Senior Resources
These regional and statewide nonprofits can help families make decisions and access resources related to elder-care planning.
AARP MASSACHUSETTS
1 Beacon St., #2301, Boston, MA 02108
(866) 448-3621; states.aarp.org/region/massachusetts
Administrator: Mike Festa
Services: A nonprofit, nonpartisan, social-welfare organization with a membership of nearly 38 million that advocates for the issues that matter to families, such as healthcare, employment and income security, and protection from financial abuse.
THE CONVERSATION PROJECT
20 University Road, 7th Floor, Cambridge, MA 02138
(617) 301-4868; www.theconversationproject.org
Administrator: Kate DeBartolo
Services: Helps people talk about their wishes for end-of-life care; its team includes five seasoned law, journalism, and media professionals working pro bono alongside professional staff from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement.
ELDER SERVICES OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY INC.
877 South St., Suite 4E, Pittsfield, MA 01201
(413) 499-0524; www.esbci.org
Administrator: Christopher McLaughlin
Services: Information and referral, care management, respite care, homemaker and home health assistance, healthy-aging programs, and MassHealth nursing home pre-screening; also offers housing options, adult family care, group adult foster care, long-term-care ombudsman, and money management, and oversees Senior Community Service Aide Employment Program.
GREATER SPRINGFIELD SENIOR SERVICES INC.
66 Industry Ave., Suite 9, Springfield, MA 01104
(413) 781-8800; www.gsssi.org
Administrator: Jill Keough
Services: Dedicated to maintaining quality of life for older adults, caregivers, and people with disabilities, through programs and services that foster independence, dignity, safety, and peace of mind; services include case management, home care, home-delivered meals, senior community dining, money management, congregate housing, and adult day care.
HIGHLAND VALLEY ELDER SERVICES
320 Riverside Dr., Florence, MA 01062
(413) 586-2000; www.highlandvalley.org
Administrator: Allan Ouimet
Services: Care management, information/referral services, family caregiver program, personal emergency-response service, protective services, home-health services, chore services, nursing-home ombudsman services, adult day programs, elder-care advice, bill-payer services, options counseling, respite services, representative payee services, local dining centers, personal-care and homemaker services, and home-delivered meals.
LIFEPATH
101 Munson St., Suite 201, Greenfield, MA 01301
(413) 773-5555; www.lifepathma.org
Administrator: Barbara Bodzin
Services: Private, nonprofit corporation that develops, provides, and coordinates a range of services to support the independent living of elders and people with disabilities; also supports caregivers, including grandparents raising grandchildren.
MASSACHUSETTS ASSOC. OF OLDER AMERICANS
19 Temple Place, Boston, MA 02111
(617) 426-0804; www.maoamass.org
Administrator: Chet Jakubiak
Services: Aims to improve the economic security of older Massachusetts residents through research and advocacy on policies that may reduce risk and hardship; fights against the dual stigma of being old and mentally ill, to preserve Medicare and Social Security, to ensure access to community-based long-term care, and to obtain mental healthcare for elders suffering from depression and other brain disorders.
MASSACHUSETTS EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF ELDER AFFAIRS
1 Ashburton Place, Unit 517, Boston, MA 02108
(617) 727-7750; www.mass.gov/elders
Administrator: Elizabeth Chen
Services: Connects seniors and families with services like senior centers, councils on aging, nutrition programs such as Meals on Wheels, exercise, health coaching, and more; supports frail adults through programs and quality-improvement initiatives in nursing homes and assisted-living facilities; caregiver support programs.
MASSACHUSETTS SENIOR LEGAL HELPLINE
99 Chauncy St., Unit 400, Boston, MA 02111
(800) 342-5297 ; www.vlpnet.org
Administrator: Joanne Allison
Services: The Helpline is a project of the Volunteer Lawyers Project of Boston that provides free legal information and referral services to Massachusetts residents age 60 and older; the Helpline is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to noon.
MASSOPTIONS
(844) 422-6277
Administrator: Marylou Sudders
Services: Connects elders, individuals with disabilities, and their caregivers with agencies and organizations that can best meet their needs; staff can also assist with determining eligibility for and applying to MassHealth.
VA CENTRAL AND WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
421 North Main St., Leeds, MA 01053
(413) 584-4040; www.centralwesternmass.va.gov
Administrator: John Collins
Services: Provides primary, specialty, and mental-health care, including psychiatric, substance-abuse, and PTSD services, to a veteran population in Central and Western Mass. of more than 120,000 men and women.
WESTMASS ELDERCARE INC.
4 Valley Mill Road, Holyoke, MA 01040
(413) 538-9020; www.wmeldercare.org
Administrator: Roseann Martoccia
Services: Provides an array of in-home and community services to support independent living; interdisciplinary team approach to person-centered care; information, referrals, and options counseling as well as volunteer opportunities available.
