I. What You Should Know About Home Care in Woburn, MA
Woburn is an excellent location if you’re considering community-based long-term care. Boston magazine named this city of 41,000 as one of New England’s most livable towns for 2022, thanks to its low tax rates, abundant attractions, trendy shopping and dining options and thriving housing developments. Seniors represent about 16% of the population, which is on par with the national average.
Since Woburn is just 10 miles outside Boston, the cost of living is higher than in other parts of the state, but there are a number of advantages. Crime rates are very low, which is reassuring if you live alone. The climate is pleasant in the summer, with highs in the mid-80s, but winters can be harsh with mixed precipitation and lows in the upper teens.
One of the main benefits of living so close to a major city is the area’s world-class health care system that includes nationally recognized institutions such as the MelroseWakefield Hospital, Tufts Medical Center, Massachusetts General and many others. Health care costs tend to be lower than average. Woburn also has a number of home health agencies that provide varying levels of medical and personal care in the setting of your choice.
II. What You Should Expect to Pay for Home Care in Woburn, MA
Home care and home health care are two different but related services available to seniors who need extra help with household tasks and day-to-day personal care. Non-medical services, such as help with errands, laundry and meal prep, cost $6,292 per month. Home health care is slightly cheaper at $6,244. According to local providers who responded to Genworth Financial’s 2021 Cost of Care Survey, it bases rates on the cost of 44 hours of weekly care. This factor equates to a median rate of approximately $33 per hour, about $6 to $7 higher than the national average.
The Cost of Home Care & Home Health Care in Nearby Cities
Woburn’s in-home care costs are about $300 to $400 higher than the state median of $5,911, and you’ll spend about $1,750 more than the national average of $4,957 for in-home care and $5,148 for home health care. Worcester’s rates are lower at $5,720 for in-home care and $5,911 for home health care, followed by Springfield at $5,339 for in-home care and $5,529 for home health care. Barnstable’s rates are even higher than Woburn’s at $6,673 for both care types.
The Cost of Home Care Compared to Other Senior Living Options
Home health agencies provide flexible service plans that give you more control over your costs, but there are alternatives. Adult day health care provided in a community center costs approximately $1,614 per month. Assisted living costs more than in-home care, with a median of $6,819. Nursing homes are considerably more expensive, with a median of $13,155. Home care can also help you transition out of a skilled nursing facility or rehabilitation center.
Note: Data for Woburn was unavailable, so data for the nearest city, Boston, was used instead.
III. How to Find Home Care in Woburn, MA
Finding a home care provider for yourself or a loved one can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. Below, we explain the process of how to find a home care provider in 5 simple steps. Use the infographic below to help guide your search for in-home care in Woburn, MA.
IV. Home Care Resources for Seniors in Woburn, MA
Minuteman Senior Services
What You Should Know
Minuteman Senior Services is the Area Agency on Aging for seniors in Woburn and other parts of Middlesex County. It advocates for older adults and sponsors more than 20 age-related programs for area seniors. You can contact this agency to learn more about in-home care, Meals on Wheels, case management services, long-term care, Medicare insurance consultations and legal advice. It also offers evidence-based programs to promote healthy aging and address specific concerns, such as diabetes and chronic pain.
Who Is Eligible?
Area Agencies on Aging provide free informational services to seniors aged 60 and older and their families and caregivers. Disabled adults and veterans also qualify for assistance. You can make referrals if you know someone who needs help accessing available resources. You may require a nursing home level of care to be eligible for medical and personal services that Medicaid covers.
How to Get Started
To reach your local AAA and learn more about the services available in your area, contact Minuteman Senior Services at (781) 272-7177 or dial (888) 222-6171 to call toll-free.
Woburn Senior Center/Woburn Council on Aging
What You Should Know
Located on School Street, the Woburn Senior Center is home to the Woburn Council on Aging. It provides recreational activities and a variety of other supportive services. You can visit the center for fitness classes, intergenerational programs, peer-to-peer support groups, crafts and creative projects. Staff is available to provide outreach and referrals, and the Council on Aging offers curb-to-curb van service as well as discounted taxi vouchers for older adults.
Who Is Eligible?
The Woburn Senior Center caters to adults aged 65 and older. Some services, such as vaccinations and health screenings, are available to residents 18 and older. You must be aged 60 or older to qualify for transportation.
How to Get Started
To learn more about some of the programs and resources available through your local senior center, call (781) 897-5960. The center is open from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, with extended hours on Thursdays and an early closure on Friday.
Action For Boston Community Development Inc.
What You Should Know
Action For Boston Community Development Inc. (ABCD) is responsible for administering several federal financial assistance programs that can help seniors and low-income families with energy bills, heating and cooling repairs, weatherization services and some energy-efficient home improvements. These programs serve individuals with the greatest economic and social needs. Funds are available to help with unpaid gas and utility bills, furnace repairs and replacements, energy-efficient lighting and the purchase of certain appliances, such as refrigerators, air conditioners and dehumidifiers.
Who Is Eligible?
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides grants to households that earn no more than 60% of the state median and need help paying their utility bills. For 2022, your gross household income cannot exceed $53,551 for a two-person household. Income limits are the same for the Weatherization Assistance Program and related initiatives.
How to Get Started
From Woburn, call (781) 322-6284 to learn more about federal energy assistance programs, including LIHEAP and WAP.
SMD Hospital Equipment Loan Program
What You Should Know
Sponsored by a group of local Mason halls, the Hospital Equipment Loan Program (HELP) provides durable medical equipment to residents in need. It loans items for in-home residential use for as long as they’re needed. Available items include hospital beds, canes, rollators, shower benches, transfer chairs, scooters and mobility aids. If you have medical items that you no longer need, you may be able to donate them to this local foundation.
Who Is Eligible?
HELP provides medical equipment to individuals with unmet needs, including seniors and uninsured adults. You must drop off or pick up equipment on Saturdays during the center’s hours of operation.
How to Get Started
To contact SMD-HELP or to see which items are available, call (781) 322-1052.
Middlesex South Registry of Deeds Homestead Information
What You Should Know
Woburn seniors may be entitled to several tax exemptions as well as homestead protections that can safeguard their primary residence from liens, seizures and collection activities. The state offers a $700 income tax exemption to taxpayers aged 65 and older. You may also be eligible for a circuit breaker tax credit worth up to $1,170. This allowance credits you for any real estate taxes or rental expenses that exceed 10% of your income. The state also offers homestead protections that prevent debt collectors from seizing your primary residence for debts up to $125,000. In Middlesex County, the program can extend this up to $500,000 or $250,000 per owner.
Who Is Eligible?
To declare a homestead exemption, you must file the appropriate application form with the county’s Registry of Deeds. To claim the circuit breaker credit, complete Schedule CB when you file your state tax returns.
How to Get Started
For more information about these exemptions, contact the Middlesex South Registry of Deeds at (617) 679-6300. To learn more about statewide tax policies, contact the Massachusetts Department of Revenue at (617) 887-6367, or view the state’s guide to Tax Tips for Seniors and Retirees.