In home care program services advisor with individual who receives services

I am in a much better state of mind than I ever could have dreamed of, even six months ago. Thank you so much for helping me to make the necessary changes. I couldn’t have accomplished anything—not the clean-up, nor bringing in my excellent daily caregivers, who are making an amazing, positive difference in my life—without your involvement, persistence, advice and support. Thank you so much for everything.

MA Home Care Program

For many older adults, a small amount of in-home services can make the difference between being able to live at home and losing independence. For many, purchasing and coordinating those services can seem out of reach, and the Massachusetts Home Care Program can make it possible to receive these services.

OVERVIEW

The Massachusetts Home Care Program provides on-going case management and supportive in-home services to help older adults live independently at home. A care manager assesses your need for services and helps you develop a service plan. If eligible, you can choose to either hire your own worker to provide services or you may receive services through a local provider who contracts with Springwell. All services listed on the In Home Services page are available through this program including: Personal Care, Homemaking, Chore, Laundry, Home Health Aide, Companion, Adult Day Care, Home Delivered Meals, Grocery Shopping, Transportation, and Personal Emergency Response Systems. There are multiple levels of service available depending on your needs and eligibility including: Standard Home Care, Enhanced Community Options Program, Community Choices, and Percent-Based Programs (see Service Details, below).

WHY SPRINGWELL

Massachusetts has designated Springwell as an Aging Services Access Point (ASAP). In this role, Springwell is the single point of entry for eligible older adults to receive care advice and home care services through the Commonwealth’s State Subsidized Home Care Program. A Springwell Care Manager conducts a comprehensive in-home assessment in consultation with a nurse, to determine program eligibility. The person in need of services, their family members, and a Springwell Care Manager develop a care plan, which is reassessed on a regular basis.

COST

The MA Home Care Program is free for some older adults, but the recipient may be responsible for a monthly co-payment that is based upon annual gross income.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Eligibility for the MA Home Care program is based on functional ability and not a medical diagnosis. Although eligibility may vary, in general to be eligible for a state subsidy a person must be:
- Age 60 or older
- Have an assessed need for services, and
- Live in: Ashland, Belmont, Brookline, Dover, Framingham, Holliston, Hopkinton, Hudson, Marlborough, Natick, Needham, Newton, Northborough, Sherborn, Southborough, Sudbury, Waltham, Watertown, Wayland, Wellesley, Westborough or Weston.

SERVICE DETAILS

Springwell acts as a single point of access for a number of state and federal government programs that can subsidize in-home care for older adults. The programs, and their basic eligibility criteria are listed here for your information. A Springwell Care Manager can help you sort through the details, eligibility requirements, and enrollment.

STANDARD HOME CARE

An older adult can receive a basic level of services through the standard Home Care Program. A Springwell Care Manager has regular contact with the person enrolled to ensure services meet needs and visits the household a minimum of every 6 months.

ENHANCED COMMUNITY OPTIONS PROGRAM (ECOP)

ECOP provides a higher level of service to older adults who are ineligible for MassHealth Standard, but meet the requirements of nursing facility services (as determined by a nursing assessment, provided by Springwell). The services the older adult requires, as determined by the social worker, would have to cost a minimum of two times the amount of standard Home Care services. Currently the Commonwealth of MA has instituted a cap on the number of people who Springwell can move into the ECOP program, regardless of clinical eligibility.

COMMUNITY CHOICES

The Community Choices Program, offers the frailest older adults additional support. This program is designed to provide intensive services to those who are at imminent risk of nursing facility placement. To be eligible for the Community Choices Program a person must meet ALL of the following criteria:

Mass Health Member, age 60 or older
Enrolled in The Home and Community Based Waiver Program (also referred to as 1915 (c)). To be enrolled in the Waiver Program, a person must be in need of a Waiver service as determined by Springwell. Continued eligibility is dependent upon ongoing receipt of a Waiver service.
Be clinically eligible for nursing facility services (130CMR 456.409)
Require, as determined by Springwell, services at a projected cost of at least two times the monthly MA Home Care program level.

PERCENT BASED PROGRAM

The MA Home Care Program is available to all older adults, regardless of income. For some, the program will be available on a cost-sharing basis. In the Percent Based Program, the cost of the Home Care services is determined on a sliding fee schedule; people pay a certain percentage for their services determined by their monthly income. Older adults receiving services through the Percent Based Program are visited by their Care Manager a minimum of every six months.

FRAIL ELDER WAIVER

Springwell provides clinical determinations for the Frail Elder Waiver. Individuals who qualify for the Frail Elder Waiver are eligible to receive services under either the Standard Home Care or Community Choices Program.

Meet a MA Home Care Program recipient and learn about how the program can help.

LEARN MORE

Contact Us

Interested in subsidized home care? Call Springwell at (617) 926-4100 Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and request the Information and Referral Department, or fill out and submit this contact form.