Older adult support
Services that help seniors live safely and independently at home and in the community.
Residents consistently ask for activities and places that reduce senior isolation, help with snow and yard work, regular check-ins, and safer, easier ways to get around.
Theme grouped and summary written with AI from this theme's resident ideas.
78 ideas across three cycles
| Cycle | Ideas | Share of all ideas | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024–25 | 32 | 2.6% | 16 of 20 |
| 2025–26 | 22 | 1.8% | 20 of 20 |
| 2026–27 | 24 | 1.8% | 19 of 20 |
Needs that keep coming back
Senior activities and gathering places
Residents want more programs, outings, clubs and senior centers so older adults can socialize and avoid loneliness.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
Snow, yard and tree help for seniors
Residents ask the City or paid helpers to shovel snow and clear sidewalks, cut grass and trim trees for seniors who cannot safely do it themselves.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
Check-ins and in-home support
Residents ask for regular visits, calls and practical help at home for seniors who live alone, are homebound or have no one to assist them.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
Benches and easier walking routes
Residents want benches, shade and better streets near senior housing, senior centers and transit so older adults can walk and rest.
Raised in 2025–26, 2026–27
Home repair and affordability help
Residents ask for home repair help, home modification grants and property tax relief so seniors can stay in their homes.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26
2024–25
Snow and yard help for seniors dominated the ideas, alongside requests for senior activities, day care centers, home repair and property tax relief.
2025–26
Ideas centered on loneliness, check-ins and support for seniors living alone or homebound, with benches and home modification grants also appearing.
2026–27
Many ideas were short, general requests for more help for older adults, along with calls for outreach, senior centers, door-to-door transportation and food assistance.
New in 2026–27
New or growing asks include door-to-door and expanded Age Strong rides, post-hospital check-ins, fall prevention and health education, and outreach with caregiver support for isolated and non-English-speaking seniors.
Funding so far
The funded 2024-25 bus stop benches address the recurring bench request, but no winning project yet covers snow and yard help, check-ins, senior activities and centers, home repair, transportation or food assistance.
Projects are linked to themes by matching each project's description to the themes; this is not an official City classification.
Install Benches at High Ridership Bus Stops
2024–25 · $150,000 · related theme
This proposal will allow the City's Transportation Department to install benches at high-ridership bus stops across the City.
Departments that often lead this work
- Age Strong Commission
- Public Works
Suggested with AI; not an official assignment of responsibility.
Ideas in Older adult support
78 ideas
2024–25: 32 · 2025–26: 22 · 2026–27: 24
- JP Clean & Green senior-youth stewardship squadsThe resident proposes pairing seniors and youth aged 8–15 in Jamaica Plain stewardship squads for cleanups, tree planting, snow clearing and workshops to reduce social isolation.2026–27Jamaica Plain
- More community activities for Boston seniorsResident asks for more senior activities, including health education, cultural exchange, exercise, interest classes and social events, to reduce loneliness and support well-being across backgrounds and languages.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Chinese
- Expand Age Strong MBTA ride service for seniorsA blind senior asks to use funds to expand the Age Strong MBTA ride program beyond 10 rides a month and 3:30pm, to cover medical appointments.2026–27Allston
- Paid spot assistance helpers for seniors and disabled residentsResident proposes paying helpers $25 to give short-term assistance to elderly and disabled residents, such as meeting someone at an outside destination, modeled on a Friendship Corp program.2026–27Allston
- Shaded benches near senior homesResident asks for shaded benches with good back support along walking routes near senior homes.2026–27City-wide
- More help for elderly peopleResident asks for more help for elderly people, without giving specifics.2026–27City-wide
- Food assistance program for older adultsResident asks for a program that helps provide food for all older adults.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Portuguese
- Programs for grandparents and seniorsResident asks for programs for the grandparents of the community to help those who need them.2026–27Downtown
- Door-to-door transport to civic events and concertsResident asks for door-to-door transportation so people, likely seniors, can attend civic events and concerts.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Korean
- Free door-to-door shopping transport for seniorsResident asks for free door-to-door transportation to shopping centers for older adults living in housing developments.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Korean
- Dedicated senior center in West RoxburyThe resident asks for a dedicated senior center in West Roxbury that is open to everyone regardless of race, religion or sexual orientation.2026–27West Roxbury
- Expand senior outreach and caregiver supportResident asks for more senior outreach with health resources, benefits application help, social activities and caregiver support, especially for isolated, low-income and non-English-speaking seniors.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Chinese
- Senior health education, fall prevention and activitiesResident asks for senior health education, fall prevention, exercise classes, chronic disease management and social activities to help older adults stay healthy and independent.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Chinese
- More senior outreach servicesThe resident asks for expanded senior outreach with benefits information, health referrals, social activities and daily living support to help seniors live independently and reduce isolation.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Chinese
- Post-hospital check-ins and help for older adultsResident asks the city to check on elderly residents returning home from the hospital and help with food, errands and appointments, since many have no one to assist them.2026–27City-wide
- Music therapy room at Chinatown Golden Age CentreResident asks for a soundproofed, accessible room with professional audio and instruments reserved for the Berklee music therapy partnership to combat isolation and cognitive decline among seniors.2026–27Downtown
- City snow clearance of sidewalks, bus stops and bike lanesResident asks the City to take over snow clearing of sidewalks, bus stops and bike lanes, or at least clear for elderly neighbors, since less mobile residents are hit hardest.2026–27City-wide
- Help for older adultsResident asks that help be given to older adults.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Spanish
- Improve streets for older adults to walkResident asks for streets to be set up to improve walking for older adults so they can participate more in the community.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Spanish
- Recreation center for older adultsThe resident asks for a recreation center for seniors.2026–27Jamaica Plain