The Adult Foster Care (AFC) program is a Mass Health funded program that consist of a member in need of care, a qualified live-in caregiver who receives a tax-free stipend, and a qualified setting. The program offers nursing oversight and case-management support to keep members in their homes or in communities of their choosing. AFC providers take a multidisciplinary team approach that includes the AFC member, the caregiver, the registered nurse, the case manager, the primary care provider, and anyone of the member’s choosing. This team will come together to carefully develop a plan of care around the member’s medical, physical, emotional, spiritual, and social needs. Our goal is to promote prevention, to encourage healthy living, and to reduce caregiver stress and burnout while promoting and building strong communities.
About the Massachusetts Council for Adult Foster Care
The Adult Foster Care program began as a way to keep people in their homes and communities for as long as possible by having their care needs met by a trained and qualified caregiver who lives with them. Members and caregivers are provided with ongoing support by Adult Foster Care nurses and care managers who visit in the home on a regular basis. Through Leadership, Knowledge and Advocacy, we engage with more than 100 Adult Foster Care provider agencies across the state, allowing over 12,500+ members, starting as young as age 16, to thrive in their homes and their communities through the support of their caregivers.
The Massachusetts Council for Adult Foster Care strives to:
- Assist provider agencies in upholding program integrity through interpreting and implementing regulations, developing best practices for services delivery, sponsoring ongoing trainings.
- Advocate and work with Mass Health, the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, and the State Legislature for appropriate funding to support these services.
- Provide current and updated information about changes that impact the Adult Foster Care program.
- Promote networking and collaboration between different AFC provider agencies.
- Educate the public on the availability of Adult Foster Care as a care option and outlining how this program could be beneficial for seniors and those with disabilities.
All of these efforts ultimately benefit vulnerable individuals in Massachusetts communities who need it most.