Elder Care

Caritas Cares

As part of our mission to "answer the call to care," Caritas Holy Family Hospital and Caritas Christi Health Care System, in affiliation with Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley, Inc., offer Caritas Cares. This free referral service helps you become better informed when making decisions concerning elder care by providing you with a wide range of information, health alternatives and other referrals.

Our ultimate goal is to help you or your loved one live as independently and as safely as possible, whether at home or in an alternative living environment. Through one call to Caritas Cares, our specially trained professional staff will thoroughly assess your situation and get to know your needs and circumstances.

Referral services include:

• arranging home care or transitional counseling;
• research and evaluation of health care options and living arrangements;
• touring potential facilities;
• helping with financial arrangements;
• assisting with moving services; and
• providing ongoing follow-up and evaluation.

Information is available from Caritas Cares on various topics, ranging from adult day care; to assisted living options; to sources for legal advice.

For more information, please contact Caritas Cares call toll-free: 1-800-937-1320. Live telephone coverage is provided Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Emergency Response Program

Valley Medical Response is a personal emergency response system offered by Caritas Holy Family Hospital to the residents of the Merrimack Valley. Using this system keeps you in constant touch with trained medical personnel who are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to respond to your emergency needs. The Valley Medical Response System provides emergency assistance at the touch of a button.

The equipment installed in the home consists of a small wireless pendant and a base unit that attaches to the telephone. In the event of an emergency, whether an illness or a fall, you need not reach the telephone. Just press the button on your transmitter to send a signal to the monitoring center. Once the dispatch center is alerted, you will be contacted by the response team. In an actual emergency, or if you do not answer the response call, an ambulance will be sent to your home immediately.

For more information contact the program director at 978-687-0151, ext. 2400.