About AgeSpan
Established in 1974, AgeSpan is a private, nonprofit agency that serves as a trusted, impartial resource connecting people of all ages and abilities and their caregivers with impartial information, quality services, and vigorous advocacy. AgeSpan is a Massachusetts Aging Services Access Point (ASAP), an Area Agency on Aging (AAA), and designated Protective Services Provider.
Our Mission:
A future where everyone can choose to live and age well, in communities that support them
Our Vision:
A future where everyone can choose to live and age well, in communities that support them
Our Values:
Respect, Choice and Self-determination, Independence, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Innovation, Impartiality, Compassion, Community, Collaboration
Community Partnerships
Our work to promote health across the lifespan isn’t done in isolation. AgeSpan takes a cross-sector partnership approach, leading networks of organizations to create a full-service/whole person entry point for health-related social needs.
Our collaborations
AgeSpan works in close collaboration with a variety of community networks, including:
- Area Agencies on Aging
- Aging Services Access Points
- Councils on Aging
- Home care providers
- Housing providers
- Food banks
- Transportation vendors
- Benefit enrollment specialists
- Behavioral health providers
- Addiction treatment professionals
- And others
As a network integrator, we have the capacity to work across payers and providers to promote health equity, reduce emergency department visits, and avoid unnecessary healthcare utilization.
Our networks
We are an Area Agency on Aging (AAA), and Aging Service Access Point (ASAP), and a member of Mass Home Care, the nonprofit trade association representing the Commonwealth’s AAA/ASAPs. The 28 members of this coordinated care network deliver home and community-based services to tens of thousands of individuals every day.
Healthy Living Center of Excellence
The Healthy Living Center of Excellence provider network provides evidence-based programs to help adults of all ages manage chronic health conditions and lead healthier lives.
Visit the Healthy Living Center of Excellence Website
Aging and Disability Resource Consortium
This consortium in partnership with Northeast Independent Living (NILP) provides services and assistance to older adults, people with disabilities, families, and caregivers designed to help address long-term care needs so people can continue to live in the community.
Everything we do is focused on empowering people to lead more fulfilling lives as they age. We achieve this through a unique combination of strengths:
Focused on people
We take a whole-person, non-judgmental approach to assessing individual needs. Then we connect consumers and caregivers with information and services to address their needs, with ongoing support.
Connected to the community
Helping people remain active members of the community as they age is at the core of our mission. We maintain close connections to community organizations and healthcare providers, working collaboratively to ensure consumers have the right services at the right time.
Innovative, practical solutions
AgeSpan is known for developing and delivering innovative programs that address unmet needs in creative, new ways. Our approach is evidence-based and focused on meeting the real-world needs of people at every stage of their lives.
Going further to make a difference
We vigorously advocate for seniors, people with disabilities, younger people in need of assistance, and their caregivers. When there’s an urgent or critical need, we go above and beyond to make sure it is met.
The History of AgeSpan
1974-1984
1974-1984
Congress passes the Older Americans Act in 1965, and the Executive Office of Elder Affairs (EOEA) is established in Massachusetts with a mission of creating a State Home Care Program to offer meaningful alternatives to institutional care.
Area Agencies on Aging (AAA’s) are established in 1973 as private nonprofits rather than state agencies to include a 51% representation from consumers ages 60 and over and 51% representation from leaders within the councils on aging.
Community leader, James L. Campbell, of Haverhill, MA, recognizes the need for care of older adults, and convened other leaders and advocates to create Merrimack Valley Home Care, Inc.
1974
First Executive Director for Merrimack Valley Home Care, George “Russ” Moran is hired along with five other staff members.
1976
Merrimack Valley Home Care changes its name to Elder Services of Merrimack Valley, Inc. (ESMV)
1976
North Shore Elder Services is established.
William “Bill” Carney is its first Executive Director.
1982
Mass Home Care is formed with a focus on coordinating public funding for community-based services.
Congregate Housing is introduced as an alternative to long-term placement.
1983
Protective Services is established.
Joan Hatem-Roy becomes the first Protective Service worker in Massachusetts focusing on education and reporting to help older adults experiencing some form of elder abuse.
1984
Rosanne J. DiStefano becomes Executive Director of ESMV and serves in that role for the next 32 years
1984
The mission of the two agencies is to provide older adults and persons of disabilities access to in-home services and community programs that allow them the choice to live safely and as independently as possible in their homes.
1984
Nutritional programs both congregate and home delivered meals, are introduced.
1984
Over the next four decades, safety and security initiatives are implemented, providing additional support services and resources to protect older adults.
1984 – 1994
1986
Janet McAveeney hired as new Executive Director of North Shore Elder Services.
ESMV and NSES play a pivotal role in staff development, including registered nurses that provide the initiative to integrate health and social service programs to keep older adults living in the community longer.
New services established include:
- Respite/Hospital Liaison Programs
- Volunteer Programs to help with transportation, meals, and companionship
- SHINE Program – health benefits counseling to support older adults with their health insurance needs
- Money Management Program – support older adults with basic money management skills
1990
The agency, with about 110 staff at the time, is relocated to the new Riverwalk complex in Lawrence, MA
1994 -2004
1996
ESMV hosts first fundraising event, the Golf Classic
1997
Elder Services of Merrimack Valley and the North Shore (now known as AgeSpan) are designated as an Aging Service Access Point (ASAP), creating a one-stop approach to long-term care.
Core functions included:
- Information & Referral services
- Needs assessment of elders
- Developing care plan to address unmet needs
- Purchasing of service to implement care plan
- Monitoring effectiveness over time
Senior Care Options (SCOs) launch a voluntary Medicare Advantage healthcare plan that combines Medicare and MassHealth benefits to provide a wrap-around package of healthcare and social services. Geriatric Support Services Coordinators work with managed care professionals provide support and advocate for individuals while ensuring they also receive ancillary services such as housing, homemaking, meals, and more.
2000
Congress adds a new addendum to the Older American Act to create a National Family Caregiver Program, defining the population of caregivers as a group worthy of federal funding, services, and resources.
Social Work Licensure Initiatives are developed to increase professional development opportunities for staff.
2004-2014
2004
Elder Services (AgeSpan) becomes a key player in health care, developing contracts with managed care plans, health systems, and physician offices.
2004
Paul Lanzikos becomes Executive Director of North Shore Elder Services for the next 15 years.
2004
Aging and Disability Resource Consortium (ADRC) is created. First in the State ‘no wrong door’ approach to serving individuals, no matter their age.
Elder housing units are built in Chelmsford and Westford working with HUD.
2004
Launch Mobile and community markets in Haverhill, Lawrence, and Tewksbury with community collaborations between The Greater Boston Food Bank, Elder Services, and other food programs to provide supplemental food assistance for individuals who have difficulty paying for groceries.
2004
Healthy Living Center of Excellence is established providing over 16 Stanford University Evidence-Based programs to help adults of all ages manage chronic pain and other health conditions and delivered through a statewide network of community-based organizations.
2004
Care Transitions Counseling Program established to help reduce hospital readmissions and improve quality care.
Massachusetts Senior Medicare Patrol Program (SMP), managed by Elder Services helps reduce Medicare fraud, abuse, and scams.
2011
North Shore Elder Services collaborates with the Rainbow Coalition, Fenway Health, and Salem State University to launch the LGBTQ Elders in an Ever-Changing World Conference advancing the healthy equity work taking place at both agencies.
2012
The North Shore Center for Hoarding & Cluttering at North Shore Elder Services is started by intern Marnie McDonald, MSW, LCSW, a graduate student at Salem State.
Innovation is key for preparing for the needs of future generations of older Americans and as research demonstrates there is an important priority to integrate all of a consumer’s health and social determinants in their plans of home-based care.
2014-2024
2017
Rosanne DiStefano retires after a 32-year career at Elder Services and Joan Hatem-Roy takes the reigns to become Chief Executive Officer.
2017
National Committee for Quality Assurance awards ESMV a three-year accreditation status for our homecare case management program. The accreditation is a “gold standard” and demonstrates to our partners in health care, government, and social services that we are committed to high levels of quality assurance and improvement.
2018
Columbia Gas Explosions rock the communities of Lawrence, Andover, and North Andover. AgeSpan takes a leading role in collaborating with local, state, health, and business leaders to respond to the crisis, especially as it relates to older adults.
2019
Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley and North Shore Elder Services merge, employing a staff of almost 500 diverse employees, enrolling 300 volunteers, and serving a combined 40,000 people in 28 communities with offices in Lawrence and Danvers.
This new venture expands resources and enhances our competitive edge with existing and new funding prospects.
Became an active member of the Lawrence Partnership to strengthen local business relationships and partner on initiatives to better the city.
2020
COVID Pandemic – AgeSpan leads the organizational and community response by pivoting protocols to focus on safety for staff and ensure the uninterrupted delivery of services to older adults, advocacy for vaccine prioritization for older adults and family caregivers, and hosting local vaccine clinics.
AgeSpan is recognized nationally by the American Society on Aging, US Aging, the federal Administration for Community Living, and others as a nationwide expert on aligning social supports with health care to address the social determinants of health.
2021
Rebranded to AgeSpan – This decision reflects the agency’s focus on healthy aging across all communities and ages, increased geographic presence, and service delivery expansion.
2021
Joan Hatem-Roy is awarded the Excellence in Leadership Award by the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging.
2023
Grant funding allowed AgeSpan to partner with local restaurants for a pilot restaurant program in Lawrence and Lowell aimed at reducing social isolation while enjoying a culturally appropriate nutritious meal.
2023
Garnered support for digital access programs to improve health equity of those we serve.
2024
AgeSpan celebrates 50 years of service by celebrating the Power, Value, and Voices of Older Adults
2024
Looking ahead, AgeSpan will continue to be a thought leader and innovator to find new and creative ways to support individual choice. Leadership will pioneer, explore, and initiate programs, services, and resources to help ensure older adults, families, individuals with disabilities, and caregivers have the support they need to live safely and with dignity in their own homes and communities. And protect what all of us work a lifetime to achieve and keep – our independence.
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