If you’re over 60 and living in Acton — or you have a parent, neighbor, or friend who is — there’s a chance you haven’t yet heard of Minuteman Senior Services. That’s exactly the problem the organization wants to fix.
“Know Us Before You Need Us” is more than a tagline. It’s an invitation — and, increasingly, a practical necessity as more Acton residents navigate the realities of aging at home.
According to the 2020 Census, there are 5,419 residents aged 60 or older living right here in Acton. Many of them, and many of their families, may not know that a wide range of free and low-cost services is already available to them.
Kelly Magee Wright, Executive Director of Minuteman Senior Services, says, “Navigating aging and disability can be a complicated, isolated journey, leaving individuals unsure where to turn for assistance. Minuteman seeks to help older adults, people with disabilities, and family caregivers in Acton by providing information and services that help individuals achieve their personal goals. Our aim is to help individuals become more empowered to take on challenges they may encounter along the way.”
A half-century of service, right next door
Minuteman Senior Services has been working quietly in the background for more than 50 years. It’s a nonprofit organization based in Burlington, Massachusetts, that serves 16 communities across the region — including Acton — with a $47 million budget and a team of more than 130 employees backed by 400-plus volunteers.
The organization’s mission is straightforward but profound: enhance the health, well-being, and independence of people of diverse backgrounds as they navigate aging and disability, providing support that empowers them to live with meaning, choice, and dignity.
Each year, Minuteman serves approximately 11,000 unique individuals across its service area through more than 20 programs, delivering over 270,000 meals through Meals on Wheels alone.
One Phone Call Opens the Door
For Acton residents who aren’t sure where to start, the answer is simple: call 888-222-6171. This is Minuteman’s information and referral line, staffed by people whose job is to listen, offer free and unbiased information, and connect you to the right services.
Whether you’re managing a chronic condition, worried about a parent living alone, or simply want to plan ahead, this single call can open the door to a wide range of support, from home care and meal delivery to caregiver assistance and legal services.
The service is available to anyone 60 or older in Acton. Caregiver Support and Options Counseling are available to adults 18 and older. And thanks to professional interpreter services covering more than 41 languages, the help is accessible regardless of the language you speak at home.
What services are actually available?
The breadth of Minuteman’s programs may surprise you. Services fall into several categories:
- In-Home Services: Care managers help coordinate State Home Care (SHC) and Senior Care Options (SCO), working with a network of more than 75 state-approved vendor contractors to deliver personal care (bathing, dressing, medication reminders), homemaker assistance (grocery shopping, light housekeeping, meal preparation), nursing services, adult day health, and more.
- Meals and Nutrition: Meals on Wheels delivers more than 270,000 meals annually across the service area, with nutrition consultations also available for those who need them.
- Community Programs: Senior Dining programs are offered in collaboration with local councils on aging. SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Everyone) counselors help make sense of Medicare and insurance options. Legal services are available through AAA grant funding. And a robust set of evidence-based Healthy Living programs, open to adults 18 and older, covers fall prevention, chronic disease management, and family caregiver wellness.
- Nursing Home Support: For families navigating nursing home placement, Minuteman’s Ombudsman program advocates for residents’ rights across 14 nursing facilities, conducting more than 11,000 annual visits.
In addition, programs such as Money Management, Supportive Housing (in Arlington, Concord, and Stow), Protective Services, and Care Transitions Liaison services round out an offering that is among the most comprehensive in the state.
Who needs these services? Probably more people than you’d think.
Statewide data from 2023 offers a sobering picture of the population Minuteman serves: nearly 69,000 older residents and people with disabilities received State Home Care services. The average age was 80. More than half lived alone. The average household income was $26,582, and one in three qualified for nursing home level of care — yet remained living in the community, often because of services like those Minuteman provides.
The typical consumer remained in their home for just under three years after beginning services — time that, for many, means the difference between remaining in their community and moving into institutional care.
There is, however, a caveat worth noting: a workforce shortage affects in-home care services throughout the region, at hospitals and nursing homes alike. Minuteman is navigating this reality, as are all senior care services. Families planning ahead are encouraged to make contact sooner rather than later.
What Can Acton Residents Do Right Now?
Minuteman encourages residents not to wait for a crisis. There are practical steps anyone can take today:
- Call 888-222-6171 to learn what resources are available.
- Complete or update Advance Care Directives at honoringchoicesmass.com.
- Register for a Healthy Living class to better manage chronic conditions.
- Ask your doctor about scheduling a home safety assessment with an occupational therapist.
- Connect with your local Council on Aging, which works closely with Minuteman.
- Volunteer or donate at minutemansenior.org to help support programs in your own community.
Aging is something most of us would rather not think about until we have to. But planning ahead and building support networks before a crisis arrives helps residents maintain independence and stay in their homes longer.
Minuteman Senior Services has been doing this work for more than 50 years. For Acton’s 5,400-plus residents aged 60 and over, and for all their families, it’s worth knowing they exist.
Contacting Minuteman Senior Services
Phone: 888-222-6171
Email: elderinfo@minutemansenior.org
Address: One Burlington Woods Drive, Suite 101, Burlington, MA 01803
Greg Jarboe is the Senior Center beat reporter for the Acton Exchange and also writes about a lot more.
