- Who qualifies for home care services?
We provide in-home services to individuals 60 years of age and older, as well as disabled adults. For more information on the
services we can provide, please click
Our Services or contact
the Boston ElderINFO help line at 617-292-6211.
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- Can I get services if I am not qualified for home care?
Yes. We have a number of programs that you may still be eligible for. Please call the Boston ElderINFO help line at
617-292-6211 to speak to someone about what programs may best fit you.
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- Are home care services free?
The Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs establishes income guidelines for elders who receive home care
services. Elders share the cost for those services based on these income guidelines. Some elders' income is so low
that they will not have to share the cost. Most elders pay part of the service cost which can range from $4 to $105 a
month.
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- Why can't Medicare pay for these services?
Medicare pays for certain home services, such as home health aide and nursing, for elders who meet Medicare requirements
for skilled nursing services. Elders often receive this type of help when they first come out of a hospital. Home care
services such as meals, housework, grocery shopping, come from a different type of home care agency. Medicare does not
pay for these kinds of services.
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- I live with a family, can I get help?
Living with family members does not prevent you from receiving home
care services. If your age, income, and needs meet the eligibility guidelines, you can
receive services even if you live with one or more family members. In fact,
if your family is already providing care, they might be eligible for monetary support.
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- Does my doctor have to call or write to your agency to get me help?
No, you can call us yourself. It is best to reach us through the Boston ElderINFO
help line at 617-292-6211. A specialist will take down your basic information.
Then, a Case Manager will call and arrange a time to visit your home to meet you
and discuss your needs.
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- What does a homemaker do?
A homemaker does light cleaning (i.e. sweeping and/or vacuuming floors,
cleaning the bathroom, dusting, etc.), laundry, light meal preparation, runs errands, etc. The
Case Manager can arrange for a specialized cleaning crew to do this kind
of task. A homemaker cannot do certain personal tasks (washing your hair, ironing clothes, etc.)
or any medically-related tasks (giving injections, taking pulses, etc.)
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- What is the difference between a homemaker, a personal care assistant, and a home health aide?
Each of these roles has a different degree of training. A homemaker is trained to
do light housecleaning. A personal care assistant is trained to provide hands-on
personal care, such as bathing or dressing, as well as housework. A home health aide is
trained to assist clients in transfers (i.r. moving from a bed to a chair). Home health
aides can also take someone's pulse or temperature, help with
medications, provide hands-on personal care, and perform household chores. An
elder can receive care from one or more of the above workers depending on his or her needs.
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- What if I do not like my homemaker and/or my home delivered meals? Can I change them?
As our client, a Case Manager will assist you with any problems or questions about your services.
They will work with you to resolve any problems. In some cases, Case Managers may
change the homemaker or home delivered meals provider. Many problems, however, can
be solved without major changes or upsets.
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- If I go into the hospital, do my services stop? How can I get my services again when I am
discharged from the hospital?
If you are going to the hospital on a planned stay, tell your Case Manager when you
will be hospitalized. Your Case Manager will then suspend your services while you
are away. When you plan to return to your home, call (or have the hospital social worker
call) your Case Manager to restart the services.
If you have an emergency hospitalization and cannot contact your Case Manager, when possible call or have a family
member/friend call Boston Senior Home Care. Sometimes your homemaking agency or home delivered meals provider calls us
about hospitalization since these agencies often find out first.
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If you have additional questions, just call Boston ElderINFO at 617-292-6211.