Assisted Living in Massachusetts

Overview of Massachusetts Assisted Living

The third most densely populated state in the country, Massachusetts is home to more than 6.5 million people, the majority of whom live in the greater Boston area. With a long and storied past beginning with the anchoring of the Mayflower at Plymouth Rock in 1620, The Bay State plays an important role in the history of the United States as home to the country’s first and oldest university, the American Revolution and four U.S. Presidents.

Assisted living in Massachusetts offers something for every senior, from whale watching off the sandy shores of Cape Cod to taking in a performance by the famous Boston Pops Orchestra to exploring America’s early history along the popular Freedom Trail. And with the some of the best medical care and public transit in New England, Massachusetts seniors can rest assured that their every need will be met.

Regulation of Massachusetts Assisted Living

Facilities providing assisted living in Massachusetts must obtain certification from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs. To receive certification, ALRs must offer:

• Apartments with lockable doors
• Private bathrooms in each apartment (for newly constructed facilities)
• Private kitchenettes or communal kitchens available for use by all residents
• Meal service of at least one meal per day with options for low-fat, low-sugar or low-salt foods
• Assistance with bathing, dressing and mobility
• Assistance with medication management (but not direct administration of medication)
• Housekeeping and laundry
• 24-hour, on-site staff
• Emergency response systems

Assisted Living in Massachusetts Defined

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts defines an Assisted Living Residence (ALR) as:

“a combination of housing and supportive services including personal care (such as bathing and dressing assistance) and household management (such as meals and housekeeping aid).”

ALRs are not licensed to provide skilled nursing care, such as injections or wound care, but are instead designed to provide room, board and assistance to seniors who need help with the activities of daily living but are otherwise in good health.

The Commonwealth makes no distinction between small, family-style homes that house fewer than 10 seniors (these are commonly known as care homes) and large, apartment-style facilities that care for hundreds of residents. You can find care homes in Massachusetts in our Care Homes category.

However, assisted living communities in Massachusetts that provide secure environments for seniors with Alzheimer’s or dementia are called Special Care Residences (SCRs), and the actual individual memory care section itself is called a Special Care Unit (SCU). You can find Special Care Residences in our Memory Care category.