Home Care Services

Services are available to help older individuals remain independent in their homes when poor health and/or difficulty with activities of everyday life make it difficult.

Home Care programs include:

Expanded In-home Services for the Elderly (EISEP)

Personal Care/Housekeeper Chore Aides

Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS)

Shopper Service

Meals on Wheels (MOW)

To qualify for these programs, an in-home assessment is required.

Expanded In-home Services for the Elderly (EISEP)

EISEP is a long-term care program for frail older people who need assistance to be able to remain in their own homes. Our staff assesses and manages each case and makes arrangements for home care services. The cost of the home care service is shared between the client and the Office for Aging and is based upon the client's need and ability to pay for the service.

You are eligible for these services if you are:

• A Broome County resident age 60 and older
• Experiencing difficulty dressing, bathing, eating, preparing meals, shopping, or doing laundry and housework
• Not eligible for, or receiving, Medicaid, and
• Unable to get the help that is needed

Please note that wait lists are common.

Personal Care/Housekeeper Chore Aides

Personal Care/Housekeeper Chore Aides come and assist you with everyday household chores such as bathing and dressing, vacuum cleaning, laundry, cleaning the bathroom and kitchen, dusting.

Home Health Care Agencies 

Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS)

A PERS provides 24 hours a day access to a dispatcher.   Seniors have a push button that can be worn around the neck or wrist. Typically, a PERS user provides a list of three emergency contacts and in the event of an emergency, the dispatcher will try to contact one of the people listed as an emergency contact. If no one is available help will automatically be sent to the home.

The Office for Aging supports seniors and their caregivers as they pursue PERS units. For more information about PERS units along with a list of providers, please download our PERS Unit handout.

Shopper Service

Our Shopper Service can provide non-emergency, on-going support with weekly grocery shopping and limited errands (i.e. bank, post office, pharmacy).

How it works:

Shopper Service is provided by volunteers through a contract with Faith in Action (Broome County Council of Churches).

• The shopper arrives at your home, reviews your grocery order form, and collects your money, check or food stamps.
• When the shopping is completed, groceries, change and a receipt are returned to you.
• The shopper will also assist you with putting your groceries away, if needed.

To be eligible for Shopper Service, you must be:

• Age 60 and older
• Physically unable to shop as ordered by a physician, or as determined through an assessment by our staff
• Without family or friends who are able and willing to help you with shopping on a regular basis
• Meet financial eligibility guidelines

For information, contact the Information and Assistance Line at 607.778.2411.

Meals on Wheels (MOW) [ More Information ]

Home Delivered Meal Program

We will deliver a hot lunch and a cold supper meal, that together provide two thirds of the Recommended Dietary Allowance of nutrients, to your home Monday through Friday if you meet the eligibility requirements.

You may be eligible for this service if you are:

• 60 years and over, and
• Unable to prepare your meals because of accident, illness or frailty.

Program Features

• Limited special diets are available.
• The suggested contribution is $6.50 per day. Contributions are an important part of the budget and enable us to continue the service. You will not be denied service if you are unable to pay.
• Service from the Office for Aging Meals on Wheels Program is available in:
  • The City of Binghamton
  • The Towns of:
  • Barker
  • Binghamton
  • Chenango
  • Colesville
  • Conklin
  • Fenton
  • Kirkwood
  • Lisle
  • Nanticoke
  • Triangle
  • Windsor
• Meals on Wheels of Western Broome, Inc., 607.754.7856, serves:
  • Endicott
  • Maine
  • Endwell
  • Vestal
  • Johnson City

Over 200 volunteers deliver meals to the homebound every week. Would you like to get involved? Your help is important!

For more information about any of these programs, call The Office for Aging at 607.778.2411.

Home Care Services Frequently Asked Questions