Meals on Wheels is available in every town on the Cape and islands. Information on this program and other congregate meal programs is available under the Meals category of this guide or through Elder Services. Retired and Senior Volunteer Program RSVP provides volunteer opportunities for people 55 and older at nonprofit and community service organizations throughout Barnstable County. Home Care Program Elder Services can help find and manage services such as homemaking, medical transportation, adult day care, personal care, chore service, companionship, personal emergency response systems and skilled nursing and therapy. To qualify, individuals must be 60 or older and meet financial criteria.
Participants contribute to the cost of their care through a sliding scale system.
The primary goal of the home care program is to help clients stay in their homes or a similar setting. The Respite Program is a component of the Home Care Program that provides services to older people who receive regular care from another member of the household. Although there are no income-eligibility criteria for this program, the household's income is used to determine the sliding scale fee. Protective Services Elder Services is the designated elder protective services agency for Barnstable County and investigates allegations of elder abuse, neglect or exploitation. In conjunction with the statewide Elder Abuse Hotline, help is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.