Newton, Weston screen contractors for seniors

Mass Innovations, From The Beacon, May 2013

A service in place in Newton and Weston that screens contractors has helped seniors remain in their homes, according to officials in the two communities.

“Many people were concerned about their ability to find trusted vendors,” said Jayne Colino, the senior services director in Newton, where the idea was developed. “And the biggest concern for the elderly was home maintenance.”

The city obtained initial federal funding in the fall of 2009 through Springwell, a Waltham-based nonprofit that channels federal money for senior-related projects in an area comprising Newton, Weston and six other cities and towns.

The lists of approved contractors include electricians, plumbers, general handymen and roofers as well as computer troubleshooters and people who specialize in helping to reduce clutter.

Among the tasks most in demand are minor yet dangerous jobs such as replacing a handful of shingles or securing a loose gutter, Colino said.

The contractors are screened for liability insurance and appropriate licenses as well as any complaints filed with the Better Business Bureau or the attorney general’s office. Officials also check out references and encourage seniors to evaluate the contractors’ performance after jobs are done.

One in five Massachusetts residents are at least 60 years old, the qualifying age for the program, Colino said. In the last two years alone, the state’s 60-plus population has increased by roughly 100,000, she said.

When the Springwell grant expired after two years, in 2011, Newton replenished the program through a state formula grant. Also around that time, Newton hired an “Aging in Place” project manager that divides her time between Weston and Newton. Weston, with the help of a Springwell grant, was able to set up a similar program of its own.

Weston is seeking other sources of funding that will supplant the Springwell grant, which will expire on Sept. 30, according to Weston Council on Aging Director Eileen Bogle.

Although a tally of participants has not been compiled, the program in Weston has exceeded expectations, Bogle said.

Brookline is preparing to launch a program based on the model established in Newton and Weston, according to Brookline Council on Aging Director Ruthann Dobek.

“We had been hearing for many years that this is something our seniors need,” Dobek said. “But until now we couldn’t quite figure out how to do it.”

For more information, contact Jayne Colino at (617) 796-1671.