ASAP may not be located in the same town where the individual lives, as they typically cover a region, but a particular agency will have information available in all the towns they cover. Help in pinpointing your communities’ ASAP can be found here.

What do ASAPs offer?

Options Counseling and Aging Information

Information and referral departments are often the first point of contact for any new client to an ASAP, or for anyone seeking information. Older adults, families or caregivers can contact their local ASAP for Options Counseling, which may also be referred to as Aging Information or Care Advice and Planning. They will discuss an elderly person’s or caregiver’s specific set of circumstances and can offer information about home care offerings, as well as topics including caregiver support, elder law, elder housing, geriatric medical care resources, Alzheimer’s disease support and education, health insurance, mental health and wellness, assisted living options, and community/ local resources. In some cases, case workers or social workers within the information/ referral department can meet with an older adult or caregiver in the home for short-term planning and support.

In-Home Services

Care and services provided in an older adult’s home are primary offerings with ASAPs. Case Managers conduct home visits with older adults and families and will assess the need for home care services which could include help with housekeeping, home delivered meals (Meals on Wheels), personal care (help with bathing, dressing, etc), Personal Emergency Response System (i.e. Lifeline), grocery delivery, laundry service, companion services, and transportation to the grocery store and to medical appointments. The Case Manager will determine what services the older adult qualifies for, and then the older adult will agree to the services they think would be most beneficial. From there, the case manager will coordinate those services on behalf of the older adult and their family.  Each ASAP has contracts with elder care vendors to deliver these services.

How do I know if I am eligible for services through the ASAP?

The first step is to request an assessment for services by contacting your local ASAP. A Case Manager will come to meet with the older adult, their family or other caregivers in their home for free. The Case Manager is assessing the older adult’s needs in terms of aspects of daily living, what support(s) they already have, as well as the support they need. Because services through the ASAP are subsidized, there are eligibility requirements in terms of income. Case Managers need to determine that the older adult needs assistance with multiple areas of daily living in order to be eligible for services through the ASAP. For example, someone who only needs help with grocery shopping, but is independent in all other areas of home life, may not be eligible to receive subsidized home care services. Click here for more information.

Clients receiving home care services will have a Case Manager on an ongoing basis. Case Managers conduct periodic home visits and will be a point of contact for the older adult, their family or caregiver. Case Managers make referrals on behalf of the older adult, and will also communicate with the agencies providing services to ensure that older adults are getting the support they need. They also communicate with clients, receive feedback on the services, and communicate with vendors to help ensure adequate service delivery.

Beyond in-home services, ASAPs may be able to offer services that are largely implemented by volunteers like Money Management Programs that assists older adults who have difficulty maintaining bill payments and budgeting. Volunteer programs may also include social visits, faith-based visits, and escorting for medical appointments.

Adult Day Health

ASAPs may make referrals to adult day health and these programs may be funded by ASAPs as part of services. Adult Day Health centers are generally full-day programs (i.e. 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.), although some may offer half-days. Clients might attend between 2 and 5 days per week, and some programs offer Saturdays. Adult Day Health centers may have two different levels of care: one for clients who are more independent and one for client’s who need more hands-on care. Nurses, social workers, specialists, aides, and other staff implement the day’s activities. While on-site, clients may have needs met for social activities, meals, fitness, medication administration, healthcare support, and therapeutic activities such as art and music therapy.

An ASAP may be able to help in navigating eligibility for coverage for Adult Day Health, when paid for through an ASAP or by MassHealth. MassHealth may cover Adult Day Health depending on medical and functional needs, and private pay is an option. For more information about local specific Adult Day Health programs click here.

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Other Community-based Supports for Older Adults

Councils on Aging and Senior Center

Across Massachusetts, there are 350 Councils on Aging, and are often specific to the town and oversee local senior centers that provide programming, services and support for older adults. Each Council on Aging determines the needs of their own community, and can offer a variety of services which could include support, local outreach, social and health services, advocacy, and resources for older adults, their families and caregivers. For both older adults and their families, this is a good place to start searching for additional support services specific to their community.

Behaviorlal Health Outreach for Aging Populations

Through this program, behavioral health clinicians provide in-depth assessments and develop care plans that may include individualized counseling, care coordination to community resources, and referrals. Some symptoms could be typical of aging, but some individuals may be experiencing depression, anxiety, dementia, substance use disorder, or hoarding or compulsive collecting. This behavioral health program comes right to the client and works with the older adults for six to nine months, or as needed. Clinicians can meet the older adult in their home, or at a location that is comfortable for the client, such as a local park. Behavioral health services are free for older adults aged 60+ with symptoms or challenges related to behavioral health. To learn more, call Mass Options at 800-243-4636, and Call Specialists are available Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

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Elder Caregiving Resources

Older adults often need support from caregivers, both formal and informal caregivers, and caregivers need to care for themselves to ensure that they can continue to be able to care for the older adult in their life. For informal caregivers who typically include family and friends, research is finding that these individuals can have decreased health quality themselves, nearly 60% of caregivers are also employed full time, and 45% of caregivers are experiencing negative financial impact in caregiving and 37% of caregivers report insufficient sleep. There are supports available for caregivers both in Massachusetts and nationally to try to provide caregivers support, especially as they may help an older adult assess and navigates different levels of support.

In Massachusetts, Mass Options connects older adults, individuals with disabilities and their caregivers with agencies and organizations that can best meet their needs. For families supporting a loved one with dementia, the Alzheimer's Association provides Caregiver Supports caregivers including training, respite, and caregivers support programs. Masschusetts’ residents can find a local support group information by calling 617-868-6718 or calling the 24/7 helpline at 800-272-3900. Support Groups can also be searched using the Community Resource Finder by searching under Programs and Events: Alzheimer's Support Groups. Boston Elder INFO also assists elders, disabled individuals and their families in accessing a comprehensive range of services that address health care needs available online or by calling 617-292-6211.

Nationally, there are several caregiver organizations available to offer support, education and information.

• Caregiver Action Network serves a full spectrum of family caregivers and is a nonprofit organization that provides education, peer support and resources to family caregivers across the country free of charge. This support includes 24/7 Peer to Peer Support through their Kindly Human program.
• Family Caregiver Alliance provides a range of resources to caregivers of adults with a variety of needs including with physical or cognitive impairments, and their website includes services include assessment, care planning, direct care skills, wellness programs, respite services, and legal/financial consultation vouchers. Ongoing support is available with FCA CareNav™, also now on a digital service platform.
• National Alliance for Caregiving is an organization who is aiming to catalyze change to build health, wellness and financial security for all family caregivers with a focus on the health and wellness of caregivers, ensure financial well-being for family caregivers, and strengthening home and community based services and support targeted aging, public health and disability services and systems for all family caregivers. Their organization has developed a range of Resources including multiple guidebooks to help a variety of caregivers in accessing the information and supports they need.
• VA Caregiver Support offers several support and service options designed for caregivers of Veterans.