Elder Services of Berkshire County

66 Wendell Avenue
Pittsfield, MA 01201

phone: 413.499.0524
fax: 413.442.6443
email: esbc@esbci.org
web: www.esbci.org

Elder ServicesÂ’ goal is to provide Berkshire elders, individuals with disabilities, and caregivers the opportunity to live with dignity, independence, and self-determination, and to achieve the highest possible quality of life.

Established in 1974, Elder Services is a federally designated Area Agency on Aging and a Massachusetts Aging Services Access Point (ASAP). Elder ServicesÂ’ 110 staff and over 450 volunteers together serve more than 10,000 Berkshire elders, disabled individuals and caregivers annually.

Elder Services offers a wide array of programs, including Meals on Wheels and Home Care services, which together serve more than 1,500 elders a month. Other programs offered by Elder Services include Adult Family Care and Group Adult Foster Care, Caregiver Support, Enhanced Elder Intervention, Information and Referral, Long-Term-Care Ombudsman, Money Management, Nursing Home Screening, Personal Care Assistance, Protective Services, and SHINE (Serving the Health Information Needs of Elders) counseling. Volunteers also bring elders to doctorÂ’s appointments, do grocery shopping, and provide companionship. Elder Services produces a monthly newspaper, Berkshire Senior, with a circulation of 10,500. Local community access cable TV broadcasts two Berkshire Senior TV shows each month, hosted by Elder ServicesÂ’ staff.

Elder Services periodically assesses the needs of the county’s older persons, and then works to develop responsive services.

To provide coordinated services to Berkshire elders, Elder Services collaborates with local Councils on Aging, senior centers, certified home health agencies, adult day health and social day care programs, mental health agencies, long term care facilities, and the two county health systems.