Roughly 90 percent of adults age 65 or older want to “age in place” in their homes and their communities. They like their communities and they like their doctors. They also like living near their friends and their family members. These social connections actually contribute to the health and wellbeing of older adults.
Massachusetts offers some programs to help senior residents to stay at home. If you’re interested in looking into these programs, an experienced Massachusetts elder law attorney can help. We also offer the free report “MassHealth Planning and Asset Protection,” which also discusses these options and contains more information of interest to older adults.
Community Choices
The Community Choices program (available through the Frail Elder Waiver) is for frail seniors who are at risk of entering a nursing facility unless they get extra help at home. The Community Choices program provides seniors with a variety of at-home services, such as skilled services, home health aides, housekeeping, laundry, meal preparation, and transportation to and from doctors’ appointments. To qualify for these services, the senior must meet specific medical and financial criteria. Community Choices services must be provided through agencies that have contracted with MassHealth, meaning you don’t have the flexibility to hire your own workers.
PACE and SCO
The Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) and Senior Care Options (SCO) are programs under which Medicare and MassHealth combine to pay health care providers a fixed monthly amount to provide all the care needs of participating seniors.
These programs are designed to provide comprehensive care for frail seniors. Because the PACE and SCO programs use a team approach of staff physicians, nurses, and therapists, patients must give up their own doctors. These programs may use adult day health centers rather than provide home care during the day, and they will typically contract with particular assisted living and nursing home facilities when such care is needed, giving the patient and family fewer options. Patients need to determine whether the benefit of comprehensive care outweighs these limitations. PACE and SCO programs aren’t available in all areas of Massachusetts.
The options for senior care in Massachusetts have never been greater. However, the complicated eligibility and application procedures can create confusion for seniors and their families. An elder law attorney can help you through this process. For information about senior care options, the rules for MassHealth eligibility, crisis planning, essential estate planning documents, and asset protection options, get our free “MassHealth Planning and Asset Protection Report.”
A Skilled Massachusetts Elder Law Attorney Can Help
As an experienced Massachusetts elder law attorney, I can guide you through this often-confusing area to ensure that you or your loved one can continue to live at home for as long as possible. If you’re interested in getting more information, please contact us today at 617.299.6976 or send an email to info@maheritagelawcenter.com for your free, no-obligation consultation.
