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ELDER MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES

Gazing out at a gazebo alongside a frozen pond in Hopkinton/Photo by Douglas Flynn

Help for elders in MetroWest suffering from depression or any mental health issue is available through the Elder Community Care program.

Elder Community Care is a joint project of Advocates, Inc.United Way of Tri-County and Springwell, Inc. and funded by a grant from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health that provides comprehensive assessment and counseling services to elders and their families in MetroWest.

If you are concerned about a loved one, friend or neighbor, Elder Community Care (ECC) can meet with the elder in his/her own home and assess their needs.

ECC can provide:

  • In-home counseling
  • Telephone call befriending service
  • Access to 24 hour emergency response
  • In-home personal monitoring system
  • Referral to community resources

ECC can also speak with you about ways to talk to your friend or loved one about getting help. Anyone can make a referral to the ECC program by calling 508-573-7237.

A trained clinician will contact the elder to discuss available services and the ECC program.

When should a caregiver call ECC?

There are a number of different warning signs that could indicate a need to make a referral to ECC.

Here are some of the things to look for:

  • Significant changes in personal appearance
  • Significant changes in the conditions of the home
  • Changes in emotional state
  • Complains of not eating or difficulty sleeping
  • Unusual anger/hostility/irritability
  • Seeing, hearing, tasting or smelling things that are not there
  • False irrational beliefs
  • Alcohol or drug abuse
  • Changes in mental state
  • Confusion, disorientation
  • Forgetfulness that affects quality of life
  • Inappropriate responses
  • Increased nervousness or fidgeting
  • Recent losses
  • Appears sad or blue
  • Complains about health problems all the time
  • Homebound/Lack of social relationships
  • Personality changes
  • Economic problems
  • Caregiver stress
  • Suicidal thoughts or statements (If you have immediate concern about an elder call 911 or Advocates Psychiatric Emergency Services at 508-872-3333)

Caregivers should also not forget about their own needs, as caring for an aging family member or friend can be very difficult and overwhelming at times. There are services that can help you. Call Springwell Family Caregiver Program at 508-573-7239 to find out about services available for caregivers.

Massachusetts Department of Mental Health

The Massachusetts Department of Mental Health (DMH) describes its mission statement as “the State Mental Health Authority [that] assures and provides access to services and supports to meet the mental health needs of individuals of all ages, enabling them to live, work and participate in their communities.” To fulfill that mission, the DMH has sites across the Commonwealth.

Here are the local DMH sites serving communities in MetroWest:

Westborough Site Office
Address: 
Hadley Building, 167 Lyman Street, Westborough, MA 01581
Person in Charge: Tara Brennan, LICSW, Site Director
Telephone: 508-616-2801
TTY: 508-616-2820
Video Phone: 508-948-0605
MetroWest Towns Served: Ashland, Dover, Framingham, Holliston, Hopkinton, Hudson, Marlborough, Natick, Northborough, Sherborn, Southborough, Sudbury, Wayland, Westborough.
Emergency/Crisis 24-hr: Advocates’ Psychiatric Emergency Services (PES) – West
Address: 
354 Waverly Street, Framingham, MA 01702
Person in Charge: Sara Trognone, LICSW
Telephone: 508-872-3333 or 1-800-640-5432

Canton Site Office
Address: 
Massachusetts Hospital School, Donovan Building — 2nd Floor
5 Randolph Street Canton, MA 02021
Person in Charge: Emily Colonna, LICSW, Site Director
Telephone: 781-401-9700
TTY: 781-401-9701
MetroWest Towns Served: Medfield, Millis, Needham, Norfolk, Wellesley
Emergency/Crisis 24-hr: Riverside Crisis Team
Address: 
190 Lenox Street, Norwood, MA. 02062
Person in Charge: Susan Burton, LICSC
Telephone: 781-769-8674 or 1-800-529-5077

South County Site
Address: 40 Institute Road, Oaks “B” Bldg., No. Grafton, MA 01536
Phone: 508-887-1100
TTY: 508-887-8932
MetroWest Towns Served: Bellingham, Franklin, Hopedale, Medway, Mendon, Milford
Emergency/Crisis 24-hr: Blackstone Valley, Emergency Services Riverside Community Care
32 Hamilton Street, Milford, MA 01757
508-634-3420

The DMH also provides several guides and resource directories that can be downloaded at its site.

In addition to the ECC program and the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health, there are other mental health resources in the area that can provide help to both caregivers and their care recipients.

Other MetroWest Elder Mental Health Resources:

Advocates Community Counseling – Framingham
Address: 354 Waverly Street
Framingham, MA 01702
Phone: 508-661-2020
Email: counseling@advocatesinc.org
Website: www.advocates.org/services/mental-health-services

Advocates Community Counseling – Marlborough
Address: 340 Maple Street, Fourth Floor
Marlborough, MA 01752
Phone: 508-485-9300
Email: counseling@advocatesinc.org
Website: www.advocates.org/services/mental-health-services

Advocates Psychiatric Emergency Services
John DeRonck LICSW
Director of Psychiatric Emergency Services – West
Phone:  800-640-5432
Email: CrisisSupport@Advocates.org
Website: www.advocates.org/services/psychiatric-emergency-services
Communities Served: Ashland, Framingham, Holliston, Hopkinton, Hudson, Marlborough, Natick, Northborough, Sherborn, Southborough, Sudbury, Wayland, Westborough.
Note: Crisis clinician available to help 24 hours a day, every day if you are experiencing a mental health or emotional crisis.

Advocates Psychiatric Emergency Services
Kellan McNally, LICSW
Director of Psychiatric Emergency Services – East
Phone:  800-540-5806
Email: CrisisSupport@Advocates.org
Website: www.advocates.org/services/psychiatric-emergency-services
Communities Served: Acton, Arlington, Bedford, Belmont, Boxborough, Burlington, Carlisle, Concord, Lexington, Lincoln, Littleton, Maynard, Stow, Waltham, Watertown, Wilmington, Winchester, Woburn.
Note: Crisis clinician available to help 24 hours a day, every day if you are experiencing a mental health or emotional crisis.

Alternatives Unlimited, Inc.
Address: 50 Douglas Road
Whitinsville, MA 01588
Phone: 508-234-6232
Website:  www.openskycs.org/
South County administrative office is located at 53 Sumner Street, Milford, MA 01757

Community Healthlink
Address: 72 Jaques Ave.
Worcester, MA 01610-2480
Phone: 508-860-1000 /  508-860-1260
Website: www.communityhealthlink.org/

Crossroads Counseling
Address: 219 Washington Street
Wellesley, MA 02481
Phone: 781-431-2277
Website: www.crossroadscounselingwellesley.com/

Harmony Program at Mary Ann Morse at Heritage
Address: 
747 Water Street
Framingham, MA 01701
Phone: 508-665-5300
Website: https://www.heritageassistedliving.org/harmony/
Note: 
20 bed facility, unique assisted living program for seniors with mental health needs

South Bay Community Services – Behavioral Health Services
Address: 340 Main Street, Suite 818
Worcester, MA 01608
Phone: 508-521-2200
Website: www.southbaycommunityservices.com/services/
Intake Department: 508-427-5362

South Middlesex Opportunity Council
Address: 7 Bishop Street
Framingham, MA 01702
Phone: 508-872-4853
TTY: 884-807-7989
Fax: 508-620-2310
Website: www.smoc.org/

Geriatric Psychiatrists:

Dr. Daniele Bick
Address: 154 East Central St #204
Natick, MA 01760
Phone: 508-904-9575
Insurance accepted:  Medicaid, Medicare, Aetna,  BCBS,  Harvard Pilgrim,  Humana, Multiplan.  Call to confirm accepted plans.

Dr. George Ellsworth
Address: 115 Lincoln Street
Framingham, MA 01702
Phone: 508-383-1059
Insurance accepted: Medicaid, BC/BS, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Medicare, Tufts.  Call to confirm accepted plans.

Dr. Scott Gonzalez
Community Healthlink
Address: 72 Jacques Avenue
Worcester, MA 01610
Phone: 508-860-1154
Insurance accepted:  Aetna and Multiplan.  Call to confirm accepted plans.

Dr. Bruce Kaster – Geriatric Psychiatry
Address: 60 Kendrick Street – Suite 204
Needham, MA 02494
Phone: 617-964-8200 / Emergency: 617-510-6648
Email: bruce@brucekastermd.com
Website: www.brucekastermd.com
Insurance Accepted: Call to confirm accepted plans.

Dr. Elizabeth Nasser, Psychologist
Address: 431 Lake Street
Shrewsbury, MA 01545
Phone: 508-259-7684
Services: Perform Neuro Psych Evaluations; does home visits
MetroWest towns served: Medfield, Millis, Norfolk
Insurance Accepted: Accepts Medicare. Call to confirm accepted plans.

Susan Richardson, NP
Address: Advocates Community Counseling
354 Waverly Street
Framingham, MA 01702
Phone: 508-661-2020
Insurance accepted: Mass Health, Harvard Pilgrim, Blue Cross, Fallon, most commercial Insurances except Cigna and Aetna.  Call to confirm accepted plans.

This is a partial listing courtesy of CaregivingMetroWest.org. CaregivingMetroWest.org does not license, endorse or recommend any providers. For information call BayPath Elder Services, Inc. at 508-573-7200.

Still haven’t found what you are looking for?

Check out the other categories in our Local Resources section or search by town on our clickable map featuring 25 communities in MetroWest.