From homelessness to independence

Bill is a 69-year-old Senior Care Options member who joined WellSense in 2021. He lives with hypertension, painful sciatica, end-stage renal disease for which he receives dialysis and a substance use disorder. Bill also experienced homelessness since 2019— a large obstacle to becoming healthier.

When Bill joined WellSense, Corinne, one of our Nurse Care Managers reached out and performed an initial assessment. She quickly brought in a social worker and partnered with Boston Medical Center (BMC)’s Living Well at Home program to secure a safe place for Bill to live. In March 2022, Bill moved into a shelter where he had a room of his own.

Navigating the shelter’s stairs to reach the elevator was a problem for Bill because he used a walker. Due to this accessibility issue, the social work care manager worked with him to complete a rental assistance application that made him eligible for permanent independent housing. Finally, last October, Bill moved out of the shelter and into his own apartment. Our Care Manager helped enroll him into the MassHealth Mitigating Costs of Housing (MATCH) Program, which helps him get essential everyday items.

Today, Bill is happy in his new home, which has an accessible elevator and is located near family and friends. With our care teams to help him, Bill is finding his path to living his best life, in spite of his serious health conditions.

Making a difference for our members is the core of what we do. See if you qualify for our Senior Care Options plan by visiting wellsense.org/SCO.

Names and locations have been changed to protect the privacy of the individuals involved.