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Needham is a suburb of Boston, Massachusetts, a coastal city rich in American History, small enough that residents can feel removed from the city center, yet close enough to Boston’s world-class health care, such as Massachusetts Respiratory Hospital, plus other big-city amenities. It’s a fun place to explore for residents and tourists alike, including taking time to visit the Paul Revere House, Boston Common and the Freedom Trail. Seafood lovers may enjoy dining in one of the area’s local restaurants, sampling classic Boston clam chowder.
Needham has warm summers, with breezes from the nearby Atlantic Ocean, although winters are cold and snowy, which may be uncomfortable for senior citizens living here. Persons aged 65 and older make up about 19% of the city’s 29,000 residents, and many of these citizens may seek accommodations in one of the area’s many assisted living communities, which average $6,100 per month.
Note: Data for Needham was unavailable, so data for the nearest city, Boston, was used instead.
Hundreds of thousands of American seniors utilize assisted living, a figure that is only growing. For these seniors, assisted living combines residential housing,assistance in daily activities, and some healthcare. These communities also strive to provide an atmosphere that is comfortable and engaging for their residents… Read More >
The average monthly cost for assisted living in Needham is close to the Massachusetts state average, according to the Genworth Financial Cost of Care Survey 2020, $6,100 compared to $6,085. Both of these are considerably higher than the national average of $4,300. Compared to neighboring states, Massachusetts falls in the middle, with New Jersey and New Hampshire tied at the highest, $6,650 per month, and Connecticut $350 less than those two, at $6,300. New York ($4,800) and Rhode Island ($4,950) are much less than Massachusetts.
While Needham is close to the average for the state of Massachusetts for monthly assisted living fees, it’s notably higher than almost every other major city in the state, except for Barnstable town, which is $6,338. Worcester, Springfield, Pittsfield, and New Bedford are all much less than Needham, at $5,488, $5,750, $5,789, and $4,950, respectively.
MassHealth, the Massachusetts Medicaid program, administers the Group Adult Foster Care and the Supplemental Security Income Assisted Living Benefit program, an assisted living waiver that can help seniors avoid early nursing home placement. It covers both in-home health care and homemaker services and assisted living fees.
For more information about this program and its eligibility requirements, visit our Assisted Living in Massachusetts page.
| Contact | Description | |
| Central Massachusetts Agency on Aging (AAA) | (508) 852-5539 | The AAA is a local resource that operates several programs to enhance the lives of elderly residents of the community. Caseworkers can help seniors and their families with placement in a long-term care home or evaluate the merits of different assisted living homes in the area. The agency also funds senior citizens centers, plus offers education about topics that affect older adults, such as health and nutrition information, indications of the early signs of dementia and preventing fraud. |
| Assisted Living Ombudsman | (617) 727-7750 | Long-term care ombudsman representatives protect the interests of residents in assisted living and other senior care homes, investigating complaints about elder abuse and neglect or looking into issues raised by concerned family members. It also helps families with placement in these communities, giving an unbiased review of each home, and can help seniors get in touch with the appropriate state agencies for financial assistance and medical care. |
| MassMatch | (877) 508-3974 | This agency helps seniors and those with a qualifying disability find low-cost or free durable medical equipment. It also has a store of TTY kits and other assistive technology, which it loans to area seniors so that they can test different products before purchasing. |
| Boston Vet Center | (617) 424-0665 | The Vet Center offers assistance for local military veterans, including filing claims through the US Department of Veterans Affairs, following up or appealing the claims, and applying for their pensions and medical care. Some transportation to VA clinic appointments is provided. Volunteers of the Vet Center visit veterans in long-term care homes or those who are housebound. |
| Natick Community-Senior Center | (508) 647-6540 | The local Community Senior Center offers seniors a place to gather and meet new friends, participate in a group fitness class or participate in a game, hobby club, or social event. It hosts luncheons during the week and special holiday events, dances and group outings into the community. |
| Greater Boston Legal Services | (617) 371-1234 | Local attorneys offer free or reduced rate legal counsel to seniors who meet income guidelines in civil matters or for drafting legal paperwork. These lawyers can draft wills, trusts, living wills and power of attorney documents, helping protect seniors in the event they can’t advocate for themselves, filing divorces and bankruptcies, and assisting in cases of elder abuse or neglect. |
Assisted living communities in Needham, as in the rest of the state, are overseen by the Executive Office of Elder Affairs, which ensures proper staff training and compliance with state standards. The organization conducts regular inspections of all facilities.
Visit our Assisted Living in Massachusetts page to learn more about these regulations.
