Nursing Homes in Boston, Massachusetts
Rich in American history, Boston continues to be an educational, cultural and scientific research hub. With a population of 692,600, 11.5% of which are 65 or older, Massachusetts' capital is committed to providing meaningful resources that enhance seniors' quality of life. The city is home to more than 20 hospitals, including Mass General, and an abundance of senior-related medical, legal and health care services.
Some older adults may require nursing home care, and the Boston metropolitan area offers 238 nursing home options according to U.S. News and World Report. These skilled nursing facilities support older adults who need assistance with daily activities, such as getting out of bed, bathing, dressing and eating. Individuals who don’t necessarily need hospitalization but require more assistance and medical care than assisted living residences can offer benefit from nursing home care.
This guide includes more information about Boston, nursing home costs and long-term care resources that are available in this city and its surrounding areas.
The SeniorScore for Boston, MA
Boston and neighboring Charlestown have a SeniorScore of 79, which is considerably higher than the national average of 72. The metropolitan area scored highest in the Health & Safety and Recreation & Leisure categories with its lowest score in Finances.
The Health & Safety score for Boston is 85. The city's high number of Medicare-registered physicians and the 49 hospitals in close proximity allow seniors to receive quality care through their insurance networks. Additionally, the Boston vicinity offers 1,459 pharmacies and 266 senior living facilities as well as a high number of health care workers and fire stations. The city's average life expectancy of 80.5 surpasses the nation's 78.6.
Some of the contributing factors for Boston's Recreation & Leisure score of 70 include the area's 163 golf courses, 32 parks and 669 churches. Although the city's senior population accounts for only 20% of the total, individuals can find many activities to remain engaged. The high number of malls, gyms and movie theaters are representative of what's available in the vicinity.
Boston's lowest score of 61 is in the Finances category. The most significant contributing factors for such a low score include a property tax average of 3.51% of total income compared to the national average of 2.79%. Massachusetts' state income tax of 4.74% also exceeds the nation's 3.38% average. While the city's average income levels and taxes are higher than the nation's, seniors experience a much higher cost of living. Assisted living and nursing homes, for example, average $66,720 and $148,738 respectively and far eclipse the national averages.
Nursing Home Costs in Boston, MA
According to the Genworth 2020 Cost of Care Survey, the average cost of a Boston nursing home facility runs $13,383 per month, which is higher than the state median of $12,623, and it's nearly double the nation's $7,756 monthly average.
Boston's figure for nursing home care is the highest in the state. Although 65 miles separate the island of Nantucket and the coastal town of Plymouth, they share the state's second highest place at $13,326. Each of these locations is included in Barnstable's cost of care data. This Cape Cod community is equidistant from both locales. Amherst, in the center of the state, is considered part of Springfield's metro area and has an average monthly cost of $11,568.
The least expensive nursing home cost in Massachusetts is attributed to the Bristol County towns of New Bedford and Fall River in the state's South Coast region. Both are included in the Providence, Rhode Island, metro area, which has a monthly rate of $9,733.
- Boston: $13,383
- Nantucket: $13,326
- Plymouth: $13,326
- Amherst: $11,568
- New Bedford: $9,733
- Fall River: $9,733
Top Nursing Care in Boston, Massachusetts
Sherrill House is situated within the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. It is a 196 room senior housing facility. With an average household income of $69,576, the facility is in a primarily middle income area. It ...
Don Orione Nursing Home is a 190 room skilled nursing facility. It is situated within the East Boston area of Boston, Massachusetts. The facility is in a generally middle income area, with an average per-family income of $42,613. ...
Marian Manor is a 355 unit senior care facility located within the Leather District neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. The community is in a largely middle class area, with an average per-family income of $64,285. With approximately 33,000 residents ...
Armenian Nursing and Rehabilitation Center is an 83 bed skilled nursing facility located in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. The surrounding area has a dense population, with approximately 36,000 individuals living in the zip code of 02130. ...
Spaulding Nursing and Therapy Center North End is a 140 room nursing home facility. It is situated within the Haymarket area of Boston, Massachusetts. The community is in a primarily upscale area, with a median per-family income of ...
Post-Acute Rehabilitative Services at Hebrew Rehabilitation Center is a 50 bed nursing home facility. It is located within the Roslindale neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. With an average household income of $62,945, the facility is in a predominantly middle ...
Presentation Rehabilitation and Skilled Care Center is located in the Brighton neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. It is a 122 unit nursing home facility. The neighboring area is heavily populated, with around 44,000 residents in the 02135 zip code. ...
Situated in the Brighton area of Boston, Massachusetts, Wingate at Boston is a 123 unit senior community. The facility is in a largely working class area, with an average per-family income of $33,863. It is densely populated, with ...
Located within the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, Laurel Ridge Rehabilitation and Skilled Care Center is a 120 unit nursing home facility. The community is in a mostly middle income area, with a median family income of $69,576. ...
Located in the South Dorchester area of Boston, Massachusetts, The Boston Home is a 96 unit senior housing community. The surrounding area is densely populated, with around 49,000 people residing in the 02124 zip code. With an average ...
Vero Health and Rehab, Parkway is a 141 unit nursing home facility. It is located within the West Roxbury neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. The surrounding area is heavily populated, with approximately 27,000 residents in the zip code of ...
Vero Health and Rehab of West Roxbury is situated in the West Roxbury area of Boston, Massachusetts. It is a 76 room skilled nursing facility. The community is in a largely affluent area, with a median per-family income ...
Situated in the Mission Hill area of Boston, Massachusetts, The Edgar P. Benjamin Healthcare Center is a 205 room skilled nursing facility. The surrounding area has a medium-density population, with roughly 16,000 individuals residing in the 02120 zip code. ...
German Center For Extended Care is a 133 bed senior care facility. It is located within the West Roxbury neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. The encompassing area is heavily populated, with roughly 27,000 poeple living in the zip code ...
Located in the South Boston neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, Kindred Nursing And Rehabilitation-Harborlights is an 89 unit skilled nursing facility. The community is in a mostly middle class area, with a median household income of $64,285. With about ...
Compass On The Bay is a senior housing community situated in the South Boston area of Boston, Massachusetts. The encompassing area has a dense population, with roughly 33,000 people residing in the 02127 zip code. It is a ...
Located within the Mission Hill area of the city, Landmark at Longwood is a senior care community in Roxbury Crossing, Massachusetts. The facility is in a mostly low income area, with a median per-household income of $28,794. With ...
3 miles away from Boston, MA
Cambridge Rehabilitation and Nursing Center is an 83 unit nursing facility. It is located within the Mid-Cambridge neighborhood of Cambridge, Massachusetts. The facility is in a primarily middle class area, with a median household income of $68,127. ...
3 miles away from Boston, MA
Situated within the Charlestown neighborhood, Florence and Chafetz Home for Specialized Care is a senior housing facility serving Chelsea, Massachusetts. The surrounding area is heavily populated, with about 36,000 poeple living in the zip code of 02150. With ...
3 miles away from Boston, MA
Free Nursing Home Resources in Boston, MA
Ethos Ethos is a nonprofit organization serving the elderly and disabled in the Boston neighborhoods of Mattapan, West Roxbury, Jamaica Plain, Hyde Park and Roslindale. It focuses on assisting individuals living at home as well as their families. Seniors aged 60 and older who meet state-mandated income and physical need guidelines may receive care in a range of areas, including homemaking, meal preparation, personal care, at-home safety and transportation. A case manager conducts a need assessment and creates a care plan. The representative monitors living conditions and troubleshoots problems or concerns while advocating for those receiving services. Respite services are provided for caregivers regardless of income. 555 Amory St., Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 (617) 522-6700 https://ethocare.org/ |
Central Boston Elder Services Central Boston Elder Services assists the elderly and disabled in the Boston neighborhoods of South End, Back Bay, Allston, Roxbury, Brighton, Jamaica Plain, North Dorchester, Mission Hill and Fenway. The program's goal is to help individuals remain in their homes by providing short- and long-term care. Working on a sliding-fee scale, the nonprofit organization offers personal care and homemaker, companion and grocery shopping services. Central Boston Elder Services also provides accessibility adaptations and elder protective services. 2315 Washington St., Boston, MA 02119 (617) 277-7416 https://centraboston.org |
Executive Office of Elder Affairs The Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs advocates for seniors and individuals with disabilities who wish to remain independent in their own homes. The department's care managers help individuals determine which Medicaid programs are available to them based on income and assets. Seniors are also directed to an Options Counselor to determine which housing and in-home and nutrition services best meet their needs. The department's elder abuse hotline investigates cases involving the physical, emotional and sexual abuse of persons aged 60 or older and disabled individuals of any age. Other concerns managed by the department include financial exploitation and caretaker neglect. 1 Ashburton Place, 5th Floor, Boston, MA 02108 (617) 727-7750 https://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-elder-affairs |
Age Strong Commission The Age Strong Commission is a department of the Boston city government. Its care managers assess individual needs by conducting in-person and home visits to ensure that they refer seniors to the appropriate city programs and services. Referrals may include health insurance counseling, legal services and food and fuel assistance. They also provide protective services in cases involving elder abuse or financial exploitation. 1 City Hall Square, Room 271, Boston, MA 02201 (617) 635-4366 https://www.boston.gov/departments/age-strong-commission |
Catholic Charities Elder Services Catholic Charities of Boston's Elder Services offers several free resources to support the area's aging community. Companions to the Aging provides companionship and pastoral care to interested individuals regardless of faith. Homebound visits in the greater Lynn area occur weekly. Its Elder Outreach program offers short-term support to seniors living in Plymouth County and South Boston's BHA-funded elderly housing communities. Care managers conduct home visits, assess needs and assist with locating the appropriate programs. Catholic Charities' Grandparent Support Group is available at the Laboure Center in South Boston. It focuses on providing support to grandparents who are raising their grandchildren. 275 W. Broadway, Boston, MA 02127 (617) 464-8500 https://www.ccab.org/elder-services |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question
How much does nursing home care cost in the state of Massachusetts?
Answer
The cost of nursing home care in Massachusetts averages roughly $346 daily, $10,380 monthly, and $126,290 per year. By comparison, the national averages are $212 daily, $6,360 monthly, and $77,380 yearly.
Question
What does nursing care cost in Boston?
Answer
The minimum per-month cost of nursing care in Boston, Massachusetts is estimated to be around $10,830 and can run as high as $14,220. The average is roughly $12,240 per-month, with an annual cost of around $148,738.
Question
What is included with nursing home care?
Answer
Many nursing homes have both private and shared rooms. They generally offer a variety of services such as surgery rehab, palliative care, psychiatric care, physical therapy, and pain management.
Question
Can I pay for nursing home care in Boston with Medicaid?
Answer
Golden Living Center-Dedham, Devereux House Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation, St. Joseph Rehab and Nursing Care Center, Colonial Hill Center, and Brockton Neighborhood Health Center are accepting Medicaid for nursing care in Boston.
Question
What is the senior population of Boston?
Answer
While the surrounding statistical area is home to 3,839,214 inhabitants, there are 215,443 residing in the city itself. Residents over the age of 55 comprise 18% of the total population.