Our History

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.

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.

Nutritional programs both congregate and home delivered meals, are introduced.

Over the next four decades, safety and security initiatives are implemented, providing additional support services and resources to protect older adults.

ESMV hosts first fundraising event, the Golf Classic

Elder Services (AgeSpan) becomes a key player in health care, developing contracts with managed care plans, health systems, and physician offices.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

Rosanne DiStefano retires after a 32-year career at Elder Services and Joan Hatem-Roy takes the reigns to become Chief Executive Officer.

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.

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.

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.

Joan Hatem-Roy is awarded the Excellence in Leadership Award by the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging.

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.