Supportive Housing Programs

If you have questions about the Supportive Housing Programs at Elder Services, call us at (413) 499-0524 or 1-800-544-5242.

Table of Contents

Adult Family Care
Group Adult Foster Care
Group Adult Foster Care - Assisted Living
Adult Family Care Host
Caregiver's Support

Adult Family Care Program - A place to call home.

Many elders or disabled adults no longer feel comfortable, or are unable to live alone. Adult Family Care (AFC) is a specialized housing program which provides an opportunity for individuals to receive necessary daily care and supervision while living in a supportive and caring home. For more clinically complex participants AFC Level II offers more Clinical Support to participant and caregiver as well as additional compensation to the caregiver. Family members can now qualify to be an Adult Family Care Caregiver, with the exception of a spouse or legally responsible adult.

Someone can qualify for Adult Family Care if they:

Are age 60 or over or chronically disabled between the ages of 18-59
Are receiving Mass Health, coverage type Standard or Common Health, or meets Medicaid income guidelines, or has the financial resources to pay privately
Have a medical condition that limits their ability to care for
themselves, and needs daily care and supervision
Are willing to live in the home of another person

Adult Family Care caregivers provide the following high quality and personal service:

24 hour supervision
Private comfortable room
Assistance with daily personal needs such as bathing, dressing, and grooming
Three nutritional meals and snacks
Medication administration and monitoring
Cleaning and laundry
Transportation to medical appointments
Attendance at an Adult Day Health program if the participant agrees
Coordination with family members

Professional Services

Each caregiver and participant in the Adult Family Care Program is assigned a team of professionals consisting of a licensed social worker and registered nurse. The responsibilities of the Adult Family Care team are to:

Carefully match participant and caregiver
Monitor participant via an on-site assessment by both the social worker and registered nurse on a monthly basis
Monitor the care provided by the caregiver
Provide instruction and health teaching to participants, caregivers, and natural family
Coordinate services with medical providers and social service providers
Assist with emergencies 24 hours a day through our After Hours Emergency Response services

ANYONE can make a referral to the Adult Family Care Program. Call the Intake and Referral Department of Elder Services of Berkshire County, Inc. at (413) 499-0524 or 1-800-544-5242

Group Adult Foster Care - Specialized In-Home Services

Group Adult Foster Care (GAFC) is a specialized housing program which provides daily care and supervision at no additional cost. The individual can continue to remain in the community in their home environment with this daily service and also receives ongoing monitoring and case management from a Registered Nurse and Social Worker.

Someone can qualify for GAFC if they:

Are age 60 or over, or chronically disabled between the ages of 21-59
Are receiving MassHealth, coverage type Standard or Common Health, or meet the income guidelines for Medicaid
Have a medical condition that limits their ability to care for themselves and need daily care and supervision
Are agreeable to daily personal care
Live in a designated protective housing area, such as subsidized housing for people who are elderly or disabled.

GAFC provides the following services:

Individualized plan of care to best meet care needs
Initiation of services through a community health care agency to provide assistance with personal care needs like bathing, dressing, grooming, and meal preparation.
Daily personal care and weekly homemaking
Ongoing coordination and monitoring of contracted services
Attendance at an Adult Day Health program if the participant agrees
Ongoing assessment of changing care needs by a Registered Nurse and Social Worker

All of the services provided by the GAFC program come at NO cost to the client.

For more information about the GAFC program, call Elder Services at (413) 499-0524 or 1-800-544-5242.

Group Adult Foster Care, Assisted Living

Group Adult Foster Care (GAFC), Assisted Living is a specialized housing program offered though Elder Services of Berkshire County, Inc. which provides the opportunity for low to moderate income individuals to reside in a certified assisted living facility and receive support services.

Someone can qualify for Group Adult Foster Care if they:

Are age 60 or over, or chronically disabled between the ages of 21-59
Are receiving MassHealth or meet income guidelines for Medicaid and SSI-G
Have a medical condition that limits their ability to care for themselves and need daily care and supervision
Wish to live in an assisted living facility

GAFC, Assisted Living combines high quality supportive services with the safe and supportive environment of a certified assisted living facility. In addition, each participant in GAFC, Assisted Living is assigned a team of professionals consisting of a licensed social worker and a registered nurse.

GAFC, Assisted Living provides the following services:

Residence in a certified assisted living facility
Individualized plan of care to best meet care needs
Ongoing professional monitoring of the individual's physical and psychosocial health
Routine supervision of supportive services provided
Attendance at an Adult Day Health program if the participant agrees

The professional GAFC team:

Coordinates services with trained assisted living staff
Monitors services
Assesses the participant on a monthly basis for changes in health status and care needs
Assists with emergencies 24 hours per day through After Hours Emergency Response System.

Elder Services an agreement with Rosewood Assisted Living in Berkshire County to offer GAFC - Assisted Living:

Rosewood Assisted Living
318 Onota Street
Pittsfield, MA

For more information about GAFC, Assisted Living call Elder Services at (413) 499-0524 or 1-800-544-5242.

Adult Family Care Caregiver

Spread the branches of your family tree.

Consider opening your home to an elder or disabled adult who needs care through the Adult Family Care Program. Adult Family Care is a specialized housing program offered through Elder Services of Berkshire County which provides an opportunity for individuals to receive necessary daily care and supervision while living in a supportive home.

Support, instruction and monitoring is provided by a registered nurse and a licensed social worker.
Monthly tax-free stipend is provided ranging from $23.50-$49.69 per day.
Help someone stay independent with dignity!
Create an inter-generational family for your children and grandchildren!
Family members can now qualify to be an Adult Family Care Caregiver.

For more information contact Elder Services of Berkshire County call us at 499-0524 or 1-800-544-5242

Caregiver's Support

Caring for another person is very rewarding and it is also very challenging. It's important to give good and proper care, but it's just as important to take care of yourself. How can you care for someone if you are exhausted, stressed, anxious and on edge?

Here are some suggestions for taking care of yourself:

Take care of your body
Make sure you get plenty of rest. Most of us are more irritable when we do not get enough sleep.
Eat a balanced diet. Be conscious of good nutrition.
Avoid self-medication with alcohol or drugs. They may seem to make you feel better, but in the long run, they affect your health and well-being.
Get some exercise. Taking a walk will do your body good.
Take care of your mind and spirit
Balance work and play. Work is important but so is relaxation and fun!
Talk about things that are troubling you. Don't keep things bottled up until you explode.
Set aside some private time. Plan your schedule so you can have some time to yourself for a hobby, a good book or a nap.
Go easy on yourself. Take one thing at a time. Accept that nobody's perfect.
Give in once in a while.