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Memory Care in Massachusetts

Overview of Memory Care in Massachusetts

The most populous state in New England, Massachusetts features a distinctive blend of natural beauty and treasures of U.S. history. The Berkshire Mountains in the western region are a convenient getaway for coastal residents around Cape Cod Bay, and the famously upscale islands of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard sit just off the state’s southern shores. As one of the country’s original Thirteen Colonies, Massachusetts is rich with early American historic sites like Plymouth and Salem. Within Boston there’s the timeless North End neighborhood, along with popular tourist spots like the USS Constitution and the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum. The amount of variety within reach to those who call Massachusetts home makes the Bay State an exemplary retirement destination.Currently, A Place for Mom partners with more than 220 senior living communities in Massachusetts that provide memory care.

The median monthly cost of memory care in Massachusetts is about $7,300.

Top-rated Memory Care facilities in Massachusetts

13
13 Photos available

Brookmeadow at Blue Hills

2121 Central St, Stoughton, MA 02072
9.9
Review Score
26 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Jodi A - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

From the first day we were welcomed for our tour , my mom felt like she was home. The kindness we were greeted with that day continues, and we knew we had made right choice. There was no better feeling...

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16
16 Photos available
5
5 Floor plans available

Maplewood at Mayflower Place

579 Buck Island Road, West Yarmouth, MA 02673
9.9
Review Score
53 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Elaine C - I live or lived in this community

The independent living here has been wonderful. Both the staff and the residents loving here have been very friendly and caring.

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19
19 Photos available

The Residence at Cedar Dell

628 Old Westport Road, Dartmouth, MA 02747
9.9
Review Score
28 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Victor S - I'm a current/former resident or client

The folks at The Residence at Cedar Dell are all so welcoming. I ate in the dining room and on my first day all the staff already knew my name. Everyone is so naturally friendly and approachable. The...

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Top-rated Memory Care facilities in Boston

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16
16 Photos available

Standish Village

1190 Adams Street, Boston, MA 02124
8.7
Review Score
22 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Judith - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

They have been great to us, and I highly recommend Standish. Our friends are joking that we need to reserve a wing for the near future! The rooms I experienced are bright and quite large. Staff, from...

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5
5 Photos available

Sophia Snow Place

1205-1215 Centre Street, Boston, MA 02132
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Patti W - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

Seven months ago I could not even dream of a place as wonderful for my mother. She was living in a big old house that I had to maintain, with stairs up to her room, down to the cellar for laundry, I had to...

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12
12 Photos available

Zelma Lacey House

9 West School Street, Charlestown, MA 02129
- I'm a loved one of a resident or client

We like the care that is received. The staff are nice and caring to her needs. We like the menu and the good variety that is offered and they will help with any special needs if required. I like knowing that...

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Top-rated Memory Care facilities in Danvers

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12
12 Photos available

Putnam Farm at Danvers

9 Summer Street, Danvers, MA 01923
8.9
Review Score
31 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Anonymous - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

Our loved one was only there for 10 days, but the Putnam Farm at Danvers community is beautiful. It is a well kept facility with very very nice personnel working there .

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18
18 Photos available

Charter Senior Living of Danvers

220 Conant St, Danvers, MA 01923
9.5
Review Score
57 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Anonymous - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

Charter Senior Living is a wonderful experience. We have been so impressed with the staff starting with [name removed] and all the other employees. They are hands on caring and knowledgeable. So grateful we...

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14
14 Photos available
3
3 Floor plans available

The Atrium at Veronica Drive

1 Veronica Drive, Danvers, MA 01923
8.8
Review Score
26 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Anonymous - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

My loved one is no longer there but the nurses were all great! Based on the experience we had with The Atrium, we would recommend this community to other families who may need a place for their loved ones.

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Top-rated Memory Care facilities in Worcester

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7
7 Photos available

The Oasis at Dodge Park

102 Randolph Rd, Worcester, MA 01606
9.6
Review Score
30 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Dorothy - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

Oasis is the best! Our loved one was in a total of four facilities before we found Oasis. It has the best of rooms, best of food and the best caring staff. They provide a supportive, loving family...

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2
2 Photos available

Christopher Heights of Worcester

20 Mary Scano Dr, Worcester, MA 01605
9.2
Review Score
4 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Donna - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

Christopher Heights has been a wonderful experience for our family so far, and we would most definitely 1000% recommend them to other families. The staff members are incredibly friendly they get higher then...

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6
6 Photos available

Dodge Park Rest Home

101 Randolph Rd, Worcester, MA 01606
9.3
Review Score
35 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Suzanne B - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

My mother in law is doing very well at Dodge Park. She is getting excellent care there. Dodge Park is truly an amazing place. the facility is very welcoming and inviting. They keep the facility clean. ...

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Top-rated Memory Care facilities in Springfield

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6
6 Photos available
4
4 Floor plans available

The Wellington at Springfield

942 Grayson Dr, Springfield, MA 01119
9.0
Review Score
149 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Lisa - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

We had difficulty confirming a move in date for my mom. There was nothing The Wellington could do about it, but they were terrible about communicating with us. I needed to call repeatedly to get an answer....

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9
9 Photos available

Southwick Village

802 College Hwy, Southwick, MA 01077
9.8
Review Score
29 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Anne S - I'm a current/former resident or client

I have has lived at Southwick Village for several years. The community is set in a beautifully maintained campus with all the amenities I need as I age. Activities, food and most importantly, the staff are...

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13
13 Photos available
12
12 Floor plans available

Cedarbrook Village at Ware

73 South St, Ware, MA 01082
9.8
Review Score
37 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Cate L - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

Welcoming front desk staff. Executive Director and marketing staff all pleasant and helpful. Answered all of our questions. Provided lots of details for us to consider. All the staff have smiles on their...

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Massachusetts laws and regulations for memory care facilities

The Executive Office of Elder Affairs (EOEA) licenses and regulates memory care facilities in Massachusetts. Stand-alone memory care facilities are referred to as Special Care Residences while memory care units that share a campus with Assisted Living Residences are referred to as Special Care Units.[01]

To remain a licensed memory care facility in Massachusetts, Special Care Residences and Units must maintain a clean, safe, and healthy environment and meet the following requirements.[01]

Resident admission requirements

  • Have a nurse conduct an initial screening to assess and determine residents’ service needs and preferences based on their functional abilities and cognitive status.
  • Use the initial screening and a recent physician evaluation outlining the resident’s physical, cognitive, functional, and psychosocial condition to develop individualized service plans.
  • Have a nurse evaluate the personal care services outlined in each resident’s service plan every 6 months to make updates if necessary.

Staff requirements

  • Maintain a sufficient staff-to-resident ratio at all times.
  • Have on-site, awake staff 24 hours a day.
  • Provide all staff a 7-hour orientation prior to active employment and at least 10 hours of ongoing education and training on an annual basis.
  • Provide all memory care staff an additional 7 hours of dementia-specific training prior to active employment and at least 4 hours of continued dementia care education on an annual basis.
  • Provide 54 hours of training to on-site caregiving staff, with at least 20 hours of personal care training conducted by a qualified registered nurse.

Services and amenities requirements

  • Offer one to three scheduled, dietitian-approved meals per day.
  • Implement safety measures like secured entrances and emergency plans.
  • Provide a multipurpose activity space and a planned activity program including gross motor, self-care, social, sensory, and memory enhancement activities.

Massachusetts Department of Public Health contact information

Massachusetts Department of Public Health
250 Washington St.
Boston, MA 02108

Phone: 617-624-6000

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Search for memory care facility compliance reviews

The Executive Office of Elder Affairs (EOEA) conducts an initial compliance review before licensing a memory care facility and every two years thereafter.[01]

The EOEA may also conduct a compliance review at any time if there is cause to believe that a memory care facility has violated any regulations. If any violations are found, the facility must respond within 10 days of the notice with a corrective action plan. If the plan is deemed acceptable, the EOEA will then conduct a timely review to ensure corrections are made.[01]

In Massachusetts, compliance reviews of a memory care facility include:[02]

  • A review of the operating plan
  • Inspection of common areas
  • Inspection of residents’ rooms (with residents’ consent)
  • Examination of resident records (with residents’ consent)

The EOEA doesn’t publicly publish any facility inspections. To access inspection reports, the general public can request a digital copy via email at information.resources@mass.gov or a physical copy through fax at 617-727-9368.

References

  1. Executive Office of Elder Affairs. (2024, March 29). 651 CMR 12.00: Certification procedures and standards for assisted living residencesMass.gov.

  2. Executive Office of Elder Affairs. (2019, January 25). Compliance reviews of assisted living residencesMass.gov.

The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical, legal or financial advice or create a professional relationship between A Place for Mom and the reader. Always seek the advice of your health care provider, attorney or financial advisor with respect to any particular matter, and do not act or refrain from acting on the basis of anything you have read on this site. Links to third-party websites are only for the convenience of the reader; A Place for Mom does not endorse the contents of the third-party sites.