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AssistedLiving.org Trusted Communities

AssistedLiving.org spent dozens of hours researching the top assisted living communities in the Boston area to allow seniors and their families to find the community that’s right for them. Click through the facilities listed below to read in-depth reviews, what residents are saying, and details such as base pricing, room types, and more.

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COVID-19 Rules for Assisted Living in Boston

For assisted living communities, COVID-19 rules and regulations are typically set at the state level. You can view specific rules on our guide to assisted living in MA. These rules change often, and many communities have policies in place that go above and beyond what’s required by the state, so you should contact your local community for more information. Additionally, you can contact your local Area Agency on Aging to learn more.

How to Pay for Assisted Living in Boston

Information on assisted living rates across Massachusetts may help seniors and families make decisions about care arrangements. Boston’s median assisted living rate, $6,819, is $319 higher than the Massachusetts statewide rate of $6,500.

Assisted Living in Boston vs. Nearby Cities

Boston’s assisted living facilities charge more than those in certain other Massachusetts cities, but Boston is not the priciest option in the state. On average, for assisted living, Boston is $1,134 more expensive than the city of Worcester, where the median monthly rate is $5,685. Springfield’s average rate of $5,048 is $1,771 lower than Boston’s. However, compared to Boston, Barnstable Town has a higher average assisted living cost: $7,000.

  • Boston: $6,819
  • Massachusetts: $6,500
  • National: $4,500
  • Barnstable Town: $7,000
  • Worcester: $5,685
  • Springfield: $5,048

Assisted Living vs. Other Types of Care in Boston, MA

In Boston, assisted living is one of several care options to consider. Nursing homes are the priciest of those options, charging an average of $13,155 per month for semiprivate arrangements. Assisted living is several thousand dollars more affordable by comparison, as is home care, which has an average cost of $6,292. Home health care’s median rate is similar, coming in at $6,244. Adult day health care is the most price-conscious arrangement in Boston. That service costs an average of $1,614 per month.

  • Home Care: $6,292
  • Home Health Care: $6,244
  • Adult Day Health Care: $1,614
  • Assisted Living: $6,819
  • Nursing Home (semiprivate room): $13,155

Financial Assistance for Assisted Living in Boston

Paying for assisted living in Massachusetts graphic

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Jonathan Frank
Licensed Social Worker and Certified Dementia Practitioner
Jonathan Frank
Licensed Social Worker and Certified Dementia Practitioner

Jonathan Frank is a Licensed Social Worker with over 10 years experience working with the geriatric population in a variety of different settings. He received his Masters degree from Rutgers University with a certificate in Aging and Gerontological Services. Additionally, he is a Certified Dementia Practitioner accredited by the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners. Jonathan also has Bachelors degree in psychology and worked as an Emergency Medical Technician for 14 years. His passion lies with the elderly and ensuring they age with dignity.

Other Ways to Pay for Assisted Living in Boston

Since not everyone can afford to pay for assisted living out-of-pocket, it’s important to find alternative methods to help make assisted living more affordable. Some of these options include:

  • Veterans Benefits
  • Life Insurance Policy
  • Long-Term Care Insurance
  • Reverse Mortgage

For more information about your options for making assisted living more affordable, visit our guide to Assisted Living in Boston.

Free and Low-Cost Assisted Living Resources for Seniors in Boston

Seniors and their loved ones often have many questions and concerns about the aging process. That’s normal, and it’s why organizations like those below exist. These resources offer several forms of assistance to older adults and their families.

Resource Contact Service
Long Term Care Ombudsman (617) 727-7750 The Long Term Care Ombudsman program’s representatives regularly visit assisted living communities and other long-term residential settings. They listen to residents’ concerns and help resolve conflicts with staff members. Information about facilities is also available through the program.
Age Strong Commission (617) 635-4366 The Age Strong Commission is the Boston region’s Area Agency on Aging and focuses on seniors 55 years of age and older. It runs an information and referrals program, which covers services such as Medicare counseling and assistance with certain benefits applications. The program also links seniors with local resources, and it conducts legal referrals. Caregiver support and transportation services are among the commission’s other areas of focus.
Central Boston Elder Services (617) 277-7416 Central Boston Elder Services offers options counseling to seniors 60 years of age and up, their caregivers and family members. Younger individuals with disabilities are eligible, too. Options counseling is a way for clients to learn about long-term care stays, transitioning between settings and insurance coverage. The organization also runs programs focused on care coordination and other services.
Veterans Services (617) 636-3026 Boston’s Veterans Services office helps Bostonian veterans and their family members understand and find available benefits, and it provides advice and advocacy. Additionally, the office aids clients with the completion of forms for VA claims, making it a potentially valuable resource for seniors with military backgrounds.
MassOptions (800) 243-4636 MassOptions is another way to access options counseling that can help seniors make long-term care decisions. The specialists who staff MassOptions also aid older adults seeking supportive services and referrals. Seniors can reach MassOptions specialists over the phone or through its online chat feature and contact form.

Assisted Living Laws and Regulations in Boston

Assisted Living Communities in Boston are required to follow a set of rules and regulations that are determined by the state. For more specific information, talk with your local community or Area Agency on Aging.

Laws and regulations for assisted living in Massachusetts

The Top Assisted Living Communities in the Boston Area

In order to find the top assisted living communities in the Boston area, our team of researchers:

  • Sorted through 37 communities using our unique methodology
  • Spent over 31 hours researching assisted living communities in Boston
  • Read more than 295 reviews left by residents and their family members

After filtering out facilities that didn’t meet our high standards, we were left with 21 assisted living communities that earned our seal of approval. Through this process we discovered that the average cost of assisted living in the city of Boston is $6,819, which is higher than the state average of $6,500 and considerably higher than the national average of $4,500.

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Jonathan Frank
Licensed Social Worker and Certified Dementia Practitioner
Jonathan Frank
Licensed Social Worker and Certified Dementia Practitioner

Jonathan Frank is a Licensed Social Worker with over 10 years experience working with the geriatric population in a variety of different settings. He received his Masters degree from Rutgers University with a certificate in Aging and Gerontological Services. Additionally, he is a Certified Dementia Practitioner accredited by the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners. Jonathan also has Bachelors degree in psychology and worked as an Emergency Medical Technician for 14 years. His passion lies with the elderly and ensuring they age with dignity.

Read on for in-depth information about the top assisted living facilities in Boston, a brief dive into our methodology for determining the best assisted living communities, and a searchable directory of 37 communities in the Boston area.

Our Methodology

It’s not what we research, but the way we research that makes AssistedLiving.org stand out. We start by identifying problems and challenges in the senior care industry by gaining insight from conversations with industry professionals, older adults, and those that care for them. Next, our research team led by industry experts apply our data-driven research techniques to understand the magnitude of the challenge and how to overcome it. Finally, we present our findings in easy-to-understand guides and studies and share our actionable results with influencers and caregivers, as well as the general public.

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Facility Features (40%)

Facility Health Services Graded on health services provided
on the facility including, but not
limited to, on-site nursing,
pharmacy, skilled nursing,
medicine administration, etc

Facility Amenities Graded on the available
amenities.

Affordability Financial assistance acceptance
and overall costs and value.

Residential Quality (40%)

Resident Satisfaction Polling & survey of overall facility satisfaction.

Facility Complaint and Violations Number of complaints and violations the facility had. Taking into account improvement over time.

Online Reviews Aggregated verified online reviews.

Location (20%)

Location-Based Benefits Including, but not limited to, proximity to
hospitals, ambulance response times, senior
resources available, and state and city
financial assistance.

Location Quality Local crime rates, incidents against older
adults, air quality, climate.

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