Central Boston Elder Services — Home Care and Boston ElderINFO

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 617-277-7416. The organization is one of three Aging Services Access Points that share Boston’s information line.

Home Care may begin with a needs assessment or home visit and lead to an individual plan that can be reviewed over time. Published supports include bathing, dressing, meal preparation, medication management, light housekeeping, laundry, shopping, and transportation. Community providers often deliver the service; CBES coordinates the case and adjusts the plan when needs change.

CBES lists Allston, Back Bay, Brighton, Fenway, northern Jamaica Plain, North Dorchester, Mission Hill, Roxbury, and the South End in its service area. Home Care generally serves residents age 60 and older; some people under 60 with documented dementia may qualify for certain respite supports after a needs assessment. The agency says eligible consumers can receive services regardless of health insurance, although approval depends on assessment and program rules.

The recommended first step is to call Boston ElderINFO and explain the address, tasks the older adult can no longer manage, and whether the person lives in a community setting or institution. Staff can arrange an in-home appointment, review eligibility, and assign a care manager. Ask which services involve a cost share, how often support can be provided, and whether a waitlist applies; public materials do not promise the same number of service hours for every household.

If the need falls outside CBES’s neighborhoods, Boston ElderINFO may refer callers to Boston Senior Home Care or Ethos. That territorial division matters because offices and care teams are not interchangeable, even though they share an information line. To avoid an unnecessary trip, start by phone and make an in-person visit only when the agency recommends it.