Elder Services of Berkshire County

What Elder Services of Berkshire County does

Elder Services of Berkshire County, Inc. (ESBCI) is a private, non-profit Aging Services Access Point (ASAP) and Area Agency on Aging (AAA) that has held an exclusive service-coordination franchise for all of Berkshire County, Massachusetts since 1974. The organization, headquartered at 73 South Church Street in Pittsfield, operates as the single point of entry for federally-funded Older Americans Act services, Massachusetts Executive Office of Aging & Independence programming, MassHealth/Medicaid in-home supports, and a broad portfolio of community-based aging services. ESBCI serves seniors 60+, adults with disabilities (22+), family caregivers, dual-eligible Medicare/MassHealth members, and grandparents raising grandchildren across 32 municipalities. Lead leadership consists of Executive Director Christopher McLaughlin, Client Services Director Maureen Tuggey, Fiscal Director Mark Kim, and Community Services Director Lisa Jamros.

The service portfolio includes Meals on Wheels (~950 meals/day prepared in ESBCI's own commercial kitchen in Lanesborough, totaling 220,000+ annually), a 14-site congregate senior dining program (45,000+ meals annually), the SHINE Medicare counseling program, the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program covering all 13 nursing homes in the county, in-home supports (homemaker, personal care, chore, companion, medication management, personal emergency response), MA Family Caregiver Support Program with sliding-scale respite, Behavioral Health Outreach for Aging Populations, Options Counseling, Money Management, Community Transition Liaison Program, Enhanced Housing Programs at three sites (Providence Court with Pittsfield Housing Authority; Crossway Village and Crossway Tower with Berkshire Housing Authority and Town of Lee), and a Clinical Assessment and Eligibility function for MassHealth nursing-home pre-screening. Content channels include the bimonthly Berkshire Senior News reaching 11,000+ households and Berkshire Senior TV on local cable access. No proprietary technology platform or AI/ML capability is disclosed; the technology stack consists of standard case management systems, PERS/PERS-like devices, medication dispensers, and video production equipment.

The revenue model is predominantly government grant and Medicaid reimbursement: primary funding flows from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Aging & Independence (which regulates ESBCI's ASAP designation), Older Americans Act Title III federal pass-through, and MassHealth reimbursements for in-home services and CAE assessments. Elder Services also embeds Geriatric Support Services Coordinators with Fallon Health's Navicare SCO plan (the only Senior Care Options plan in Berkshire County) and Long Term Support Services Coordinators with Commonwealth Care Alliance's One Care plan (the county's only One Care plan), performing dual-eligible care coordination. Private donations, grants, and corporate giving (including Stop & Shop's Bloomin' 4 Good Program) fill gaps. Many community-based programs are free (SHINE, Matter of Balance, caregiver support groups); home-care is no-cost or sliding-scale based on income per EOEA guidelines, with MassHealth members not charged. Pricing for senior dining centers is a suggested $3 voluntary donation per meal.

Name

Elder Services of Berkshire County

Legal name

Elder Services of Berkshire County, Inc.

Website

https://esbci.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Elder Services of Berkshire County is a non-profit Aging Services Access Point designated by Massachusetts to coordinate in-home supports, Meals on Wheels, Medicare counseling, caregiver services, and nursing-home advocacy for seniors and disabled adults across 32 Berkshire County municipalities since 1974.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aging services / senior care

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Home Health Care Services (8082)

akta.pro primary industry

Elder Services & Aging Support (BPAGAEAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Housing & Placement Coordination (Assisted Living, Memory Care, SNF) (HSABAIAL), Community-Based Senior Centers with Adult Day Services (HLADAIAJ), Chronic Care & Complex Care Management (HSABAIAD)

Keywords

• Senior in-home services
• Aging services access
• Meals on Wheels
• Medicare SHINE counseling
• Long-term care ombudsman

Headquarters

HQ city

Pittsfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Funding (EOEA): Primary funding from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Aging & Independence, which regulates and funds the organization as an Aging Services Access Point.
2. Older Americans Act (Title III): Federal funding through Title III of the Older Americans Act enables subgrants to local organizations and supports various senior services.
3. MassHealth/Medicaid Reimbursement: Medicaid recipients receive services through MassHealth coverage, with the organization serving as the Clinical Assessment and Eligibility (CAE) designated authority for nursing home admissions and home-based programs.
4. Donations and Grants: Private donations and grants fill funding gaps to support programs beyond what government funding covers. The organization accepts cash and non-cash gifts including vehicles, jewelry, and electronics through iDonate.
5. Client Cost Sharing (Sliding Scale): Home care services may be cost-shared on a sliding fee scale based on income. MassHealth members are not charged fees; otherwise, seniors pay based on annual gross income by family size.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Elder Services of Berkshire County is the designated Aging Services Access Point (ASAP) and Area Agency on Aging (AAA) for all of Berkshire County, Massachusetts. It delivers a coordinated portfolio of senior services to enable older adults and individuals with disabilities to live independently in the community, including Meals on Wheels (~220,000 delivered annually) and congregate dining at 14 senior meal sites, In-Home Supports (homemaker, personal care, medication management, respite), Clinical Assessment & Eligibility for MassHealth, SHINE Medicare counseling, Long Term Care Ombudsman advocacy across 13 nursing homes, Options Counseling, Money Management, Family Caregiver Support, Behavioral Health Outreach, Enhanced Housing Programs, and Information & Referral.

Product overview

Elder Services of Berkshire County operates as a comprehensive Aging Services Access Point (ASAP) and Area Agency on Aging (AAA), offering a coordinated portfolio of senior services rather than a single software product. The organization's offerings center around core in-home and community-based services including Meals on Wheels and Senior Meal Programs for nutrition support; SHINE Program for Medicare counseling; In-Home Supports providing chore service, companion care, homemaking, personal care, medication management, and emergency response; and Long Term Care Ombudsman services for nursing home advocacy. Additional offerings include Options Counseling, Money Management, MA Family Caregiver Support Program, Behavioral Health Outreach, Enhanced Housing Programs, Community Transition Liaison Program, and Information & Referral services. The organization also publishes Berkshire Senior TV (television programming) and Berkshire Senior News (bi-monthly newspaper reaching 11,000+ homes), and partners with Senior Care Options and One Care for integrated healthcare coordination. All services are designed to help seniors and individuals with disabilities live with dignity, independence, and self-determination at home or in the community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Meals on Wheels Program Home-delivered meal program providing nutritious hot meals on weekdays to isolated, frail, and homebound elders in Berkshire County, with frozen meal options available for weekends. All meals are cooked with no added salt, with sugar-free desserts for diabetic clients and Lactaid milk for lactose-intolerant clients.
• Senior Meal Program Congregate dining program providing nutritious hot meals at 14 senior lunch sites throughout Berkshire County, often combined with recreational and educational activities and guest speakers. A suggested voluntary donation of $3.00/meal is requested.
• SHINE Program (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Everyone) Free health insurance counseling program providing Medicare beneficiaries with information on Medicare A and B, Medicare Advantage, Prescription Drug Coverage (Part D), Medigap, Prescription Advantage, MassHealth, and other programs helping people with limited resources manage healthcare costs.
• Options Counseling Free counseling service for seniors and adults with disabilities providing unbiased information and support for long-term planning decisions including housing, benefits, long-term care, and community supports through a person-centered approach.
• Money Management Program Free financial assistance program helping seniors and individuals with disabilities manage household finances including sorting mail, preparing checks, balancing checkbooks, and establishing workable budgets while participants maintain control over their own finances.
• Long Term Care Ombudsman Program Advocacy program providing weekly visits to nursing home residents to advocate for and enhance their quality of life, addressing concerns about rights, loss of personal items, conflicts with staff, and facility policies. Services for 13 nursing homes in Berkshire County.
• MA Family Caregiver Support Program Free program providing one-on-one support, group supports, education, and training to caregivers of disabled or senior family members and grandparents raising grandchildren, including respite services on a sliding scale.
• In-Home Supports Comprehensive array of in-home services including chore service, companion, home-delivered meals, homemaking, medication management, personal care/home health aide, personal emergency response, social day care, transportation services, and respite care designed to enable elders and disabled adults to remain independent at home. More than 1,000 elders receive in-home services each month.
• Clinical Assessment and Eligibility (CAE) MassHealth-designated clinical eligibility determination service for nursing home admissions and home and community-based programs, conducted by registered nurses who assess impairment levels and determine service requirements in collaboration with case managers.
• Community Transition Liaison Program Program assisting nursing facility residents 22 years and older in transitioning back to community living, helping with housing applications, public benefits, and coordinating with state and community agencies.
• Behavioral Health Outreach for Aging Populations Free behavioral health support program for individuals 60 years and older experiencing anxiety, depression, grief, isolation, unresolved trauma, and substance overuse. Services include 1:1 counseling, help securing benefits, support groups, and caregiver support.
• Enhanced Housing Programs Supportive housing programs including Providence Court (collaboration with Pittsfield Housing Authority) and Crossway Village & Crossway Tower (collaboration with Berkshire Housing Authority and Town of Lee), providing on-site services that promote independence and aging in place.
• Information & Referral Comprehensive information resource department connecting callers with resources on home care services, public benefits, housing options, transportation, nutrition, and more through knowledgeable I&R specialists accessing a large resource database. Available Monday-Friday 8AM-5PM.
• Senior Care Options (SCO) Coordination Comprehensive health plan coordination covering all Medicare and MassHealth services through a senior care organization network. Geriatric Support Services Coordinators work with Fallon's Navicare to provide coordinated care and specialized geriatric support services with no copays.
• One Care Coordination Comprehensive health insurance plan coordination covering all MassHealth and Medicare benefits plus wide-ranging in-home and community support services for disabled adults. Long Term Support Services Coordinators work with Commonwealth Care Alliance.

Quantifiable outcome

• 200+ volunteers serve 3,600+ elders annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Councils on Aging (32 cities/towns)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormal partnership with Councils on Aging across all 32 municipalities in Berkshire County. COAs serve as local referral sources, co-location sites for services, and coordination partners for senior programming. The organization is mandated to have 50%+ of Board members appointed by local COAs.
• Stop & ShopminorGTM or Marketing PartnerStop & Shop's Bloomin' 4 Good Program directs donations to Elder Services' Meals on Wheels program. In October 2024, the purchase of marked bouquets at the Pittsfield location generated $1 donations per bouquet to support meal services.
• Pittsfield Housing AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration to provide Supportive Housing at Providence Court, offering on-site services promoting independence for seniors. Elder Services provides residential coordinators, meal services, and personal care attendants at the facility.
• Berkshire Housing AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Crossway Village and Crossway Tower housing developments in Lee, providing on-site services to residents aged 62+ through HUD 202/PRAC projects.
• Town of LeecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for Crossway Village and Crossway Tower, with the Lee Council on Aging located on-site at these senior housing facilities.
• Fallon Health (Navicare)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerElder Services Geriatric Support Services Coordinators work with Fallon's Navicare Senior Care Options plan, the only SCO plan available to older adults in Berkshire County, providing care coordination for dual-eligible members.
• Commonwealth Care Alliance (CCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong Term Support Services Coordinators employed by Elder Services work with CCA's One Care plan, Berkshire County's only One Care plan, providing service coordination for disabled adults ages 21-64.
• Berkshire Veterans Outreach CenterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLenco Armored Vehicles partnered with the Berkshire Veterans Outreach Center to help launch a new website. Elder Services refers veterans to the Veterans Outreach Center for benefits and services.
• Local Skilled Nursing Facilities (13 nursing homes)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Community Transition Liaison Program assigns dedicated staff to each skilled nursing facility in Berkshire County to assist residents aged 22+ in transitioning back to community living.
• Approved Home Health AgenciescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorElder Services contracts with local approved homecare vendors whose employees provide direct services (homemaker, personal care, etc.) to seniors in their homes. Elder Services conducts assessments and coordination but does not employ direct care workers.
• United WayminorGTM or Marketing PartnerUnited Way partnership indicated through logo placement on website footer, suggesting referral or funding relationship.
• 800 Age InfominorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with 800 Age Info professional resource network, indicated through logo on website.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley: Designated ASAP/AAA serving the Merrimack Valley region of Massachusetts with the same Meals on Wheels, in-home supports, caregiver support, and case management mandate as ESBCI. Operates the same nonprofit, government-funded, ASAP-anchored model in a different county.
• BayPath Elder Services: Massachusetts ASAP/AAA providing in-home services, nutrition, caregiver support, and protective services to seniors in the MetroWest region. Direct comparable in service portfolio, regulatory framework, and funding model to ESBCI.
• Minuteman Senior Services: ASAP/AAA serving the Minuteman area of Massachusetts, delivering the same comprehensive aging services including home care, nutrition, ombudsman, and family caregiver support under the same state-designated model.
• AgeSpan: Formerly ElderCare Solutions of Greater Lynn; designated ASAP/AAA serving seniors and adults with disabilities in the North Shore region with Meals on Wheels, in-home supports, caregiver resources, and SCO/One Care coordination matching ESBCI's offerings.
• Springwell: Massachusetts ASAP/AAA serving MetroWest communities with in-home care, nutrition programs, caregiver support, and case management. Closely mirrors ESBCI's portfolio under the same EOEA regulatory framework.
• Old Colony Elder Services: Designated ASAP/AAA serving Plymouth County and surrounding communities, delivering nutrition, home care, protective services, and caregiver support — a direct functional and regulatory peer to ESBCI.
• Coastline Elderly Services: ASAP/AAA serving the South Coast region of Massachusetts with the same ASAP-anchored portfolio of nutrition, in-home care, caregiver support, and protective services as ESBCI.
• HESSCO Elder Services: Designated ASAP/AAA serving South Shore Massachusetts, providing in-home services, Meals on Wheels, caregiver support, and information/referral. Directly comparable in mission, regulatory designation, and service mix.

Broad incumbents

• Mass Home Care: Statewide association representing Massachusetts ASAPs and home care corporations. Provides policy advocacy, training, and coordination across the same ASAP network ESBCI operates within, making it a broad incumbent ecosystem participant.
• National Council on Aging: National nonprofit advocating for older adults and supporting the Area Agency on Aging network. Operates adjacent programs (benefits enrollment, falls prevention, chronic disease self-management) that overlap with ESBCI's SHINE and caregiver support work at a national scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/berkshiresenior
• Facebookfacebook.com/BerkshireSenior
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/elder-services-of-berkshire-county-inc-

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Elder Services of Berkshire County