As people live longer, the number of older adults who receive support from Advocates, a Framingham based nonprofit, has increased. The 2018 MA Healthy Aging Report found 31% of adults aged 65 and older have depression and 25% have an anxiety disorder. Many older adults are also at increased risk for mental health challenges.
But care for older adults is complicated. When someone turns 65 and is reliant on Medicare, their insurance coverage changes. While MassHealth covers six categories of social worker and therapy services, Medicare only covers therapy provided by Licensed Independent Clinical Social Workers (LICSW). As a result, many adults are forced to pay out of pocket to continue seeing their trusted LICSW therapist if they can afford it…or discontinue therapy if they cannot afford it.
COVID-19 intensified depression and loneliness among older adults. They were isolated at home, lonely–and couldn’t see their friends, children, and grandchildren.
Thanks to the Foundation’s ongoing relationship and strong partnership with Advocates, they received a grant to provide free behavioral health support for 40-50 older adults living in the MetroWest region who cannot afford the out-of-pocket costs.
The work that Advocates does for our community, like so many of our other nonprofit partners, is powered in-part by the support of our ONEmetrowest Fund. 100% of the dollars raised for the ONEmetrowest Fund fuels everything the Foundation does to support our region. It helps us invest resources in some of our community’s most pressing issues like hunger, youth development, equity in education, emergency relief, and even mental health support.
To learn more, contact Lee Gagen, Director of Development and Leadership Giving at the Foundation for MetroWest, [email protected].
