Anyone know how to receive assistance with assisted living and/or hospice in Massachusetts?
A good friend of mine is a Veteran, and is eligible for paid assisted living and rides to and from treatments for stage 3B lung cancer only if he lives farther than 50 miles away from the VA assisted living in Jamaica Plain, Boston, and he lives 36 miles away. He is presently receiving rides from the American Cancer Foundation volunteers.
He says he feels so awful already he can't deal with a 72 mile commute every single day, and he says even if he could, he can't stay alone at his own home.
He says he would refuse to stay at Jamaica Plain anyway, because the place is like a barracks and stinks of cigarette smoke.
He is no longer in treatment at the VA because of a malpractice issue, and is receiving treatment at Dana Farber in Boston.
He is confused, and is giving me conflicting information. He told me that if he received treatments 5 consecutive days, the American Cancer Foundation would put him up at a hotel and pay for it, so it sounded like he was all set.
Tonight he told me that he misheard the message on his answering machine, and they will NOT have a room for him in Boston, because there is a waiting list.
The nurse at Dana Farber told him that even if they did have a room, he would be so sick from the treatments he would not be able to stay there alone, and that he is going to need specialized care.
I am going to be doing some research on this tomorrow, and I will try to make some phone calls for him, but I would appreciate any recommendations about who to call.
In addition to his veterans benefits, he has Medicare and Blue Cross Blue Shield as a supplemental insurance.
He says he feels so awful already he can't deal with a 72 mile commute every single day, and he says even if he could, he can't stay alone at his own home.
He says he would refuse to stay at Jamaica Plain anyway, because the place is like a barracks and stinks of cigarette smoke.
He is no longer in treatment at the VA because of a malpractice issue, and is receiving treatment at Dana Farber in Boston.
He is confused, and is giving me conflicting information. He told me that if he received treatments 5 consecutive days, the American Cancer Foundation would put him up at a hotel and pay for it, so it sounded like he was all set.
Tonight he told me that he misheard the message on his answering machine, and they will NOT have a room for him in Boston, because there is a waiting list.
The nurse at Dana Farber told him that even if they did have a room, he would be so sick from the treatments he would not be able to stay there alone, and that he is going to need specialized care.
I am going to be doing some research on this tomorrow, and I will try to make some phone calls for him, but I would appreciate any recommendations about who to call.
In addition to his veterans benefits, he has Medicare and Blue Cross Blue Shield as a supplemental insurance.
