HESSCO Elder Services provides support for elders and those who care for them.

These programs and services include:

• • Support for family members caring for elders
  
• • Protective services for elders at risk of abuse or harm
  
• • Health benefits advocacy (the SHINE program)
  
• • Nutrition
  
• • Home-based services
  
• • Information and referral
  
• • Legal services
  
• • Money management
  
• • Nursing home advocacy
  
• • Eligibility screening for nursing homes and MassHealth Special Programs
  

Short descriptions of each program and service are provided below. Click on the “more information” link for details!

Support for family members caring for elders

This program provides support to informal (unpaid) caregivers to older people who live in the community and have at least one limitation on their activities of daily living. These caregivers include spouses, partners, adult children, and other relatives and friends. The Family Caregiver Support Program at HESSCO Elder Services has been created to assist these informal caregivers who are caring for a loved one and are looking for resources, answers, direction, or emotional support.

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Protective Services for elders at risk of abuse or harm

HESSCO Elder Services is the local agency designated by the Executive Office of Elder Affairs to receive reports, investigate and work with persons over 60 who may be the victim of physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, self-neglect or financial exploitation.

Elders who live in private homes, elder housing, or assisted living facilities, who are victimized by someone with whom they have an ongoing personal relationship, are eligible for assistance from protective services.

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Health benefits advocacy (the SHINE program) The SHINE Program provides free health insurance information, assistance, and counseling to Medicare beneficiaries of all ages and others who have questions about insurance and public benefit programs.

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Nutrition

HESSCO Elder Services’ nutrition program operates hot lunch programs serving individuals 60 years and older, and their spouses, who live in the south Norfolk County area. Meals are served on-site in Canton, Dedham, Foxboro, Medfield, Millis, Norfolk, Norwood, Plainville, Sharon, Walpole, Westwood, and Wrentham. At the Sharon site, ethnic Indian vegetarian and Russian meals are offered once a month. Nutrition counseling is also available.

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Home Care Program

Helping elders live safely and with dignity at home is the mission of HESSCO Elder Services. Toward that end, trained care managers conduct comprehensive assessment of elder’ and caregivers’ needs. The care manager may develop and monitor service plans, assist individuals in obtaining community benefits, and advocate for elders on all aspects of health and social service assistance.

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Information and referral

Information and Referral program supports elders and their families by answering questions about elder issues and connecting callers to appropriate services to meet their needs. The Information and Referral Specialist talks with the caller, answers questions, and directs the caller to the appropriate resources.

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Legal services

The Senior Citizens’ Legal Project provides services to people over 60 who live in the area we serve. Advocates help clients with many different kinds of cases, including: housing, durable powers of attorney, health care proxies, defense of guardianships, nursing home issues, government benefits, domestic relations, and bankruptcies. Our attorneys often provide presentations to senior groups on legal topics of particular interest to elders. These services may be free or low-cost for eligible clients. For more information, please call our partner, South Middlesex Legal Services, at (800) 696-1501.

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Money management

The Money Management program recruits, trains and supervises volunteers to serve as Bill Payers and Representative Payees, matching them carefully with clients in need. Most of these clients have difficulty paying their bills due to poor eyesight, mild dementia, or because they were dependent on a spouse or relative who has passed away.

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Nursing home advocacy

The nursing home ombudsman program is a network of highly-trained volunteers who work with staff from HESSCO Elder Services to ensure the quality of life of elders living in nursing homes. We assist nursing home residents with benefits, rights, and entitlements guaranteed under federal, state and local laws. For more information, please call us at (781) 784-4944.

Eligibility screening for nursing homes and MassHealth special programs

Our coordination of care program includes free medical screening for elders to see if they are medically eligible for nursing home care and
for MassHealth special programs. Our nurses visit elders in their homes to evaluate their medical situation. We also work with HESSCO Elder Services’ case managers to explore the many options for elders who stay at home or who require nursing home care. For more information, please call us at (781) 784-4944.