Boston Senior Home Care, a nonprofit organization that provides assistance to caregivers, older Americans, and people with disabilities in low-income households, was awarded a grant of $721,800. Given by the Age Strong Commission, Boston’s Area Agency on Aging, the funding comes directly from Title IIIE of the Older Americans Act (OAA). The OAA was passed back in 1965, as a response to the need for stronger support systems for older and aging Americans. With this grant, Boston Senior Home Care has more necessary resources for providing its clients with case management and social services so they may continue to live at home.
“We are extremely grateful to the City of Boston and the Age Strong Commission for their generosity as we work to continue providing valuable services that enhance the joy and reduce the strain of caregiving for so many,” said Margaret Hogan, Chief Executive Officer for Boston Senior Home Care. When the COVID-19 Pandemic caused widespread shutdowns in 2020, the complexities of at-home care grew. Houses were fuller all hours of the day, financial situations were at risk of being strained, and medically-vulnerable individuals faced higher risk of contracting a potentially fatal illness. The funding from this grant to Boston Senior Home Care will allow them and their partners to help combat the difficulties brought on by the pandemic.
“The COVID-19 pandemic added to the complexity of caregiving given the stay-at-home requirements, school closures, reduced access to healthcare, and the vulnerability of care recipients at high risk for severe illness from the disease,” Hogan explained. “Working collaboratively with a variety of nonprofit agencies in our region, we are committed to implementing a program that is caregiver centric and embraces the many cultural norms and preferences of the people and communities we serve, such as caregivers in the Asian community.”
Together with the Greater Boston Chinese Golden Age Center (GBCGAC), Boston Senior Home Care will be utilizing this grant to expand its Caregiver Solutions program. The partnership will enable them to reach multigenerational households in Asian communities so they may support the caregivers of older adults. “We are delighted to continue our partnership with Boston Senior Home Care to provide essential services and support to Asian caregivers in our community,” said Ruth Moy, Executive Director of the GBCGAC. “We are especially pleased to be able to offer services in a manner that respects the language and cultural preferences of Asian caregivers of all ages.”
Boston Senior Home Care is an Aging Services Access Point serving the City of Boston including the neighborhoods of Beacon Hill, Charlestown, Chinatown, Dorchester, East Boston, Mattapan, North End, South Boston, and West End.
