Aging Services Access Points
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| The famed giant globe on the Babson College campus in Wellesley/Photo by Douglas Flynn |
What is an ASAP?
Aging Services Access Points, commonly referred to as ASAPs, are private, non-profit, state-designated agencies under contract with the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs to provide seniors and caregivers with access to a variety of programs and services.
ASAPs manage the Massachusetts Home Care Program, and are supported by state and federal funds, as well as private donations. Federal funding is provided through regional Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs), which were established under the Older Americans Act to ensure that seniors have access to all essential services. Most ASAPs also serve as AAAs, but some areas in Massachusetts are served by separate agencies.
There are 26 ASAPs across the Commonwealth, each serving a designated geographical area. Four of those agencies – BayPath Elder Services, Inc., Tri-Valley, Inc., HESSCO Elder Services and Springwell – serve communities in MetroWest.
What services do ASAPs offer?
The services offered by individual ASAPs can vary slightly with many agencies providing unique programs, but all ASAPs generally offer seniors and caregivers the following services:
- Information and referrals for senior services, including home care services, housing options, public benefits, legal assistance, hospice care, the ombudsman program, health insurance, senior companions, and adult day care
- Elder care advisors
- Protective services, to prevent the abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of seniors
- Elder-at-risk services, to protect seniors who may need help to live safely and independently at home
- Case management for eligible seniors providing needs assessment, screening and eligibility determination for institutional or community-based long-term care, development of a service plan, help with applications for public benefits, coordination and purchase of needed services and monitoring and reassessment of needs
- Caregiver support
- Nutrition services
- Home-delivered meals
- Money management programs
Many services are free, others are based on one's ability to pay, and some are offered on a fee-for-service basis.
ASAPs in MetroWest:
BayPath Elder Services, Inc.
Address: 33 Boston Post Road West
Marlborough, MA 01752
Phone: 508-573-7200
Website: www.baypath.org
MetroWest towns served: Ashland, Dover, Framingham, Holliston, Hopkinton, Hudson, Marlborough, Natick, Northborough, Sherborn, Southborough, Sudbury, Wayland, Westborough
Tri-Valley, Inc.
Address: 10 Mill St.
Dudley, MA 01571
Phone: 800-286-6640
Email: info@tves.org
Website: www.trivalleyinc.org
MetroWest towns served: Bellingham, Franklin, Hopedale, Medway, Mendon, Milford
HESSCO Elder Services
Address: One Merchant Street
Sharon, MA 02067
Phone: 781-784-4944
Email: info@hessco.org
Website: www.hessco.org
MetroWest towns served: Medfield, Millis, Norfolk
Springwell
Address: 307 Waverley Oaks Road
Suite 205
Waltham, MA 02452
Phone: 617-926-4100
Email: inforef@springwell.com
Website: www.springwell.com
MetroWest towns served: Needham, Wellesley