By Nathan Lamb

Adult Family Care recently received overwhelmingly positive feedback from caregivers and people receiving in-home assistance through the program.

On average, AFC received the top score 95 percent of the time in the most recent edition of the biannual AFC Satisfaction Survey, which polls participants on their satisfaction with the program.

AFC Program Director Jeanne Leyden said the results of the survey confirmed what she already believed to be true about the program and the AFC team.

“It makes me proud to see the quality care being provided by our caregivers, and to hear such kind words about our team of nurses and social workers,” said Leyden.

AFC is a MassHealth-funded program that helps eligible adults who cannot live alone, due to a medical diagnosis. The program helps people receive care at home by supporting caregivers with compensation, paid time off and monthly training from a nurse and social worker.

Among other things, the survey graded AFC on how well the program trains caregivers and helps them manage challenges.

“We are constantly striving to provide the best quality care and support to both our program caregivers and participants,” said Leyden. “Although we are required by MassHealth to conduct these surveys, we truly appreciate the opportunity to hear how we are doing as a program, and to identify areas in which we can make improvements.”

AFC can provide a personalized care plan for eligible applicants who are elderly, or young and disabled, and have a chronic medical or psychiatric diagnosis that necessitates assistance with at least one of the following: bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring between positions, ambulating or eating.

To provide care through AFC, the caregiver must be able to meet those needs and live in the same home as the person receiving care. Friends and family are eligible to become live-in caregivers – but legal guardians and spouses are not.

In addition to grading services, the AFC Satisfaction Survey also offered caregivers and participants an opportunity to provide written feedback on their experiences. Many of those comments thanked AFC for helping a loved one receive in-home care.

“I feel like we always have caring staff available, whenever we need them,” wrote one caregiver.

Adult Family Care is a regional program at Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services that helps people receive the best care at home by supporting family caregivers. AFC is a nonprofit program that serves the Greater Boston, North Shore, and Merrimack Valley areas. For more information, visit adultfamilycare.org or call 617-628-2601.