General Services for Seniors

Besides Library Resources and Tech Support, Library staff have also compiled this list of services, resources, and information.

General Resources:

  • Age Friendly Chelmsford – A new initiative to enable people of all ages to actively participate in the community. Coordinated by the Council on Aging and other town departments, including the library.
  • AgeSpan: Formerly Elder Services of Merrimack Valley and North Shore. A private non-profit agency serving elders and disabled adults who reside in Northeast Massachusetts. Their mission is to support an individual’s desire to make their own decisions, secure their independence, and remain living in the community safely.
  • American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) – AARP’s mission is to empower people to choose how they live as they age. Offers information on insurance, housing, benefits, travel and more.
  • Chelmsford Senior Center/Council on Aging – The Chelmsford Senior Center is located at 75 Groton Road, North Chelmsford and is open to senior citizens, 60 years and over, from Chelmsford and area communities. For more information on their programs and services, call (978) 251-0533. The Chelmsford Coucil on Aging also puts out this free Resource Guide!
  • Chelmsford Veterans Agent – The Chelmsford Veterans Services office administers a state/town public assistances program under Chapter 115. We provide short term, temporary, and financial assistance to eligible veterans and their families. We assist eligible veterans using a monthly grant and some medical coverage. Their website also includes links to other important services for veterans.
  • Common Sense Media – Reviews of apps, movies and games for children
  • ESL Resources for Chelmsford Patrons – courses or other information for learning English as a speaker of another language
  • Executive Office of Elder Affairs – (phone: 800-243-4636) Promotes independence, empowerment, and well-being of older people, individuals with disabilities, and their families. Helps with: prescription drugs, care giving, community resources, local programs, home care, housing and assisted living, and referrals.
  • Habitat for Humanity of Greater Lowell’s Critical Home Repair Program – Program offers assistance to qualified home-owning seniors and veterans with homes in need of repair.  The intent of the program is to allow residents to remain in their homes by alleviating critical health, life, and safety issues or code violations.  For more information, call 978-692-0927 option 4.
  • Purple Table Restaurant Reservations – Families will know that when they make a Purple Table reservation at a participating restaurant, the restaurant and staff will go above and beyond to make your dining out experience enjoyable and successful.
  • Social Security Administration – The official government website for social security. Topics include information on benefits, legislation, and required documents.
  • HelpAroundTown.com – A community marketplace to find neighbors to help with odd jobs (like shoveling, raking, etc), find work and volunteer opportunities, or post events and services.
  • Common Scams that Target the Elderly – From SeniorLiving.com, this is a list of examples and explanations of how scams work and ways to protect against them.

Health and Wellness Resources:

  • Aging In Place – Aging In Place connects seniors, families, and caretakers with the information and professional support they need to make the best decision for their physical, emotional, and financial well being.
  • Chelmsford Board of Health’s Facebook Page – Follow the BoH on Facebook and learn about upcoming events
  • Choosing Wisely – Choosing Wisely is an initiative of the ABIM Foundation that seeks to advance a national dialogue on avoiding unnecessary medical tests, treatments and procedures.
  • Elder Abuse Hotline: 800-922-2275 – 24/7, report physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, caretaker neglect, financial exploitation, and self neglect of persons 60 years or older. Online or by phone. To report abuse of a person by nursing home or hospital, call the Department of Public Health at (800) 462-5540. Call 911 or local police if you have an emergency or life-threatening situation.
  • The Green Book Online: A resource guide to programs and services for older adults and persons with disabilities. You can request a print version as well, or check it out from the library.
  • Medicare – The official US government site for the Medicare program. Manage and learn about your coverage and options online.
  • UCLA Health Guided Meditations – For a free introduction to mindfulness meditation that you can practice on your own, stream or download the guided meditations recorded by UCLA MARC’s Director of Mindfulness Education, Diana Winston.

Housing Assistance:

  • Chelmsford Housing Authority – The Chelmsford Housing Authority is dedicated to meeting the needs of the elderly, disabled, and families in need of affordable housing. Supportive services tailored to the needs of each group are considered of the utmost importance.
  • Homeowner Options for Massachusetts Elders (H.O.M.E.) – (phone: 1-800-583-5337) Provides comprehensive in-home counseling to low/moderate income elder homeowners on financial home ownership issues to enable successful aging-in-place. Services include: remainder of life planning, budgeting, income maximization, equity conservation, foreclosure prevention, consumer protection, and creative financial options crafted specially for seniors.
  • Massachusetts Certified Assisted Living Residences – List of certified assisted-living facilities in MA, from the Executive Office of Elder Affairs
  • MASeniorCare.org – Information on senior care resources in Massachusetts, including a facility finder
  • Medline Plus: Assisted Living – Assisted Living basics, research and statistics, and tools to find a facility, from Medline Plus

Legal Assistance:

  • Attorney General’s Elder Hotline 1-888-243-5337 (TTY: 617-727-4765) – The Elder Hotline is available to callers Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The hotline, which is staffed by senior volunteers, provides dispute resolution services and is a comprehensive resource for information and referral on a full range of concerns. Common concerns include: Debt and debt collection practices, Health insurance, Home improvement, Landlord/tenant issues, Long-term care insurance, Scam awareness, and Telemarketing.
  • MA FreeLegalAnswers.org – Anyone who qualifies for this service can ask volunteer attorneys a specific question about your civil legal issue
  • Mass Senior Legal Helpline – (phone: 800-342-5297) The helpline is for people 60 years or older in need of legal help. They provide free legal help and referral services. The helpline is available Mon-Fri from 9AM-12PM.

Research and Learning Resources:

  • Genealogy Resources – Chelmsford Public Library’s subject guide and resource list for genealogical research.
  • Goodwill Community Foundation Learn Free – Self-paced tutorials for learning everyday life skills, Basic Math, Computers, Mobile Apps, Reading, and much more
  • News & Media Evaluation – Chelmsford Public Library’s guide to evaluating bias and false reporting, including fake news, so that you can make informed decisions.
  • TechBoomers – Free articles that teach people how to use technology to make their lives easier (and more fun!)