Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services

06/11/2026

“They help me feel alive.”

Behavioral Health Outreach for Aging Populations (BHOAP) programs across offer in-depth assessments, care coordination, and more for – often in their own homes.

BHOAP teams allow older adults to receive care in a way that reduces barriers and meets them where they are – setting goals and maintaining quality of life and connection. Learn more about this life-saving program:

A life raft, a rescue operation, a source of hope - the BHOAP progr...

06/02/2026

We had a lovely time celebrating Older Americans Month at the SCES Spring Social & Wellness Fair last week!

We spent a fun morning at Arts at the Armory enjoying live music, raffle prizes from generous donors and local businesses, and a delicious lunch catered by City Fresh Foods. We enjoyed spending time with more than 120 of our friends and clients and appreciate that Somerville Mayor Jake Wilson and Somerville Councilors Will Mbah and Jon Link were able to attend as well!

Older Americans Month serves as an important reminder of the immense contributions older adults make to our communities, families, workplaces, and society as a whole. Their resilience, wisdom, leadership, and lived experiences continue to shape and strengthen the communities around us, and it is an honor for SCES to celebrate and support them.

We are grateful for our exhibitors who helped make the day a success. Thank you, All at Home Health Care, Anodyne, Cambridge Health Alliance, Friendly Care, Inc., Mass General Brigham Health Plan, Mass Senior Action Council, Metropolitan Home Health Services, Inc., Molina Healthcare, Natale Company & SafetyCare, Rendever, Right at Home, and UnitedHealthcare!

We also thank our generous in-kind donors who offered great raffle prizes for attendees! All at Home Health Care, Anna's Taqueria, Anodyne, BJ's Wholesale Club, Borislow Insurance, Cambridge Common, Charles River Boat Company, The Cheesecake Factory, Frank's Steakhouse, The Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston, J.P. Licks, Market Basket, Mass General Brigham Health Plan, Metropolitan Home Health Services, New England Aquarium, American Flatbread Somerville, Somerville Theatre, Trader Joe's, UnitedHealthcare, Vinal Bakery, and When Pigs Fly Sourdough Breads, we appreciate your support.

A special thank you, too, to Diesel Cafe/Bloc/Forge Baking Company for donating delicious coffee that powered us through the morning!

Events like these highlight just how special our community, friends, partners and neighbors are. 💚

05/29/2026

We are honored to announce that SCES has received a Tufts Community Grant!

The $5,000 grant will help support Savvy Caregiver, an evidence-based dementia family caregiver training program that SCES offers free of charge to community members. The multi-week course has been proven to decrease family caregiver distress, burden, and depression, while increasing caregivers’ sense of competence and confidence in their care role.

SCES’ caregiver programs improve quality of life for caregivers and care recipients alike. Thank you, Tufts University Community Relations, for supporting our mission and community!

05/27/2026

SCES is thrilled to recognize Haitian Heritage Month!

Massachusetts is home to one of the largest Haitian populations in the country, and the City of Boston was the first to celebrate Haitian Heritage Month in 1998! We’re proud to carry on that tradition as we celebrate the rich history, culture, and contributions of Haitians to our society. We are especially grateful for the Haitian Creole-speaking staff at SCES who make it possible to provide culturally competent services to our Haitian friends and neighbors!

We are committed to continuing to serve the Haitian population of Somerville and Cambridge, as well as the Merrimack Valley and North Shore through our Family Care program.

05/25/2026

SCES will be closed on Monday, May 25, in observance of Memorial Day. Meal delivery and congregate meals will resume when our office reopens for regular business hours on May 26.

If you have a non-urgent request, please call our main line at 617-628-2601 and leave a message. If you would like to file a protective services report, please call 800-922-2275. In the event of an emergency, please call 911.

05/21/2026

We are proud to celebrate Jewish American Heritage in May! Recognition of Jewish American Heritage Month is a commitment to a more inclusive and respectful society.

Today, we’d like to spotlight two leaders who helped advance equity, dignity and health throughout their lives.

Judy Heumann was dedicated to advocating for disability rights nationwide. She was at the forefront of major disability rights demonstrations, helped spearhead the passage of disability rights legislation, founded national and international disability advocacy organizations, and much more.

Lillian Wald was a renowned public health advocate and pioneer who fought for children, labor, immigrant, civil and women’s rights. In 1893, she founded the Henry Street Settlement in the Lower East Side of New York to offer free health care, social services and educational opportunities to local residents. Wald was also integral in establishing multiple national social reform organizations, including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

We are grateful for the advances of Judy Heumann, Lillian Wald, and so many other Jewish Americans who have left their mark on society!

05/19/2026

We are excited to celebrate AAPI Heritage Month in May! AAPI Month is a time to recognize and celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander populations in the US and honor their history, culture and many contributions to our society.

At SCES, we are committed to providing culturally competent services to the AAPI community. We are proud to say the 16 languages spoken among our staff include Cantonese, Mandarin, Vietnamese and Taishanese.

We would also like give a shoutout to our friends at the Greater Boston Chinese Golden Age Center (GBCGAC). SCES and GBCGAC partner to offer Chinese home delivered meals to older adults in Somerville and Cambridge. GBCGAC helps older adults age in our community by offering culturally sensitive and linguistically appropriate programs and services.

Learn more about GBCGAC here: www.gbcgac.org.

05/18/2026

It’s been a busy few weeks for SCES!

⭐ In late April, we hosted our annual volunteer appreciation event at Gufo in Cambridge! SCES volunteers and staff enjoyed spending time mingling and connecting over great food. We are so thankful for the 300+ volunteers who power programs that help foster independence and wellbeing among older adults in Somerville and Cambridge.

⭐ SCES had a strong showing at the Project Bread Walk for Hunger! Together, we raised more than $3,000 to fight hunger in the Greater Boston area. Special shoutout to Avery Margenot, SCES’ Director of Nutrition and Community Programs, for organizing Team SCES!

⭐ SCES joined the Somerville Council on Aging for a special caregiver breakfast, designed to help connect local caregivers to resources in their community. Nina Cohen, Senior Director of Caregiver & Family Support Programs, Kathy Bonilla, Family Caregiver Support Specialist, and Nathaniel Meyer, Clinical Social Worker, shared information about SCES’ many caregiver supports, including Adult Family Care and our Family Caregiver Support Program.

Thank you to all the staff and partners who help us connect to our community and spread the word about SCES’ many services and supports!

05/12/2026

As we wind down National Nurses Week, we could not be more grateful for all the SCES nurses who exhibit care, dedication and compassion every day! SCES nurses play a critical role in supporting Adult Family Care participants, Home Care clients and caregivers. Their professionalism ensures every individual they work with receives the care and attention they deserve.

Nurses are essential in ensuring older adults can age well at home. Thanks to all the nurses at SCES and beyond who work tirelessly to help others!

05/08/2026

In the face of challenging times, SCES is taking inspiration from the powerful community of nonprofit organizations that are in Cambridge and beyond.

We’re honored to be one of 157 local nonprofits who received a grant this spring from Cambridge Community Foundation. This funding will help SCES continue to provide in-home behavioral health supports to meet the needs of those who may struggle to access traditional in-office care. With CCF’s support, we can further our mission of empowering people to live and age in the setting of their choice.
Thank you, CCF!

Learn more about CCF’s annual Community Fund grants at cambridgecf.org/community-fund-2026