Other Important Resources

Advocacy

ADAPT
National advocacy group for people with disabilities.
www.adapt.org

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Legislative Directory
Offering a fast and easy way for Massachusetts residents to identify their elected officials.
www.malegislature.gov

LGBT Aging Project
Advocates for changes in laws and policies. Provides training and assistance to service providers throughout the state.
www.lgbtagingproject.org

Mass Home Care – A user-friendly site to communicate with Massachusetts legislators and be in touch with issues. Mass Home Care is a network of 30 non-profit Aging Service Access Point which cover every city and town in Massachusetts.
masshomecare.org

Massachusetts Senior Action Council (MSAC)
This website contains the latest healthcare information affecting older adults and people with disabilities.
www.masssenioraction.org

USAging
USAging is the national association representing and supporting the network of Area Agencies on Aging and advocating for the Title VI Native American Aging Programs.
www.usaging.org

Caregivers

Alzheimer’s Association of Massachusetts
Contains specific information about Alzheimer’s Disease including information about the disease, caregiving, resources, diagnosis, research, advocacy, and medications.
www.alz.org/manh

Alzheimer’s Support Network of South Central Massachusetts
Information about the local, volunteer organization of people affected by Alzheimer’s Disease in South Central Massachusetts and Northeast Connecticut, including activities to inform and provide relief for families.
www.alzsupportnet.org

Family Caregiver Alliance
Offers programs at national, state and local levels to support and sustain caregivers.
www.caregiver.org

The Eldercare Locator
A nationwide toll-free service and web site, which helps older adults, and their caregivers find local services for seniors.
www.eldercare.acl.gov

Today’s Caregiver
Support and guidance for family and professional caregivers.
www.caregiver.com

Incredible Health’s Guide to Patients With Dementia and Alzheimer’s for Nurses and Caregivers
Guidance for Nurses and Caregivers
www.incrediblehealth.com

COVID-19

CDC Guidelines – https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

Resources & Articles for Family Caregivers – https://www.caregiver.org/coronavirus-covid-19-resources-and-articles-family-caregivers

Disability

Center of Hope Foundation
Provides people with disabilities and their families the resources, services and opportunities to be contributing members of their communities.
www.thecenterofhope.org

Mass Commission for the Blind
Provides rehabilitation and social services to blind individuals, leading to independence and full community participation.
www.mass.gov/mcb

Mass Commission for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Serves as the principal agency representing the Commonwealth’s 560,000 Deaf, late deafened, and hard of hearing people within state government.
www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/departments/mcdhh

Paralyzed Veterans of America
Devoted to illnesses, which leave people wheelchair bound, particularly spinal chord injuries and M.S. Resources include assistance with VA claims.
www.pva.org

Personal Care Attendant (PCA) Workforce Council
The Council’s PCA referral directory provides free access to all people with disabilities who qualify for the MassHealth PCA Program. The directory will put those needing PCAs in direct contact with PCAs looking for work.
www.masspcadirectory.org

The ARC: For People with Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities
Contains informational materials on mental retardation, aging issues, family supports. Links to local ARC chapters which have information on independent living skills training, job search, health care and supports for family members.
www.thearc.org

MADIL
Find information on services and programs that support seniors and people with disabilities in Massachusetts.
www.madil.org

General

MASS OPTIONS
Resources for elders, a partnership of the Mass. Executive Office of Elder Affairs and the Mass Home Care Association.
www.800ageinfo.com

AARP
Help with benefits and services for people 50 and older.
www.aarp.org

Meals on Wheels America (MOWA)
MOWAA is the oldest and largest national organization composed of and representing local, community-based Senior Nutrition Programs in all 50 U.S. states.
www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org

National Council on Aging (NCOA)
National resources for older adults.
www.ncoa.org

Government

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Official Website
Massachusetts state government home page.
www.mass.gov

National Council on Aging Benefits Check-up
A screening tool for state and federal benefits. A free service sponsored by the National Councils on Aging. Entering a person’s information will give you an overview of benefits they may be eligible for.
www.benefitscheckup.org

SNAP Benefits
Provides information and applications in both English and Spanish.
www.mass.gov/how-to/apply

Social Security Administration
Explains retirement and disability benefit information. Downloadable documents available.
www.ssa.gov

Grief & Bereavement

Grief Recovery
An action program for moving beyond loss.
www.grief.net

Funeral Consumers Alliance
Funeral industry watchdog group that includes consumer warnings about specific organizations, things to watch for, and tools and information for planning.
www.funerals.org

Journey of Hearts
An online support site by grief specialist Kirsti Dyer, M.D. (physician, professor, professional health educator and a grief/bereavement expert).
www.journeyofhearts.org

Health Care

Masspro
Is dedicated to advancing healthcare quality. Founded by the Massachusetts Medical Society, which publishes the New England Journal of Medicine.
www.masspro.org

Medicare
Provides comprehensive information about Medicare and ways to find or compare insurance plans, nursing homes, dialysis facilities, and physicians, plus information on Prescription Drug Assistance Programs.
www.medicare.gov

Medicare Rights Center
The largest independent source of Medicare information and assistance in the United States. Helps older adults and people with disabilities get high-quality, affordable health care.
www.medicarerights.org

MassHealth
MassHealth pays for health care for eligible low- and medium-income people living in Massachusetts.
www.mass.gov/topics/masshealth

MCPHS Pharmacy Outreach Program
A free prescription drug and referral service for Mass. residents. This program is a public services project of the Mass. College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS) in Worcester.
https://www.mcphs.edu/pharmacy-outreach-program

Health Issues

Healthfinder
Health library on diseases and conditions, prevention, wellness, health news, doctors, dentists, hospitals, long term care, public clinics, health insurance, prescriptions, Medicare and Medicaid. Information is also available in Spanish.
www.healthfinder.gov

National Institutes of Health
Contains downloadable publications and fact sheets, the latest news on research findings, journal articles, national opportunities for participation in clinical research trials, and funding opportunities.
www.nih.gov

WebMD
Contains information on diseases and conditions. Visitors can keep an ongoing health record. Perform online searches for doctors, clinics, insurance, medical tests, health and wellness programs and nutrition. Contains 80 message boards and 20 chat rooms.
www.webmd.com

Hospitals

Legal/Financial

The American Bar Association
A resource for professionals and consumers.
www.americanbar.org

Community Legal Aid
Community Legal Aid, Inc. (CLA) is the civil legal aid program that provides free legal services to low-income and elderly families and individuals in central and western Massachusetts.
www.communitylegal.org

The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
A non-profit association that assists lawyers, bar organizations and others who work with older clients and their families. Information, education, networking and assistance for those who must deal with the specialized issues involved with legal services to the elderly and disabled.
www.naela.org

The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors
The largest professional association of comprehensive, fee-only financial planners in the United States. helps locate advisors across the country.
www.napfa.org

Long Term Care

Massachusetts Senior Care Association
This website contains the latest healthcare information affecting older adults and people with disabilities. The website also features up-to-date, comprehensive information on the types of long term services available, payment options and detailed listings of Massachusetts facilities.
www.maseniorcare.org

National Citizens’ Coalition for Nursing Home Reform
Includes information on Ombudsman programs, Government and Policy, family involvement and citizen’s groups. Also features printer friendly fact sheets on topics ranging from resident’s rights to assessment and care planning to long term care insurance information.
www.theconsumervoice.org

Summit ElderCare^®
A Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) is a comprehensive program of insurance, medical care, home care, adult day health services, social support and caregiver programs. It’s mission to maximize the dignity and respect of older adults and enabling elders to remain in their homes and in their communities a long as medically and socially feasible.
www.summiteldercare.org

Town Websites

Veterans

Mass Vets Advisor
Information about benefits for Veterans.
www.massvetsadvisor.org