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Independent Living in Massachusetts

Overview of Independent Living in Massachusetts

When it comes to senior living, Massachusetts is a great choice for you or your loved one.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 160 independent living communities in Massachusetts.

The median monthly cost of independent living in Massachusetts is about $3,000.

Top-rated Independent Living facilities in Massachusetts

15
15 Photos available
8
8 Floor plans available

Atria Longmeadow Place

42 Mall Road, Burlington, MA 01803
10
Review Score
53 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Stephen D - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

My mother moved into Atria Longmeadow Place 2 months ago. The management and staff have been very welcoming and accommodating to my mother. It was and continues to be a significant adjustment for her. She...

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13
13 Photos available

Brookmeadow at Blue Hills

2121 Central St, Stoughton, MA 02072
10
Review Score
30 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Cheryl F - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

My dad was at Brook meadow about 8 months and loved it. The staff is superb and there are all kinds of activities for everyone to enjoy. Extremely clean and homey. Would definitely recommend Brook meadow.

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19
19 Photos available

The Residence at Cedar Dell

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

Overall, the community is very nice. I especially enjoy walking the grounds to see the nature we are surrounded by. I love reading large print books from the library. We recently found out that we will be...

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Top-rated Independent Living facilities in Hingham

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16
16 Photos available
5
5 Floor plans available

The Residence at Penniman Hill

276 Whiting St, Hingham, MA 02043
8.6
Review Score
17 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Jean C - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

My mother was a resident at Penniman for about two years. She was in Assisted Living for a year and a half and Memory Care for about four months. The care she received at Penniman Hill was outstanding. The...

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15
15 Photos available
8
8 Floor plans available

Atria Longmeadow Place

42 Mall Road, Burlington, MA 01803
10
Review Score
53 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Stephen D - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

My mother moved into Atria Longmeadow Place 2 months ago. The management and staff have been very welcoming and accommodating to my mother. It was and continues to be a significant adjustment for her. She...

Get Pricing
13
13 Photos available

Brookmeadow at Blue Hills

2121 Central St, Stoughton, MA 02072
10
Review Score
30 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Cheryl F - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

My dad was at Brook meadow about 8 months and loved it. The staff is superb and there are all kinds of activities for everyone to enjoy. Extremely clean and homey. Would definitely recommend Brook meadow.

Get Pricing

Top-rated Independent Living facilities in Beverly

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14
14 Photos available

Colonial Gardens

105 Cherry Hill Drive, Beverly, MA 01915
8.0
Review Score
58 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Becky - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

Everything has been a 5, the experience has been perfect. What we really like about the Colonial gardens is the great food and all the different activities. They have flexible meal options, and the staff are...

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15
15 Photos available
8
8 Floor plans available

Atria Longmeadow Place

42 Mall Road, Burlington, MA 01803
10
Review Score
53 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Stephen D - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

My mother moved into Atria Longmeadow Place 2 months ago. The management and staff have been very welcoming and accommodating to my mother. It was and continues to be a significant adjustment for her. She...

Get Pricing
13
13 Photos available
18
18 Floor plans available

Summer Place

20 Summer Street, Chelmsford, MA 01824
9.9
Review Score
54 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Mary - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

Overall, I love it here. However, I would not recommend going to a retirement home like this with a guy dog, because everyone wants to pet it, feed it and all that stuff. I also think the rent goes up faster...

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Top-rated Independent Living facilities in Worcester

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6
6 Photos available

Dodge Park Rest Home

101 Randolph Rd, Worcester, MA 01606
9.2
Review Score
36 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Paul - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

My loved one was a resident at Dodge Park Rest Home and the overall experience was great for her at this facility. My experience with Dodge Park Rest Home was that they were a very reliable and honest...

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15
15 Photos available
3
3 Floor plans available

Tatnuck Park At Worcester

340 May Street, Worcester, MA 01602
9.2
Review Score
27 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Anonymous - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

I like it. It is expensive, but worth it if you have the money. It is assisted living and NOT nursing -- so good if the senior is still healthy and active, but could be bad if the senior has a lot of...

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13
13 Photos available
6
6 Floor plans available

The Willows at Worcester

101 Barry Rd, Worcester, MA 01609
8.9
Review Score
10 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Anonymous - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

A few options of apartments available, spacious. Nice kitchens, baths, living rooms. It is a clean, active, and safe community to be in.

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Top-rated Independent Living facilities in West Springfield

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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
43 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Allison W - I'm a current/former resident or client

I come to Cedarbrook 2x monthly to host the four clinics. The staff are amazing their interactions with the residents go above beyond any other place I visited. The activities are fun and engaging. I would...

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13
13 Photos available

Evergreen Crossings Retirement Community

900 Hemlock Ave, South Windsor, CT 06074
9.8
Review Score
23 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Anonymous - I live or lived in this community

This is a wonderful place to live with a wonderful staff to work with. I saw 4 places, and there were far among best at 5, and the others were at best 4 of the over three, and were fine places. I am very...

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9
9 Photos available

Southwick Village

802 College Hwy, Southwick, MA 01077
9.5
Review Score
36 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Katrina L - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

Beautiful facility Our grandparents have been there 3 years and we always enjoy visiting them [name removed] always greets us with a smile and great conversation . Rest of staff wonderful as well . Very...

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Massachusetts laws and regulations for independent living communities

Independent living facilities in Massachusetts don’t provide any care services to seniors, therefore they don’t need to be licensed by a state facility. Instead, they are treated as standard rentals and must follow Massachusetts rental laws outlined by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC). These communities typically have a minimum age requirement, which is typically 62 years.

Regulations for independent living on a senior care campus

In Massachusetts, if an independent living facility shares a campus with an assisted living or memory care facility, then those senior care units must be licensed. To learn more about the senior care licensing process and facility regulations, check out the Massachusetts assisted living regulations and memory care regulations.

Massachusetts doesn’t offer inspection reports online, but you can request a copy of an assisted living or memory care facility by contacting the Executive Office of Elder Affairs at information.resources@mass.gov or fax them at 617-727-9368.

Stand-alone independent living facility requirements

Like any Massachusetts rental, stand-alone independent living facilities must offer senior residents a safe and habitable living environment. Independent living rentals in Massachusetts must adhere to the following requirements:[01]

  • Provide residents basic services — like maintenance, fully functioning utilities, and stable structural elements.
  • Maintain a safe and healthy environment free of cockroaches and rodents.
  • Offer equal housing opportunities, therefore they cannot refuse to rent to someone with a disability.

Tenant rights in Massachusetts

If an independent living landlord in Massachusetts fails to provide a safe and habitable environment, tenants have rights to remedies available to them. Some of the most important tenant rights to note include:[01]

  • Tenants can deduct up to four months of future rent to cover repair costs if a landlord fails to start or contract for repairs within five days of notice. And, if the landlord fails to complete repairs that impact a resident’s health or safety within two weeks.
  • Tenants may withhold a portion of rent if the landlord fails to provide habitable conditions.

Before withholding rent or proceeding with repairs, tenants should get legal advice because it could breach their lease agreement. The Mass.gov website offers several legal services to help tenants in such situations.

If you would like to report a complaint or need help resolving a housing dispute, you can contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Hotline at 617-727-8400.

Fair housing laws for seniors with disabilities

Fair housing laws prohibit discrimination against individuals with disabilities and require landlords to offer reasonable accommodations and modifications.[02] Therefore, an independent living facility in Massachusetts cannot refuse to rent due to a senior’s disability.

A reasonable accommodation is a change to policy that will allow a person with a disability to use common areas. Some examples that could help an individual with a disability include:[02]

  • Assigning a closer parking space
  • Allowing a service animal regardless of pet policies
  • Relocating the trash to be more accessible on a ground floor

A reasonable modification is a structural change that is made to existing premises. Some modifications that could help a senior with a disability include:[02]

  • Installing a visual fire alarm for a deaf resident
  • Adding a ramp to a building entrance
  • Installing grab bars in a resident’s bathroom

Independent living facility providers must cover the cost of accommodations or modifications as long as they don’t result in an undue financial and administrative burden, or a fundamental alteration.[02]

Massachusetts Department of Public Health contact information

Massachusetts Department of Public Health
250 Washington St.
Boston, MA 02108
Phone: 617-624-6000
Submit a contact form

Let our care assessment guide you

Our free tool provides options, advice, and next steps based on your unique situation.

Where to find independent living inspection reports

The state of Massachusetts doesn’t offer rental inspection reports online. To learn about an independent living facility’s most recent inspection and/or violations, you can reach out to the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) at housing.help@mass.gov or call 617-573-1100.

References

  1. Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities. (2024). Tenant rightsMass.gov.

  2. Massachusetts Office on Disability. (2024, February 1). Disability rights in housingMass.gov.

Find independent living in other states

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.