Medical equipment and home care
Equipment Loan Fund (ELF)
This program accepts and redistributes donations of smaller, gently used durable medical equipment such as canes, walkers, shower chairs/benches, commodes, bed rails, and incontinence supplies such as chux, depends, and booster pads. Due to space limitations, the program cannot accept all items. Please do not drop items off without checking on whether or not your item can be used. The program does not accept crutches, commode buckets, opened packages of incontinence supplies, or miscellaneous medical supplies (i.e. gauze). This program is available to Brookline and its surrounding communities.
Please contact the H.E.L.P. line at 617-730-2752 to arrange donation drop-offs or to inquire about our current inventory. If we do not have an item available, we can also provide resources of other programs.
Please note that the program cannot give recommendations regarding best items for a particular situation.
Other services
Can’t find it?
If you’re looking for something and can’t find it, or think there’s something missing here, please let us know!
Home and Escort Linkage Program (HELP)
About the Program
The Home and Escort Linkage Program (HELP) is a homemaker service designed and sponsored by the Brookline Council on Aging. The goal of this program is to provide affordable, reliable, and flexible home care service to seniors living in Brookline.
Advantages of the Help Program
The program provides an alternative to private home care agencies or state-funded home care, and is more secure than hiring a worker on your own. There is no charge for enrollment in the program and there is no financial gain to the program through filling job requests. However, there is a $15-$17 per hour (with 2 hour minimum) charge for services received by the home care workers. The workers are paid directly by the client.
Services Provided by HELP
Some of the services provided by HELP workers include:
- Companionship or respite care
- Cooking – light or full meal
- Errands
- Transportation and escorting to appointments
- Grocery shopping
- Yard work
- Heavy cleaning
- Laundry
- Light housekeeping
- Organizing, odd jobs
- Reading mail, check writing
Services Not Provided by HELP
It is important to note that homemakers hired through HELP do not provide home health care. This means that they are unable to assist with personal care, such as bathing and dressing, or with medications. However, program staff will assist seniors and their families with information and referral to agencies that provide this service.
Additional Information
Referring Residents to HELP
To make a referral, please call HELP at 617-730-2752.
Eligibility Requirements
In order to register for HELP, individuals must be:
- Brookline residents
- Must participate in a home visit with our staff
- Over the age of 60
How to Participate
To sign up for HELP, participants must first have an enrollment home visit by HELP staff. To schedule a visit or to find out more about the program, call the main HELP line at 617-730-2752.
HELP Resources
Become a HELP Home Care Worker
The Home and Escort Linkage Program (HELP) provides reliable and affordable homemaker services to Brookline residents ages 60 and over. The HELP staff recruits, screens, and supervises home care workers. The staff also assesses the needs of participants requesting service during an initial home visit. A match is then made between worker and participant on the basis of the type of work requested, rate of payment, scheduling, and other preferences.
Home Care Worker Application Process
HELP is always looking for honest and dependable workers to assist seniors with tasks at home and in the community, including driving to appointments. Hours are flexible. A higher rate is available to workers with cars. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. When work is available, applicants may be invited in for an interview. Once references and screenings are complete and the applicant has attended an orientation, he or she will be eligible for jobs through HELP.
Application
If you are interested in becoming a Home Care Worker with HELP, please view and print the Home Care Worker Application Packet (PDF), including program information, a letter to applicants, and an application. If you would like to have an application mailed to you, please call 617-730-2752.
Mail-in Application
Completed applications can be mailed to:
HELP
Brookline Council on Aging
93 Winchester Street
Brookline, MA 02446
Information for Current HELP Home Care Workers
Many thanks for all you do for Brookline seniors from the HELP staff and the Brookline Council on Aging. Your efforts provide our seniors with affordable care and allow them to remain in their homes.
You can file your time with our Home Care Worker Time Sheet (PDF).
TTP: Trusted Transportation Partner
(formerly known as ICARE)
The Council on Aging receives an ITNAmerica “Trusted Transportation Partner” grant, with support from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals. Through this grant, the COA’s HELP program provides free transportation for Brookline residents to scheduled eye care appointments in the Greater Boston area. To access, please contact the HELP line at 617-730-2752 AT LEAST ONE BUSINESS WEEK before your scheduled appointment, as a home visit to sign up for the HELP program is required.
To learn more about ITNAmerica, visit https://itnamerica.org/. To learn more about Regeneron, visit https://regeneron.com/.
PARC: Parking Access for Resident’s Caregivers
The PARC Program was developed by the Brookline Council on Aging (COA) in conjunction with the Brookline Transportation Department to address the parking needs of caregivers who serve the residents of Brookline.