Free case management, home visiting, and friendly visitors for LGBTQ+ elders 60 and older. Across the South Coast.
Aging Well is the Network's free program for LGBTQ+ elders 60 and older. The core is case management, home visiting, and friendly visitors. A staff member or trained volunteer who knows you, calls you, comes to see you, and helps you sort out what matters most.
On top of that core, we run supper clubs in Fairhaven and Marion, monthly bowling at Wonder Bowl New Bedford, and other gatherings. All free. No registration paperwork. No insurance required.
Get ConnectedOne staff member who knows your situation, follows up, and helps you navigate appointments, paperwork, housing, healthcare, and crisis. Free for LGBTQ+ elders 60 and older.
We come to you. Especially when getting out is hard. Visits are scheduled to fit your life and respect your privacy. Free.
A trained volunteer matched to you for regular visits. Conversation, company, and a familiar face. Especially for elders who live alone.
Elder crises are not always loud. Loneliness, a missed med, an aggressive caregiver, a fall nobody saw. All of these are reasons to call. None of these numbers will judge you for calling.
Call, text, or chat 988. 24 hours a day. A trained crisis counselor answers. Use this for a general crisis, including loneliness, despair, or thoughts of hurting yourself.
Call or text 833-773-2445. 24/7, 365 days a year. A Massachusetts-based clinician answers and can dispatch a mobile crisis team to your home. Insurance not required. Best when you need a clinician to come to you.
Call 988 and press 3 to reach an LGBTQ+ specialist on the national Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Available 24/7. The SAGE LGBT Elder Hotline that previously appeared here was discontinued in 2023; SAGE still runs programs at sageusa.org but no longer operates a phone line.
Call 1-800-922-2275. 24/7. A state caseworker handles reports of elder abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation. Reports can be anonymous. Use this when you or someone you love is being harmed at home or in a facility.
For immediate medical danger (fall with injury, chest pain, severe confusion, active assault), 911 is the right call. The mobile crisis options above are for psychological and behavioral crises, not medical emergencies.
Short list on purpose. We only include organizations we know, or that come up consistently from elders we trust. If a name is missing it does not mean they are bad. It often means we have not had time to verify. Tell us what we are missing at eileen@sclgbtqnetwork.org.
All services free of charge. No insurance, no income test. Case management, home visiting, and friendly visitors for LGBTQ+ elders 60 and up. Plus supper clubs, bowling, and intergenerational events. Phone (774) 775-2656 (Eileen). Email eileen@sclgbtqnetwork.org. Community spaces in New Bedford, Fall River, and Taunton.
Greater New Bedford. Home care services and coordination for adults of all ages. Network partner for Aging Well referrals. 1646 Purchase Street, New Bedford, MA 02740. Web: coastlinenb.org.
Fall River, Taunton, Attleboro and surrounding towns. Monday through Friday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Home care, nutrition, and benefits navigation. Web: bristolaging.org.
Statewide entry point for elder services in MA. Phone 1-800-AGE-INFO (1-800-243-4636). Connects you to Medicare counseling (SHINE), Meals on Wheels, transportation, caregiver support, and more.
National LGBTQ+ elder advocacy and direct services at sageusa.org. SAGECare trainings for caregivers who work with LGBTQ+ elders. SAGE discontinued its phone hotline in 2023; for live crisis support call 988 and press 3.
Statewide Massachusetts programs for LGBTQ+ elders run out of Boston. Research, training, and direct services. Accepts SouthCoast clients. Web fenwayhealth.org.
Insurance for elders in Massachusetts is a maze. The good news is there is a free counseling program staffed by trained volunteers who answer questions one-on-one. You do not have to figure this out alone.
SHINE stands for Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Everyone. Trained volunteers walk you through Medicare Part A, Part B, Part C (Medicare Advantage), Part D (drug coverage), Medigap policies, and how MassHealth fits in. Available at most local Councils on Aging and online. To make an appointment call 1-800-243-4636 (MA Office of Elder Affairs) and ask for SHINE.
If you have Medicare AND limited income or assets, MassHealth (Medicaid in MA) can pay for what Medicare does not, including long-term care. MassHealth Customer Service 1-800-841-2900. TTY 1-800-497-4648. If you hit a wall, the My Ombudsman program is independent and free. Search My Ombudsman MassHealth on mass.gov.
You can change name and sex marker on your Social Security record without a doctor letter. Spousal and survivor benefits apply to same-sex spouses since 2015 federal recognition. Visit ssa.gov or call your local Social Security office.
The Network can sit with you, help you read a letter from MassHealth or Medicare, or set you up with a SHINE counselor. Email Eileen at eileen@sclgbtqnetwork.org or call (774) 775-2656. Free.