Adult Foster Care in Springfield, Massachusetts
Many families in Springfield and Western Massachusetts provide daily care for a parent, adult child, relative, or friend at home. When a loved one needs hands-on help or daily cueing and supervision with personal care, Adult Foster Care may offer structured support through MassHealth.
Mass Care Link serves eligible families throughout Massachusetts, including Springfield and surrounding Western Massachusetts communities. We help potential members and live-in caregivers understand program requirements, complete assessments, obtain required documentation, and navigate the MassHealth authorization process.
If you care for someone at home in the Springfield area, begin with our short prequalification form or call Mass Care Link at 866-880-8889.
Understanding Adult Foster Care
Adult Foster Care is a MassHealth-funded program for eligible individuals who need daily assistance with at least one activity of daily living and live with a qualified caregiver. Depending on the circumstances, the caregiver may be a family member, friend, or another qualified person.
Daily assistance may involve bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, walking, transferring, or the cueing and supervision required to complete a personal-care activity safely. Enrolled members also receive nursing and care-management oversight through an approved provider.
Visit our statewide guide to learn more about Adult Foster Care in Massachusetts.
Adult Foster Care Eligibility in Springfield
Springfield residents must satisfy the same MassHealth requirements that apply throughout the Commonwealth. Eligibility is based on the potential member’s MassHealth coverage, age, care needs, living arrangement, caregiver relationship, home setting, and other program requirements.
- The potential member generally must be at least 16 years old.
- The member must have qualifying MassHealth coverage.
- The member must require daily physical assistance or cueing and supervision with at least one qualifying activity of daily living.
- The member and caregiver must live together in the same qualified home.
- The proposed caregiver must meet applicable qualification and documentation requirements.
A spouse or court-appointed legal guardian cannot be the paid caregiver. A parent may potentially serve as caregiver for an adult child who is 18 or older when all other requirements are met. Our guide to Adult Foster Care eligibility explains these requirements in more detail.
Serving Springfield and Western Massachusetts
Mass Care Link works with eligible families in Springfield and communities throughout Western Massachusetts. Nearby areas may include Chicopee, Holyoke, West Springfield, East Longmeadow, Longmeadow, Agawam, Westfield, Northampton, Greenfield, and Pittsfield, subject to program eligibility and service availability.
Families do not need to travel to a Springfield office to ask questions or begin the process. Our admissions team can review preliminary information by phone or online and explain the assessments, medical records, and caregiver documents that may be required.
How Mass Care Link Supports Local Families
- Explains preliminary eligibility and MassHealth coverage requirements
- Guides members and caregivers through the application process
- Coordinates nursing, psychosocial, and qualified-setting assessments
- Helps identify required medical and caregiver documentation
- Submits applicable information for MassHealth review
- Provides nursing and care-management support after enrollment
To understand each stage, review our article explaining what happens after applying for Adult Foster Care.
Caregiver Payment in the Springfield Area
If the member and caregiver satisfy all requirements, an approved family caregiver may receive up to $1,520 per month, based on need and MassHealth approval. The payment is not automatic, and the authorized amount depends on the member’s assessed needs and MassHealth’s determination.
Our Massachusetts caregiver-payment guide explains how family caregiver payments are determined.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Mass Care Link provide services in Springfield?
Yes. Mass Care Link serves eligible members and caregivers in Springfield and throughout Massachusetts. Enrollment is subject to applicable MassHealth requirements and service availability.
Must the caregiver live with the person receiving care?
Yes. The member and caregiver must live together in the same qualified home setting. They may already live together, or one person may move into the other’s home before services begin.
Can an adult child care for a parent in Springfield?
Possibly. An adult child may qualify as the caregiver when the family meets the MassHealth coverage, daily care, living-arrangement, caregiver, and other applicable requirements.
How can a Springfield family apply?
The first step is to contact Mass Care Link or complete the online prequalification form. Our admissions team will review preliminary information and explain what should happen next.
Get Started in Springfield
If you care for a loved one at home in Springfield or Western Massachusetts, Mass Care Link can help you understand whether Adult Foster Care may fit your family’s circumstances.
Call 866-880-8889, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or complete our short prequalification form.