Tips for navigating senior care in Mass.
Aging at home
Most seniors want to remain in their homes as long as possible, said Michelle Woodbrey, cofounder of 2Sisters Senior Living Advisors,
which helps families select care options.
Village networks
like
Adult Foster Care services are for people who would like to continue living in their homes with support and can be connected through the
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Then there's private in-home care, which often comes with a steep price. 'Private pay home care averages about $40 an hour in this area, with minimum shifts of three or four hours,' Woodbrey said. 'It adds up quickly, and not everyone qualifies for affordable alternatives.'
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State-funded options such as the
There are 24 ASAPs across Massachusetts, contracted by the Executive Office of Aging & Independence, that offer services for adults 60+ and their caregivers — from care planning and food assistance to help with housing, health, and transportation.
'People can get by with scheduled care for a while,' said Woodbrey. 'But once their needs increase, home might no longer be an option, especially if they can't pay for round-the-clock support.'
Dr. Bill Thomas, a Harvard-trained geriatrician, suggested some nontraditional paths that are growing in popularity, like senior home sharing, where an older adult with extra space in their home provides housing to a compatible individual in exchange for discounted rent, companionship, or help with household tasks. In Massachusetts,
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'It's a great idea, underutilized, radically inexpensive and can do so much to improve and extend the independence of older people in their own homes,' he said.
Dr. Rachel Broudy, faculty at Ariadne Labs, which is affiliated with Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, advised that home sharing can be complicated and to 'consider it with caution.' She recommends the Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly, known as
2.
Assisted living and memory care.
Assisted living is best for those who need help with daily tasks but not full medical care. Assisted living homes' median monthly rents range from $3,655 to $8,036, according to the Massachusetts'
Two affordable and innovative models experts recommended are
And
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3.
Rest homes
A more affordable and less intensive option than nursing homes, rest homes are in limited supply across Massachusetts.
'Many of them can accept MassHealth and are more affordable when paying private,' said Woodbrey. 'There is less space and privacy, but they are usually better than a nursing home if someone doesn't yet need that skilled nursing level of care.'
There are 76 rest homes licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. These provide room and board, medication management, and some medical oversight in a community setting. Costs average around $100 per day, and residents may qualify for MassHealth, Supplemental Security Income, or Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled, and Children to help cover expenses.
4.
Skilled nursing facilities and nursing homes
Many seniors are terrified of nursing homes, equating them with a total loss of independence. The good news is that experts only recommend them in rare and specific cases, and many in Massachusetts are rethinking the nursing home model of care.
Broudy said the best nursing homes rely on peer support and shared responsibilities, where longtime staff take on flexible roles and the environment feels more like a home among friends.
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The Green House Model, co-developed by Thomas, the Harvard-trained geriatrician, emphasizes small, home-like settings for about 10-12 seniors. Several facilities in Massachusetts, such as
Continuum Care Retirement Communities have a range of independent, assisted living, skilled nursing, and memory care to allow residents to transition through levels of care without relocating. CCRCs require an entrance fee as well as monthly payments. The entrance fee is almost entirely refundable when a person moves or dies. Some must undergo a financial review to be able to afford long-term care.
Experts highlighted
in Dedham shares a 162-acre campus with the Rashi School, where residents mentor students from kindergarten through eighth grade.
5.
Additional resources
For more guidance, families can review the state's aging resources at
for a fee, or the state's Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Everyone (
Sarah Rahal can be reached at
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