Massachusetts Assisted Living Centered on Respect, Connection and Wellbeing
What Assisted Living Provides
Assisted living emphasizes aging with dignity and choice, while offering a high-quality lifestyle in a supportive, non-clinical environment. Residents transitioning from living independently choose assisted living for a variety of reasons, often needing help with certain activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, grooming, or mobility. Some of these individuals live in special memory care units that support those living with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias.
For older adults who could use a helping hand, but don’t need the intensive, medically focused care of a skilled nursing facility, assisted living residences offer community, connection, and fulfillment. With loneliness on the rise among older adults and with an increasingly aging population, assisted living supports residents in staying active, participating in wellness activities, developing new hobbies, as well as making new friends and building community.
Aging presents challenges that evolve over time, but assisted living is rooted in the value that older adults – even in very old age or with severe memory impairment – shouldn’t be defined by their medical needs. Assisted living promotes independence and wellness, supporting residents with daily hygiene, managing medications, eating healthy and regularly, keeping a consistent sleep schedule, and staying physically active. Some assisted living residences also provide basic health services. Staff develop an individualized assessment and service plan for each resident, revised over time as needs change.
A Strong System Focused on Resident Wellbeing
Massachusetts maintains robust oversight to help ensure safety and quality across ALRs, including:
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Individualized service plans
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Adequate staffing and staff training
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Regular inspections and incident reporting
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Fire safety and emergency preparedness requirements
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Compliance with local fire and building codes
Continuing to Strengthen Safety
Mass-ALA is committed to ongoing collaboration with regulators, policymakers, and community partners to enhance safety and resident wellbeing. Opportunities for improvement include updated emergency preparedness rules, clearer documentation of building safety measures, standardized staffing assessments, and additional safety-related policy enhancements.
Our Commitment
The safety, dignity, and quality of life of Massachusetts’ older adults remain our top priority. We will continue working to ensure that every assisted living community is a place residents and families can trust.