Affordable Senior Housing in Rural Massachusetts - Gaps and Solutions to Improve Services and Supports for Residents

Sep 29, 2026

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Fallon Health, a managed care organization delivering the Senior Care Options (SCO) program in Massachusetts, received an Executive Office of Health and Human Services grant to evaluate and improve supportive services in affordable rural senior housing. With Acumen and LeadingAge, the team assessed 11 properties using resident surveys (N=327) and focus groups involving property managers (N=6) and resident service coordinators (RSCs) (N=5). Results show aging-inappropriate infrastructure, prevalent hypertension and arthritis, mental health and loneliness risks, and limited on-site RSC capacity, with staffing and assessment inconsistencies plus weak community provider partnerships. Recommendations target expanded RSC presence, periodic needs assessments, stronger community partnerships, targeted Medicaid/state funding, and reinforcement of the Fallon Health Navigator model to improve well-being and support aging in place.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Background and Purpose

Evaluation Methods and Sample

Key Findings

Recommendations and Implementation Options

Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 831 Abstract citation ID: igaf122.2818 AFFORDABLE SENIOR HOUSING IN RURAL MASSACHUSETTS – GAPS AND SOLUTIONS TO IMPROVE SERVICES AND SUPPORTS FOR RESIDENTS Natasha Bryant1, Steve Kalter2, Robyn Stone1, and Peter Atkins3, 1. LeadingAge, Washington, District of Columbia, United States, 2. Acumen Marketing Research, Inc., Groton, Massachusetts, United States, 3. Fallon Health, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States Fallon Health, a managed care organization offering the Senior Care Options (SCO) program in Massachusetts, received a grant from the Executive Office of Health and Human Services to assess and improve supportive services in affordable senior housing in a rural part of the state. Partnering with Acumen and LeadingAge, the team conducted an evaluation of 11 properties through resident surveys (N = 327) and focus groups with property managers (N = 6) and resident service coordinators (RSCs)(N = 5). Findings revealed that most properties have operated for over 20 years and lack infrastructure suited for aging residents. Common health conditions include hypertension and arthritis, with half of residents at risk for depression and a quarter for loneliness. Social engagement is moderate. Residents most often require housekeeping and transportation assistance. While nearly all properties employ RSCs, their on-site presence is limited to adequately address resident needs. Other key challenges include RSC staffing, inconsistent assessments, and a lack of community-based service providers with whom to partner. Recommendations include increasing RSC presence, conducting periodic needs assessments to address resident needs, and strengthening community partnerships to coordinate service delivery, care integration and transportation. Massachusetts should explore using targeted Medicaid and state funds to build RSC capacity, incentivize health and social service providers to team with housing organizations and expand telehealth services. The Fallon Health Navigator program, embedded in these sites, should be strengthened and serve as a model for other SCOs. The solutions could improve the well-being of affordable housing residents and support their ability to age in place.

FAQs

What was the purpose of the Fallon Health grant in Massachusetts senior housing?

To assess and improve supportive services in affordable senior housing within a rural area of the state, specifically for residents’ needs and service gaps.

How was the evaluation conducted across the 11 senior housing properties?

Through resident surveys (N=327) and focus groups with property managers (N=6) and resident service coordinators (RSCs) (N=5).

What main service gaps and staffing challenges were identified?

Properties lacked aging-appropriate infrastructure, RSC on-site presence was limited, and challenges included RSC staffing constraints, inconsistent needs assessments, and insufficient community-based service provider partnerships.

Sep 29, 2026

Upload by Kyle