Boston does not place every older-adult service in a single office. Age Strong is the city commission and guides residents age 60 and older, while meal and home-care programs are distributed among aging-services agencies that cover different neighborhoods. The home address matters as much as age: sharing a ZIP code helps identify who assesses, who refers, and where a service is available.
To start with the city, the Age Strong Commission is at City Hall, 1 City Hall Square, Room 271, and takes general questions at 617-635-4366. Its Age Strong Shuttle provides free transportation within Boston to non-emergency medical appointments for residents age 60 and older. Reserve in advance at 617-635-3000; accessible vehicles are available. Confirm notice requirements, pickup, and destination before planning the appointment.
Age Strong also provides the current list of more than 40 community meal sites; the city lists a suggested $2 donation and recommends calling to confirm location and enrollment. People who cannot leave home because of illness, disability, or frailty can ask about home-delivered meal screening through Boston ElderINFO at 617-292-6211. Congregate dining and home delivery are different programs with different eligibility rules and providers.
Boston Senior Home Care, Central Boston Elder Services, and Ethos are nonprofits that collaborate through Boston ElderINFO and cover different parts of the city. BSHC serves Beacon Hill, Charlestown, Dorchester, Downtown, East Boston, the North End, South Boston, South Cove, and the West End. CBES lists Allston, Back Bay, Brighton, Fenway, northern Jamaica Plain, North Dorchester, Mission Hill, Roxbury, and the South End. Ethos is the regional agency for Jamaica Plain, Roslindale, West Roxbury, Hyde Park, and Mattapan; each organization may serve additional neighborhoods for other programs.
Possible supports include care management, bathing and dressing help, meal preparation, laundry, shopping, transportation, adult-day activities, companionship, and caregiver respite. No single package is automatically provided to everyone: staff assess age, residence, ability to manage daily tasks, income, and medical needs. The shared line helps callers identify the right entry point; the assigned agency explains required documents, a possible home visit, and any income-based contribution.
Ethos publishes a network of community cafes across Boston, hosted at housing sites, neighborhood centers, and partner organizations. Some open weekdays, others on limited schedules. Its profile separates those meal sites from the main office and provides route links for each address. Call 617-477-6688 to confirm the next meal and registration before traveling. For home delivery, start with Boston ElderINFO and ask which agency and provider cover the address.
On the first call, give the neighborhood or ZIP code, whether the person can leave home, how they get to appointments, which daily tasks need support, and their preferred language. Ask who will manage the case and whether wait time depends on funding or provider capacity. For immediate danger or a medical emergency, routine program contacts do not replace emergency services; this guide is for applications and community-support planning.
Check current details and choose according to your budget, time and way of travelling.
Options to compare
These options relate to the question. Read each profile and check current details before deciding.
City of Boston Age Strong Commission
1 City Hall Square, Room 271, Boston, MA 02201
The Age Strong Commission is Boston’s municipal entry point for residents age 60 and older who need help understanding meal, transportation, housing, utility, Medicare, or caregiver programs. Its office is at City Hall, 1 City Hall Square, Room 271; the general line is 617-635-4366. Staff provide gu
Age Strong guides Boston residents age 60 and older to meals, medical transportation, caregiver help, benefits, and city programs. It operates the free Age Strong Shuttle by advance reservation and connects residents with more than 40 community meal sites
Boston Senior Home Care — Boston ElderINFO
89 South Street, Suite 501, Boston, MA 02111
Boston Senior Home Care (BSHC) is a nonprofit that coordinates services for older adults and people with disabilities who want to remain at home. Its care managers assess needs, help create an individual plan, and refer clients to service providers. The office is at 89 South Street, Suite 501, insid
Boston Senior Home Care connects older adults with case management, personal care, homemaking, meals, caregiver assistance, and adult-day services. Boston ElderINFO, operated in collaboration with other agencies, is the referral line for residents and car
Central Boston Elder Services — Home Care and Boston ElderINFO
2315 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02119
Central Boston Elder Services (CBES) is a nonprofit that coordinates support for older adults and people with disabilities who want to remain in their community. Its office is at 2315 Washington Street in Boston. Boston ElderINFO referrals are handled at 617-292-6211, and CBES’s direct number is 617
Central Boston Elder Services assesses needs, develops individual plans, and refers clients to home-care providers. It serves neighborhoods including Allston, Brighton, Fenway, Back Bay, Roxbury, and the South End; eligibility and service levels are set a
Ethos — Home Care, Meals on Wheels and Community Cafés
555 Amory Street, Jamaica Plain, Boston, MA 02130
Ethos is a nonprofit with its main office at 555 Amory Street in Jamaica Plain. It coordinates nutrition and in-home services and is the designated aging-services agency for Southwest Boston. It also serves as one of the three entry agencies that receive Boston ElderINFO referrals. The shared inform
Ethos is the aging-services agency for Southwest Boston and coordinates home care, Meals on Wheels, community dining, caregiver support, and wellness programs. It publishes a network of cafes across Boston neighborhoods; register or confirm before visitin
Sources & references
Sources for the information and reporting discussed in this guide.
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Official website of City of Boston Age Strong Commission ↗
Primary source
City of Boston · Accessed October 23, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of City of Boston Age Strong Commission ↗
Primary source
City of Boston · Accessed October 23, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of City of Boston Age Strong Commission ↗
Primary source
City of Boston · Accessed October 23, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of City of Boston Age Strong Commission ↗
Primary source
City of Boston · Accessed October 23, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of City of Boston Age Strong Commission ↗
Primary source
City of Boston · Accessed October 23, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of City of Boston Age Strong Commission ↗
Primary source
City of Boston · Accessed October 23, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Boston Senior Home Care — Boston ElderINFO ↗
Primary source
Boston Senior Home Care · Accessed October 23, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Boston Senior Home Care — Boston ElderINFO ↗
Primary source
Boston Senior Home Care · Accessed October 23, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Boston Senior Home Care — Boston ElderINFO ↗
Primary source
Massachusetts Executive Office of Aging & Independence · Accessed October 23, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Boston Senior Home Care — Boston ElderINFO ↗
Primary source
Massachusetts Executive Office of Aging & Independence · Accessed October 23, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Central Boston Elder Services — Home Care and Boston ElderINFO ↗
Primary source
Central Boston Elder Services · Accessed October 23, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Central Boston Elder Services — Home Care and Boston ElderINFO ↗
Primary source
Massachusetts Executive Office of Aging & Independence · Accessed October 23, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Central Boston Elder Services — Home Care and Boston ElderINFO ↗
Primary source
MassHealth · Accessed October 23, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Central Boston Elder Services — Home Care and Boston ElderINFO ↗
Primary source
Central Boston Elder Services · Accessed October 23, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Central Boston Elder Services — Home Care and Boston ElderINFO ↗
Primary source
Central Boston Elder Services · Accessed October 23, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Ethos — Home Care, Meals on Wheels and Community Cafés ↗
Primary source
Ethos · Accessed October 23, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Ethos — Home Care, Meals on Wheels and Community Cafés ↗
Primary source
Ethos · Accessed October 23, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Ethos — Home Care, Meals on Wheels and Community Cafés ↗
Primary source
Ethos · Accessed October 23, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Ethos — Home Care, Meals on Wheels and Community Cafés ↗
Primary source
Ethos · Accessed October 23, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Ethos — Home Care, Meals on Wheels and Community Cafés ↗
Primary source
Massachusetts Executive Office of Aging & Independence · Accessed October 23, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Ethos — Home Care, Meals on Wheels and Community Cafés ↗
Primary source
Ethos · Accessed October 23, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
City of Boston · Accessed October 23, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
City of Boston · Accessed October 23, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
City of Boston · Accessed October 23, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Boston Senior Home Care · Accessed October 23, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Central Boston Elder Services · Accessed October 23, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Ethos · Accessed October 23, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Ethos · Accessed October 23, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Massachusetts Executive Office of Aging & Independence · Accessed October 23, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
MassHealth · Accessed October 23, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.