Nursing Homes and Senior Care in Massachusetts

Nursing Homes by City in Massachusetts

The Massachusetts cities with the most CMS-certified nursing homes. All 178 cities are listed below the table. Homes in Massachusetts average 3.9 hours of nursing care per resident per day; the national median is 3.7 hours.

5-Star Nursing Homes in Massachusetts

Homes with CMS's top overall rating, ordered by inspection rating. See all highest-rated nursing homes in Massachusetts.

Assisted Living in Massachusetts

Executive Office of Aging & Independence (AGE) licenses assisted living in Massachusetts. License types: Assisted Living Residence (ALR) and Special Care Residence (SCR). Use the state's search to check a community's license and inspection history.

• Massachusetts assisted living facility search
• Massachusetts assisted living rules
• Massachusetts assisted living licensing (Executive Office of Aging & Independence (AGE))

Memory Care Rules in Massachusetts

Massachusetts's term is "Special Care Residence (SCR)"; it isn't a separate license, but rules apply to facilities that offer dementia care. Facilities must give families a written disclosure of their dementia care services.

• Special Care Residence (SCR): the Residence in its entirety or any separate and distinct section or sections within the Residence that provide(s) an enhanced level of supports and services for one or more Residents to address their specialized needs due to cognitive or other impairments (651 CMR 12.02).
• Any Residence that chooses to advertise, market, otherwise promote or provide special care shall follow 651 CMR 12.04(5). A Residence may not operate a Special Care Residence without submitting an operating plan to EOAI that explains how it will meet the specialized needs of its resident population, including the physical design, physical environment, specialized safety features, enrichment activities, and the ongoing training of staff.
• Entry and exit doors in the common use areas within Special Care Residences shall be alarmed and secured in accordance with local, state and federal laws and regulations; all doors must automatically unlock in the case of fire, power outage or emergency situation (651 CMR 12.04(5)(a)).
• The Residence shall develop policies and procedures that address potentially unsafe Resident behaviors such as unsupervised wandering, and verbally or physically aggressive behavior, plus policies governing the transition of Residents moving in or out of any Special Care Residence.
• The Residence shall provide a multipurpose activity space, and Special Care Residences that commence an initial certification process after October 1, 2015 shall provide a secure outdoor space.
• Special Care Residences shall prepare a planned activity program that includes structured activities with designated staff a minimum of three times within a 24-hour period, seven days per week, covering gross motor, self-care, social, and sensory and memory enhancement activities (651 CMR 12.04(5)(b)).
• All plans, policies and procedures for the Special Care Residence shall be documented and made available upon request in accordance with the disclosure requirements of 651 CMR 12.08(3); required disclosures include staffing by shift and overnight staff availability, provided separately for any Special Care Residence.
• A Special Care Residence shall have sufficient staff qualified by training and experience awake and on duty at all times to meet the 24-hour scheduled and reasonably foreseeable unscheduled needs of all Residents; it shall never be considered sufficient to have fewer than two staff members in a Special Care Residence (651 CMR 12.06(5)).
• A Special Care Residence must designate a Special Care Residence Manager responsible for all Special Care operations, at least 21 years old with a minimum of two years' experience working with older adults or individuals with disabilities (651 CMR 12.06(8)).
• All new employees who work within a Special Care Residence and have direct contact with Residents must receive seven hours of additional training on topics related to the specialized care needs of the Resident population (651 CMR 12.07(3)).
• Employees working in a Special Care Residence must receive an additional four hours of training per year related to the Residents' specialized needs, including the development of communications skills for Residents with dementia (651 CMR 12.07).
• Both the Executive Director and Resident Care Director shall receive an additional two-hour training devoted to dementia care topics (651 CMR 12.07).

• Massachusetts memory care rules

Medicaid Long-Term Care in Massachusetts

Massachusetts's Medicaid program is MassHealth. For nursing home Medicaid (2026), the state lists an asset limit of MassHealth asset limit $2,000 (individual), $3,000 (member of a married couple), 2026. Residents keep a personal needs allowance of Personal needs allowance (PNA)/ LTC income standard $72.80 (2026).

• Frail Elder Waiver (FEW): in-home care, respite and adult day. For people 60-64 with a disability or 65 or older who meet clinical eligibility (nursing facility level of care) and the financial requirements for MassHealth Standard in the community, with special financial rules for waiver applicants. An eligible person may enroll in FEW at any time. Participants cannot reside in Assisted Living Residences, Rest Homes or nursing facilities except for brief respite stays. Services include personal care, homemaker, home health aide, respite, Supportive Day Program and Alzheimer's/Dementia Coaching. Apply through the local Aging Services Access Point (ASAP).

• MassHealth nursing facility coverage
• Massachusetts Medicaid long-term care limits

Nursing Home Inspections and Complaints in Massachusetts

Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Division of Health Care Facility Licensure and Certification inspects nursing homes in Massachusetts for CMS. To file a complaint, call 24-hour Consumer Complaint Line (800) 462-5540; Main Intake Number (617) 753-8150 (during business hours) or use the state's complaint page.

• Massachusetts nursing home inspection lookup
• File a nursing home complaint in Massachusetts

Massachusetts Long-Term Care Ombudsman

The Massachusetts Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is a free, confidential advocate for residents of nursing homes and assisted living. Ombudsmen help with complaints, residents' rights and problems with care. Call 617-222-7495.

• Contact the Massachusetts Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program

Aging Services and Caregiver Support in Massachusetts

Executive Office of Aging & Independence (AGE) runs Massachusetts's aging services, delivered through local Area Agencies on Aging. Family caregivers can get help through Family Caregiver Support Program. Adult day services are licensed or certified by Massachusetts Department of Public Health (Adult Day Health Licensure, 105 CMR 158.00).

• Massachusetts aging services: Executive Office of Aging & Independence (AGE)
• Area Agencies on Aging in Massachusetts
• Caregiver support in Massachusetts: Family Caregiver Support Program
• Massachusetts adult day services

Guides for Your Next Step

See how to choose a nursing home, what memory care is, how Medicaid pays for nursing home care and what Medicare covers. For local help, call the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116.

Frequently Asked Questions