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 seniors, a small amount of in-home services can make the difference between being able to live at home and losing independence. For seniors with limited income, purchasing those services can seem out of reach, and a subsidized 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 seniors 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 Over-Income 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 seniors 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 senior, family members and 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 seniors. 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

A senior can receive services that on average cost $260 per month through the standard Home Care Program. (Note: This is the average cost. Any individual senior’s cost could be higher or lower.) Seniors can choose to hire their own worker or they can receive services from a worker from a vendor agency that Springwell subcontracts with. A Springwell Care Manager has regular contact with the senior to ensure services meet needs and visits the elder a minimum of every 6 months.

ENHANCED COMMUNITY OPTIONS PROGRAM (ECOP)

ECOP provides a higher level of service to seniors who are ineligible for MassHealth Standard, but meet the requirements of nursing facility services (as determined by a nursing assessment, provided by Springwell). As of November 2018, the services the senior required, as determined by the social worker, would have to cost a minimum of 1.75 times the amount of standard Home Care services. Seniors can choose to hire their own worker or they can receive services from a worker from a vendor agency that Springwell subcontracts with. Seniors receiving services through ECOP are visited by their Care Manager a minimum of every three months.

COMMUNITY CHOICES

The Community Choices Program, offers the frailest seniors additional support. This program is designed to provide intensive services to seniors 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.

OVER-INCOME PROGRAM

Seniors whose income is too high for the MA Home Care Program may be eligible for the Over-Income option within the Home Care Program. The cost of respite service is determined on a sliding fee schedule; people pay a certain percentage for their services determined by their monthly income. People of any income can be served. Individuals can choose to hire their own worker or they can receive services from a worker from a vendor agency that Springwell subcontracts with. Seniors receiving services through the Over-Income Program are visited by their Care Advisor 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.