Amherst, MA senior services
The front door to senior services in Amherst is the Council on Aging; in-home help, Meals on Wheels and the state Home Care Program come through Highland Valley Elder Services, Inc. Below: both, plus every care option that serves Amherst, from the public record.
Council on Aging
Amherst Council on Aging
amherstma.gov/190/Council-on-Aging
Board: Jeanne Horrigan, Dennis Vandal, Fred Hulme, Don Ripley, Helena Donovan, Ivette Palacin, Karen Romanowski, Margaret Arsenault, Tricia Montgomery
What a COA does: senior center programs, transportation, outreach, SHINE health-insurance counseling, help with the senior circuit breaker tax credit and property-tax work-off programs, and referrals to everything below.
Aging Services Access Point
Highland Valley Elder Services, Inc
Serves Amherst and 23 other towns. Call for a free in-home assessment, the Home Care Program, the Frail Elder Waiver, Meals on Wheels and protective services.
Care options serving Amherst
- Assisted Living Residences6 within 10 miles · nearest: The Arbors at Amherst
- Nursing Homes and Skilled Nursing6 within 12 miles · nearest: Center for Extended Care at Amherst
- Home Health Agencies33 serving Amherst · nearest: New England Health and Clinical Services
- Hospice10 serving Amherst · nearest: Hospice of the Fisher Home
Staying at home in Amherst
Most people would rather stay home. What makes that possible in Amherst: the local aging agency, in-home help, Medicare home health, home modification programs and technology that keeps family in the loop between visits.
Common questions
How do I get Meals on Wheels in Amherst?
Call Highland Valley Elder Services, Inc at (413) 586-2000, the state-designated ASAP for Amherst. Home-delivered meals are arranged through the ASAP after a short phone intake; the Council on Aging can also make the referral.
Who is Amherst's ASAP?
Highland Valley Elder Services, Inc at (413) 586-2000. The ASAP does free in-home assessments and manages the state Home Care Program, the Frail Elder Waiver and protective services for Amherst residents.
How do I get a ride to a medical appointment in Amherst?
Start with the Amherst Council on Aging, which runs or books the senior van. For longer trips, the regional transit authority's paratransit service and MassHealth's PT-1 transportation benefit may apply; the COA outreach worker will know which.
Is there help with property taxes for seniors in Amherst?
Yes. The state Senior Circuit Breaker income-tax credit (file Schedule CB), local property-tax exemptions under G.L. c. 59 s. 5 (clauses 41C and 17D), and in many towns a senior tax work-off program. The Amherst assessor's office and the COA both help with the forms.
How many nursing homes and assisted living residences are near Amherst?
6 Medicare-certified nursing homes within 12 miles and 6 state-certified assisted living residences within 10 miles, all listed on this site with the public record for each.