Homemaker Services
Homemaker services include but are not limited to grocery shopping and other errands; meal preparation; light housekeeping; and laundry services. Homemakers can often be hired, at an hourly rate, through home care agencies and visiting nurses associations (VNAs).
The Home Care Aide Council
Designed “Know Your Private Pay Home Care Options” brochure as a guide for families purchasing home care services in times of need. This tool will help you understand what paraprofessional home care services are and will help you decide which services can best be used by your family.
617-489-3550
Know your Private Pay Options Brochure (pdf)
Or, you can hire a homemaker yourself by putting a classified ad in a local newspaper.
Your local Independent Living Center can provide you with tips on how best to find, to hire and to manage home help.
Massachusetts Commission for The Blind (MCB) Social Rehabilitation
Social Rehabilitation Services provide homemaker services to legally blind persons under the age of 60 who have a serious medical problem in addition to their blindness that is preventing them from performing necessary homemaking tasks. Services are provided on the basis of priority of need. In order to be determined to be in the highest priority category for this service, a legally blind person must:
Live alone; or live with minor children only; or live with another severely disabled adult, who is incapable of performing these tasks, only need assistance in preparing meals, grocery shopping, or laundering clothes. Other legally blind persons who are eligible for homemaker services will receive them only if sufficient funds are available and based on priority of need as determined by the Commission.
Boston area: 800-392-6450
Worcester area: 508-754-1148
Western Mass: 800-332-2772
MassAbility Home Care Assistance Program
The Home Care Assistance Program provides homemaker services to eligible disabled adults who are functionally limited in meeting their own nutritional and environmental needs. The assistance of a homemaker helps individuals maintain their independence in the community.
Phone: 617-204-3853
Toll Free: 800-223-2559
Elder In-Home Services Home Care Program
If you are 60 or over, you may qualify for In-Home Care Program through Elder Services. Call for information regarding the Home Care Program. Aging Service Access Points (ASAPs) conduct comprehensive needs assessments to determine eligibility for services. Eligibility is also based on financial status and ability to bathe, dress and prepare meals.
Phone: 800-243-4636
TTY: 800-439-2370
Children & Youth with Special Health Needs Community Support Line
Children with disabilities may be eligible to receive services through the Department of Public Health’s Division of Perinatal, Early Childhood, and Special Health Needs.
Toll free: 800-882-1435
TTY: 617-624-5992
Disability Specific Organizations
Call disability specific organizations relating to your disability. They may have more information on homemaker programs for people they serve. Some examples:
ALS Association Finding Caregiver Help
ALS Association Massachusetts Chapter
Phone: 781-225-8884
Email: info@als-ma.org
Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) Guide for Caregivers (.pdf)
Guide to Understanding Independent Living Resources
Greater New England MS Society
Phone: 800-344-4867
Homemaker and Home Health Aide Care
US Department of Veterans’ Affairs
MassAbility Home Care Assistance Program How to Apply
Fact Sheet last updated on: 10/1/2024
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Disclaimer: INDEX is pleased to provide you this information. Please note, this information is not comprehensive, nor is it intended to take the place of professional advice. We encourage you to check other resources of such information. No endorsement by the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, DisabilityInfo.org, INDEX, or affiliates, should be inferred. We reserve the right to remove, to modify, or to add any information at any time, for any reason, and without notice.
