Adult Foster Care in Worcester, Massachusetts

Families across Worcester and Central Massachusetts often provide daily care for a parent, adult child, relative, or friend at home. When that person needs hands-on assistance or regular cueing and supervision with personal care, Adult Foster Care may provide structured support through MassHealth.

Mass Care Link serves eligible families throughout Massachusetts, including Worcester and surrounding Central Massachusetts communities. Our team helps potential members and live-in caregivers understand program requirements, complete assessments, gather documentation, and navigate the MassHealth authorization process.

If you are caring for someone at home in the Worcester area, you can begin with our short prequalification form or call Mass Care Link at 866-880-8889.

What Is 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 who live with a qualified caregiver. The caregiver may be a family member, friend, or another qualified person, subject to MassHealth rules.

Qualifying care needs may involve bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, walking, transferring, or the cueing and supervision needed to complete a personal-care activity safely. Members enrolled in the program also receive professional nursing and care-management oversight.

For a complete statewide overview, read our guide to Adult Foster Care in Massachusetts.

Who May Qualify in Worcester?

Worcester-area residents are evaluated under the same MassHealth requirements that apply throughout Massachusetts. Eligibility depends on the potential member’s coverage, age, daily care needs, living arrangement, caregiver relationship, home setting, and MassHealth approval.

• The potential member generally must be at least 16 years old.
• The member must have qualifying MassHealth coverage.
• The member must need 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 setting.
• The caregiver must meet applicable program requirements.

A spouse or court-appointed legal guardian cannot serve as 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. Learn more in our detailed guide on how to qualify for Adult Foster Care.

Support for Worcester and Central Massachusetts Families

Mass Care Link works with families in Worcester and communities across Central Massachusetts. This includes families in nearby areas such as Auburn, Shrewsbury, Millbury, Leicester, Holden, West Boylston, Grafton, Northborough, Southborough, Fitchburg, Leominster, Gardner, and Southbridge, subject to program eligibility and service availability.

You do not need to visit a Worcester office to begin. Our admissions team can review basic information by phone or online, explain the documentation and assessments that may be required, and help coordinate the next steps.

How Mass Care Link Helps

• Reviews preliminary program requirements with the family
• Explains qualifying MassHealth coverage and caregiver requirements
• Coordinates required nursing, psychosocial, and home-setting assessments
• Helps families understand required medical and caregiver documentation
• Submits applicable information for MassHealth review
• Provides ongoing nursing and care-management support after enrollment

Families can also review what to expect after applying for a step-by-step explanation of the process.

Can a Worcester Family Caregiver Receive Payment?

When the member and caregiver meet all program requirements, an approved caregiver may receive up to $1,520 per month, based on need and MassHealth approval. Payment is not automatic. The amount and authorization depend on the member’s assessed needs and the MassHealth review process.

Read our guide explaining how family caregiver payments work in Massachusetts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Mass Care Link serve Worcester?

Yes. Mass Care Link serves eligible families in Worcester and throughout Massachusetts. Eligibility and enrollment remain subject to MassHealth requirements and service availability.

Does the caregiver have to live with the member?

Yes. Adult Foster Care is a live-in caregiver program. The member and caregiver must share the same qualified home setting.

Can I care for my parent in Worcester?

An adult child may potentially serve as the caregiver for a parent when the family satisfies MassHealth coverage, care-need, living-arrangement, caregiver, and other program requirements.

How do I begin?

Call Mass Care Link at 866-880-8889 or complete the online prequalification form. Our admissions team can review the situation and explain the appropriate next steps.

Does Medicare qualify my parent for Adult Foster Care?

Medicare alone does not establish eligibility for this MassHealth-funded program. The person receiving care needs qualifying MassHealth coverage, such as Standard or CommonHealth, and must meet the care and living-arrangement requirements. A person who has both Medicare and MassHealth may qualify. Our admissions team can review the coverage before you begin.

What should a Worcester family prepare before applying?

Have the potential member’s MassHealth information, primary care provider’s contact details, and a description of the daily help needed available. Our admissions team will explain the intake forms, recent physical examination, primary care provider order, caregiver screening, and home-setting review required for your situation. You can contact us before every document is ready; enrollment depends on completing the required reviews and approvals.

Can I work while caring for a family member?

Tell our admissions team about your work hours and the care your loved one needs. The live-in caregiver must be available to provide the required daily care, and appropriate support must be arranged when the caregiver is away. Whether a work schedule can fit the program depends on the member’s needs, safety, and approved care plan. Do not assume the member can stay alone during work hours.

What happens after I submit the prequalification form?

The form starts a preliminary review; it is not a MassHealth approval. Our admissions team reviews coverage, care needs, and the proposed caregiver arrangement, then guides you through intake documents, the required assessments, the primary care provider order, and the authorization process. When applicable, the member’s initial clinical assessment is completed through the MassHealth Public Assessor Option. Timing depends on documents, assessment availability, and approval.

Start the Process in Worcester

If you provide daily care for a loved one at home in Worcester or Central Massachusetts, Mass Care Link can help you understand whether Adult Foster Care may be appropriate for your family.

Call 866-880-8889, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or complete our short prequalification form.

Helpful Caregiver Resources for Worcester Families

Families can prepare by reviewing caregiver roles and responsibilities, learning how to choose a home care provider, and reading answers to frequently asked MassHealth questions.

For independent information about local aging and caregiver resources, Elder Services of Worcester Area offers information and referral, family caregiver support, and options counseling. Discuss any services already in place with our admissions team when reviewing Adult Foster Care eligibility.