RESPITE CARE PROGRAMS

Caregiving can be a daunting undertaking, and it is important that caregivers make sure that they take some time for themselves. Time is needed for caregivers to attend their own medical appointments, run errands or simply have some time by themselves to pursue a hobby or just rest and relax.

That’s where respite care services come in. Respite care allows caregivers to take a break from providing care for a loved one, secure in the knowledge that their loved one will continue to receive care in a safe environment.

Massachusetts Home Care Program Respite Services:

Respite care services are offered through Aging Services Access Points as part of the Massachusetts Home Care Program.

Here’s a breakdown of the eligibility guidelines for respite care services, which are available to caregivers when:

• The senior is age 60 or older, or under 60 with a diagnosis of Alzheimer`s Disease or a related disorder
• The senior is a resident of Massachusetts
• The senior does not live in a rest home, nursing facility, convalescent home, hospital or assisted living residence
• The caregiver is not paid for services
• The respite services are not requested primarily so the caregiver can work
• Respite services replace services the caregiver usually performs
• The caregiver is experiencing stress or an emergency situation
• The senior has been assessed by an ASAP case worker and found to be in need of services
• The caregiver is 18 or older
• The caregiver is either a family member, or unrelated to the senior but living in the same household

For more information on the Home Care Program and the respite care services it provides, contact your local ASAP. The ASAPs that serve MetroWest are:

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
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
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
Website: www.springwell.com
MetroWest towns served: Needham, Wellesley

Respite Care Services in MetroWest:

Respite services are also available through a number of private pay and volunteer organizations. Those serving communities in MetroWest include:

Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, we strongly encourage you to contact the resources below to inquire about their operating restrictions during this crisis. 

Aging Well Center
Address: 420 Maple Street
Marlborough, MA 01752
Phone:(508) 485-7700
Program schedule: Saturdays, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

Bellingham Council on Aging Supportive Day Program
Address: Bellingham Senior Center
40 Blackstone Streetr
Bellingham, MA 02019
Phone: 508-966-0398
Website: www.bellinghamma.org/Pages/
BellinghamMA_SeniorServices/Dayprogramflyer.pdf [PDF]
Program schedule: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Cost: $35 per day (includes light breakfast, luncheon meal, snack); transportation free for Bellingham residents, $10 per day for out of town members

Central Mass Respite Project
Address: 799 West Boylston Street
Worcester, MA 01606
Phone: 508-796-1801
Website: www.sevenhills.org
Program details: Grant-funded program that matches interns from area colleges with families of loved ones with disabilities in need of respite services.

The Club
Medfield Council on Aging
Address: One Ice House Road
Medfield, MA 02052
Phone: 508-359-3665
Website: https://www.town.medfield.net/407/Adult-Respite-Care
Program schedule: Tuesday and Thursday, 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Cost: 
–Full Day: 9:00am – 2:30pm ($50 Medfield residents/$65 non-residents)
–Half Day: 9:00am -12:15pm or 11:15pm-2:30pm ($35 Medfield residents/$50 non-residents)
All options include lunch and snacks
Transportation: Available for Medfield residents only at an additional cost of $7.50 each way

Companion Caregivers
Franklin and Bellingham Senior Centers In-Home Respite Program
Address: Franklin Senior Center
10 Daniel McCahill Street
Franklin, MA 02038
and
Bellingham Senior Center
40 Blackstone Street
Bellingham, MA 02019
Phone: 508-520-4945 (Franklin); 508-966-0398 (Bellingham)
Website: www.franklinma.gov/franklin-senior-center/
pages/respite-companion-caregivers
Eligibility: Care recipient must be age 60 or older with a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, a related dementia or a significant chronic medical condition and must be Franklin residents; means test required for discounted rate
Cost: Private pay households at $12 per hour; discounted rate households at $8 per hour; two-hour minimum and six-hour maximum of weekly service
Schedule: Services offered Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-8p.m. and weekends on a limited basis.
Services: Trained and screened companion employed by Franklin Senior Center can provide meal or snack preparation; conversation, reading, writing, playing games or cards; contact emergency services if necessary, with family permission; no homemaking service, personal care or lifting is permitted

Daybreak Adult Day Care and Caregiver Respite Programs
DayBreak provides a structured, quality time for your loved ones at three locations:

• Northboro Senior Center: 119 Bearfoot Road Tuesdays 11:30am-2:30pm. Contact: Jocelyn Ehrhardt, Outreach Coordinator at 508-393-5035.
• Marlborough Senior Center: 40 New Street Wednesdays 11:30am-2:30pm. Contact: the Marlborough Senior Center at 508-485-6492
• Hudson Senior Center: 29 Church Street Thursdays 11:30am-2:30pm. Contact: Janice Long at 978-568-9638

Cost: A suggested voluntary donation of $15 would be appreciated but not necessary to participate in the program.

Griswold Home Care
Address: 124 Crescent Road
Needham, MA 02494
Phone: 781-559-0073
Website: www.griswoldhomecare.com/
metrowest-boston/

Mary Ann Morse at Heritage
Address: 747 Water Street
Framingham, MA  01701
Phone: 508-665-5300
Website: https://www.heritageassistedliving.org/respite-care/
Note: 30-day minimum required

Millis Council on Aging Social Day Program
Address: 900 Main Street
Millis, MA 02054
Phone: 508-376-7051
Website: www.millis.org/Pages/MillisMA_CoA/day
Program details: program is by referral only.
Cost: $35 per day (includes transportation, lunch, snacks)

The Sunshine Club
Franklin Senior Center Supportive Day Program
Address: 10 Daniel McCahill Street
Franklin ,MA 02038
Phone: 508-520-4945
Website: www.franklinma.gov/franklin-senior-center/
pages/supportive-day-program
Program schedule: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Cost: $35 for six-hour day (9 a.m.-3 p.m.); $18 for half day (3 hours); fees include a freshly prepared luncheon and two snacks

Emergency/Short Term Respite Facilities:

Bethany Health Care Center
Address: 97 Bethany Road
Framingham, MA 01702
Phone: 508-872-6750
Website: bethanyhealthcare.org/respite_hospice.htm

Sudbury Pines Extended Care
Address: 642 Boston Post Rd
Sudbury, MA 01776
Phone: 508-395-9791
Website: www.sudburypines.com/

Whitney Place
Address: 3 Vision Drive
Natick, MA 01760
Phone: 508-655-3344 x 3982
Website: www.salmonhealth.com/locations/
natick/beaumont/respite-stays/

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.