Boston, MA senior services
The front door to senior services in Boston is the Council on Aging; in-home help, Meals on Wheels and the state Home Care Program come through Boston Senior Home Care. Below: both, plus every care option that serves Boston, from the public record.
Council on Aging
Boston has a Council on Aging, as every Massachusetts municipality does. Find it on the town website. We have not yet captured its roster.
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
Serves Boston and 0 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 Boston
- Assisted Living Residences45 within 10 miles · nearest: Chestnut Park at Cleveland Circle
- Nursing Homes and Skilled Nursing70 within 12 miles · nearest: North End Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center
- Home Health Agencies184 serving Boston · nearest: Visiting Nurse Association of Boston
- Hospice35 serving Boston · nearest: Beacon Hospice, An Amedisys Company
Staying at home in Boston
Most people would rather stay home. What makes that possible in Boston: 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 Boston?
Call Boston Senior Home Care at (617) 292-6211, the state-designated ASAP for Boston. Home-delivered meals are arranged through the ASAP after a short phone intake; the Council on Aging can also make the referral.
Who is Boston's ASAP?
Boston Senior Home Care at (617) 292-6211. The ASAP does free in-home assessments and manages the state Home Care Program, the Frail Elder Waiver and protective services for Boston residents.
How do I get a ride to a medical appointment in Boston?
Start with the Boston 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 Boston?
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 Boston assessor's office and the COA both help with the forms.
How many nursing homes and assisted living residences are near Boston?
70 Medicare-certified nursing homes within 12 miles and 45 state-certified assisted living residences within 10 miles, all listed on this site with the public record for each.