President and CEO’s Update – Brian Doherty, CAE

Standing Together for Safer, Stronger Communities

Q3, September 2025

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Dear Members,

This summer has been one of reflection and collaboration across assisted living in Massachusetts. The tragic Gabriel House fire in Fall River remains in our thoughts, and our deepest sympathies are with all affected by this loss. Events like this reaffirm our shared responsibility to continually enhance safety and emergency preparedness in all communities. We will be donating to a fund to help victims of the fire and will share that information with you in the coming weeks, in case your community would like to join us in that.

Our heartfelt thanks go to the fire department and first responders for their swift, courageous efforts to protect and assist residents. Mass-ALA worked closely with state officials and the Massachusetts Long Term Care Mutual Aid Plan (MassMAP) to help relocate residents from the shelter. Thank you to the MassMAP members who responded quickly to the emergency request.

Mass-ALA is fully engaged in the state’s Fire and Life Safety Initiative, announced by Governor Healey. Completing the fire and life safety survey was a practical way for ALRs to contribute to stronger safeguards for those we serve. These results are important as we reinforce established practices and stay focused on our residents’ well-being. We are pleased to share that 100% of ALRs complied with the Fire and Life Safety Initiative reporting, thanks to direct outreach to communities that AGE shared had not yet responded, led by my colleagues Christina Broughton and Barbara Southall at Mass-ALA.

If your community needs assistance updating your disaster preparedness policies, our upcoming Compliance Trainings are a great place to start. Each session includes disaster preparedness, safety, and compliance topics to support your leadership teams in operational readiness. Sign up for individual sessions or take the whole series by signing up here.

Compliance Series:

The Assisted Living Residences Commission continues gathering input before its report, recognizing the value of informed recommendations. The state extended the timeline for the Commission’s report, with the report expected by year’s end, which allows stakeholders to share ideas for strengthening oversight and preparedness to prevent loss of life from fires and other disasters and emergencies. I am continuing to advocate as a member of the commission, along with Mass-ALA Treasurer Beth Anderson, who is also a member of the commission. The Mass-ALA Board, guided by Chair Wendy Nowokunski’s leadership, has been engaged in determining our perspective on the right balance in assisted living policy going forward.

Your strength, compassion, and commitment to assisted living are deeply appreciated. Mass-ALA remains here to support you and is committed to learning from the findings of the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s investigation. Each step forward reflects our priority: ensuring Massachusetts’ assisted living communities remain places of trust, independence, and quality. Thank you for your ongoing participation and dedication, which continues to shape the future of assisted living statewide.