The best things in life are free – especially home care services. Here’s where you can find free home care for yourself or a loved one in Massachusetts.
Updated March 10, 2023
How To Find Free Home Care In Massachusetts
Did you know the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs (EOEA) provides free or subsidized home care? Together with 27 local Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs), the EOEA offers home care services to 45,000 elders monthly.
ASAPs provide case management and assess individual needs and program eligibility. Additionally, these organizations contract with other agencies to offer many services for seniors over 60, individuals under 60 diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and caregivers needing respite services.
Who Qualifies For Subsidized Or Free Home Care?
Individuals and couples enrolled in MassHealth earning below $28,865 and $40,842 (respectively) financially qualify. Recipients pay monthly copays to receive subsidized home care services. As of March 2023, copayments for individuals earning $12,849 to $28,865 per year ranged from $10 to $141 per month. Copays for couples earning $17,303 to $40,842 were $18 to $152.
However, even if your earnings exceed the income threshold, it’s worth calling to see what income qualifies. According to the EOEA, households that exceed the income threshold may pay as little as 50% of the monthly service cost, depending on their care plan.
What Types Of Free Home Care Services Are Available?
This program provides subsidized and free home care services based on functional impairment levels and critical unmet needs, such as:
- Homemakers
- Companion
- Home health aid
- Personal care aid
- Supportive home care aides
In addition, these providers help with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as:
- Meal delivery
- Transportation
- Companionship
- Medication dispersal
- Mobility and transfers
- Dressing and grooming
- Eating and meal preparation
- Grocery shopping and delivery
- Housework (laundry, light chores)
- Personal care (bathing, toileting, grooming)
The program funds multiple programs, such as supportive adult day care, dementia care, day health programs, and respite care for family caregivers. Furthermore, your local ASAP also offers the following:
- Wanderer locator
- Emergency shelter
- Vision rehabilitation
- Behavioral health counseling
- A personal emergency response
- Adaptive housing or equipment
MeetCaregivers Can Help You Find Free Home Care In Massachusetts
Do you need in-home support services but worry about the cost? MeetCaregivers can help.
We work with local ASAPS to help families connect with these services. To learn more, call 1 (888) 541-1136, or contact your nearest ASAP through the Massachusetts Home Care program at 1 (800) 243-4636, then press “1”. You will connect with the ASAP in your zip code area.
Then, check out the Blog for additional resources for caregivers and seniors.
- Executive Office of Elder Affairs. (n.d.). Check eligibility guidelines for home care. Check eligibility guidelines for home care | Mass.gov. Retrieved April 5, 2019, from https://www.mass.gov/service-details/check-eligibility-guidelines-for-home-care