Boston Senior Home Care Expands Caregiving Programs and Supports for Kinship Families

Boston Senior Home Care Expands Caregiving
Programs and Supports for Kinship Families

BOSTON (December 16, 2024) – Boston Senior Home Care, a trusted provider of home- and community-based services and supports for older adults, people with disabilities, and their caregivers in the city of Boston, has expanded its services by continuing the operations of the KINnections program, a hub for information and resources for kinship caregivers, which includes grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other relatives who step in to raise children in their family. Boston Senior Home Care has assumed management of the KINnections program following the strategic decision of the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (MSPCC) to transition the program name after 25 successful years.

“Boston Senior Home Care is honored to continue the important work of the KINnections program,” said Margaret Hogan, Chief Executive Officer of Boston Senior Home Care. “When family members open their hearts and homes to children in need, they deserve all the support we can give. Through our Caregiver Solutions and KINnections programs, we stand beside kinship caregivers every step of the way, helping them nurture the precious bonds that make a family strong.”

As Boston Senior Home Care assumes leadership of the KINnections program, the need for kinship caregiver support continues to grow. According to data from grandfamilies.org, in Massachusetts, more than 114,000 children live in homes where a relative is the head of household. Family members often step in as caregivers due to circumstances including parental substance use, incarceration, and mental health challenges.

Through its Caregiver Solutions Program, Boston Senior Home Care is operating the KINnections program support groups, which are offered through virtual and in-person modalities. These groups provide flexible options for caregivers to connect with peers. Participants can share experiences and resources, find emotional support, and build community with others in similar situations.

“Caregiving enriches lives across all generations, from supporting older adults and people with disabilities to nurturing children within extended families. By welcoming the KINnections program to our services, we’re expanding our ability to meet the diverse needs of kinship families,” said Alicia Gomez, Chief Operations Officer of Boston Senior Home Care. “Our goal is to empower them with the tools, support, and resources they need to continue providing exceptional care while prioritizing their own wellbeing.”

In addition to support groups, the KINnections program also provides:

  • Comprehensive Resources and Assistance – Information on critical services, such as housing, food, transportation, legal aid, and health care
  • Respite Care Supports – Programs to support caregiver respite, including access to community-based after-school programs and camps
  • Caregiver Education Programs – Tailored resources on topics like child development, mental health, and positive parenting strategies

Program support through care captains, resource sharing, and connections will remain the same under Boston Senior Home Care’s management.

“MSPCC is pleased that the important work of KINnections will be in the capable and caring hands of Boston Senior Home Care. Caregivers in the Boston area will be well served by this wonderful and effective organization,” said Nancy Allen-Scannell, Executive Director of MSPCC.

To learn more about the Boston Senior Home Care KINnections program, visit bshcinfo.org.

About Boston Senior Home Care and KINnections:

About Boston Senior Home Care: Boston Senior Home Care (BSHC) is a private, nonprofit human services agency based in Boston. Since 1974, it has been dedicated to making a difference by connecting older adults and individuals with disabilities with social services and resources to live independently. BSHC also provides support and guidance to caregivers by helping them care for their loved ones while focusing on their self-care needs. For more information, visit bshcinfo.org.

About KINnections: The KINnections Program connects grandparents and relatives raising children to a variety of resources, information & activities in their community that support and strengthen families. KINnections provides a comprehensive array of support services. Since 1974, it has been dedicated to making a difference in the communities it serves by connecting older adults, individuals with disabilities, and families with social services and resources to live safely and independently in their homes and communities.

About the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (MSPCC): MSPCC’s comprehensive array of programs and services includes child abuse prevention and intervention programs, mental health treatment, and adoptive and foster care support. Services are provided both in the home and through community-based locations across the state of Massachusetts. In addition, MSPCC is dedicated to protecting and promoting the rights and well-being of children and families and advocating for laws on their behalf. See more at www.mspcc.org.

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Scam Prevention for Older Adults

Experiencing fraud, identity theft, or scams can be devastating to older adults. And as scams continuously grow and evolve in the modern day, older adults are often increasingly vulnerable to newer forms. In 2024, the Federal Trade Commission reported that as compared to people in their 30s who lose an average of $415 per scam, people 80 years and older lose an average of $1,360 per scam – more than three times the amount.

If you’re an older adult or caring for one, the prospect of fraud and scams may seem frightening. But by understanding the most popular types of scams, you can help protect yourself and your loved ones from being defrauded. Let’s explore three of the most common scams targeting older adults, and the steps you can take to prevent them. 

AI Impersonation Scams

Though AI-powered tools are powerful, they can be dangerous in the hands of bad actors. Using pictures available online, scammers can now create AI-generated pictures of other people, called deepfakes. With a bit of research, scammers can even impersonate loved ones’ voices and have real-time conversations with older adults to manipulate them into parting with their money, a tool known as a voice clone.

Here are a few common AI-powered impersonations to look out for:

  • A loved one who has been arrested or in an accident and needs money immediately
  • A celebrity or community leader looking for donations
  • Someone from an online dating service who reminds you of a former spouse or partner and requests money or personal financial information

A common trend is that the scammer will usually try to obtain money as quickly as possible, whether by asking for your bank information or by sending an agent to pick up cash in person. Though you may be panicking over a potential family emergency or want to help someone as soon as possible, be sure to always take a moment to pause, think, and reach out to other trusted people to confirm information before reaching for your wallet. Taking a moment to call your loved one at their proper phone number could reveal that they’re perfectly fine.

Additionally, you might consider setting up “codewords” between your family members to verify their identity during phone calls. Even if a caller uses a voice clone to impersonate a loved one, they wouldn’t know your secret password, allowing you to stop a scam call in its tracks.

Medicare Scams

Medicare is an important federal program that provides health insurance to millions of Americans. However, it’s also a potential avenue for scammers to steal your personal information, or deceive you with falsely advertised medical supplies.

In a Medicare scam, the caller may use a phone spoofer to present themselves using a legitimate Medicare phone number, and claim you need to:

  • Sign up for a new insurance plan
  • Purchase new medical equipment
  • Replace your Medicare card

During the course of the phone call, the scammer will then ask for your Medicare account number and a variety of other personal information, which they can then use to commit identity fraud or drain your bank account.

You can protect yourself from Medicare-based scams by never giving your personal information to people who call you first, no matter who they claim to be. Remember – Medicare will never call you to ask for your personal information, and will not cancel service without any prior warning.

Check Cooking

Older adults are more likely than younger generations to use physical checks to pay bills or give donations. And while check forgery is as old as checks themselves, new digital tools have given rise to enhanced forms of counterfeiting.

In check cooking, scammers use photo editing software to manipulate a photo of a physical check to create a new check with a different check number, recipient, and amount. The new counterfeit check will have all the watermarks of a real check, allowing scammers to write checks in the victim’s name.

Luckily, scammers still need a photo of a real check to create a forgery. To prevent check cooking scams, reduce the opportunities for scammers to steal a check by having your checks delivered the post office instead of your mailbox. Alternatively, consider setting up online payments for utility bills or donations.

What Should I Do?

In today’s rapidly changing world, it’s unrealistic to expect older adults to keep on top of every emerging scam. That’s why it the responsibility often rests on family, friends, and the community to remain vigilant against scams targeting older adults and educate them on how to protect themselves. This Older Americans Month, we encourage you to take these tips we’ve presented to heart and to stay in touch with the older adults in your life to ensure they’re safe. With protection powered by connection, we can make a safer community and society for older adults.

To learn more about older adult scam prevention or to report a scam, contact the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office.

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