What does your Council on Aging actually do? The Lower and Outer Cape, town by town
Why it is different on the Cape
The Cape’s Councils on Aging do far more than most families realise, and on the Outer Cape, where there is less of everything else, they are often the only local help. Their staff know the town: who clears snow, which programmes have space, and what the county and state offer. They are the best first call after a fall, a diagnosis or a lost licence.
What most Councils on Aging offer
- Rides to medical appointments, shopping and the centre, by van or volunteer driver, with booking notice that varies by town.
- Outreach: a social worker or nurse who visits at home and helps with forms, benefits and next steps.
- Benefits help: fuel assistance applications, SHINE Medicare counselling, property-tax work-off programmes.
- Meals, activities, exercise and balance classes, and in some towns a supportive day programme for people living with memory loss.
- A monthly newsletter, which is the best way to know what is on.
Your town, at a glance
| Town | Phone | What stands out |
|---|---|---|
| Brewster | 508-896-2737 | Volunteer drivers take you to medical and dental appointments as far as Hyannis (one ride a week), plus a wheelchair-accessible medical van · Call 508-896-2737; book grocery van 2 business days ahead, volunteer medical rides 4, wheelchair van 7 · Newsletter: Bayside Chatter (monthly) |
| Chatham | 508-945-5190 | Rides Mon–Fri 9–2: medical appointments from Orleans to Hyannis, errands in Chatham, Harwich and Orleans; grocery and prescription delivery; Ryders Cove Respite day program · Call 508-945-5190; new riders fill out an intake form and should request rides at least 24 hours ahead · Newsletter: The Flash (monthly) |
| Eastham | 774-801-3151 | An LPN outreach coordinator makes home visits; also medical rides Mon–Fri and grocery trips to Orleans · Call 774-801-3151, or the outreach line 774-801-3153 to ask for a home visit · Newsletter: Windmill Whisperings (bi-monthly) |
| Harwich | 508-430-7550 | Wheelchair-accessible van for trips to Harwich grocery stores and pharmacies, COA programs, the library and Town Hall; Friendly Visitor program · Newsletter: Monthly Newsletter |
| Orleans | 508-255-6333 | Runs Rock Harbor Respite, a supportive day program, plus outreach help from a social service coordinator and outreach worker · Newsletter: Senior Center Tidings |
| Provincetown | 508-487-7080 | Free rides to Hyannis, Orleans, the RMV, Stop & Shop and in-town medical visits, plus door-to-door van for on-Cape medical appointments (donations welcome) · Call 508-487-7080 to schedule a ride · Newsletter: Coastlines (monthly) |
| Truro | 508-487-2462 | Free rides anywhere in Barnstable County, with medical appointments given priority; outreach helps with fuel assistance, Medicare questions and wheelchair loans · Call 508-487-2462 (Mon–Fri 8–4); book rides at least 2 business days ahead · Newsletter: COA Monthly Newsletter |
| Wellfleet | 508-349-2800 | On-site café (Maryann's Cafe), transportation, and fraud-prevention and veteran resources · Newsletter: COA Newsletter |
Details from each town’s listing in this directory, checked 26 September 2026. Rules change; call before relying on a ride.
What to do next
- Save your town’s Council on Aging number in your phone, and in your parents’ phones.
- Ask for the newsletter by post or email.
- If rides may be needed, ask about the intake form now, before the first appointment.
Common questions
Who can use a Council on Aging?
Residents of the town, usually from age 60; some services, such as rides, may also serve younger residents with disabilities. Most services are free, and some ask for a donation. Each town sets its own rules.
Do Councils on Aging drive people to medical appointments?
Most Lower and Outer Cape COAs do, by van or volunteer drivers, within set areas and days. Booking notice varies, from about a day ahead to a week for a wheelchair van. Call your town to book.
Can adult children call the Council on Aging for a parent?
Yes. Staff regularly speak with family members, including those living off-Cape, and outreach workers can arrange a home visit with the parent’s agreement.
Related
- All articles on legacy, story and community
- When driving gets harder
- For adult children: what to notice, and how to start the talk
- All fifteen Councils on Aging in the directory
This article is general information about how the process works in Massachusetts, not legal, tax, or medical advice, and reading it does not create a professional relationship. Every family’s situation is different. The Senior Transition Collaborative can connect you with a licensed professional on the Lower Cape — reach us at arthur.radtke@exprealty.com.