The 10 Best Assisted Living Facilities in Boston, MA

Boston is the capital and largest city in Massachusetts, and it's the home of world-class shopping, education and healthcare facilities. Seniors in Boston, who make up 11% of the city's 695,000 residents, live in both a city and state that have joined the AARP's Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities. This means that both Boston and Massachusetts have made the commitment to actively work toward making their city or state a great place to live for people of all ages.

Boston has the seasonal climate of a New England city, with 44 inches of snow and 44 inches of rain a year. Summer highs average 81 degrees, while winter lows average 22. Seniors in Boston are relatively safe, compared with other large U.S. cities, as Boston has a crime rate almost exactly in line with the national average, rather than the elevated rate many big cities have.

Seniors in Boston pay an average of $5,850 a month for assisted living, according to the 2018 Genworth Cost of Care Survey. This is well above both the national average cost of $4,000 a month and the Massachusetts average cost of $5,495. By contrast, seniors in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, on the other side of the state, pay just $4,200 a month for the same care.

Find a great new place to live on this list of the 10 best assisted living facilities in Boston.

Landmark at Longwood

63 Parker Hill Avenue

Boston, MA 02120

(617) 975-0110

Kind staff, cozy apartments and recently renovated common areas are some of the reasons seniors enjoy calling this assisted living community home. The facility offers a range of care, from assistance with daily tasks to medication management, physical and speech therapy and 24-7 supervision. To keep their wits sharp, residents can take part in some of the organized activities or join a book or hobby club. Socialization is encouraged, whether while watching TV in a dedicated TV room or outdoors in the garden and patio area. There is a general store and beauty parlor on-site for residents' needs. Transportation for off-site events, shopping trips and medical appointments is provided. Small pets are welcome.

• Facility offers a range of care, from assistance with daily tasks to medication management, physical and speech therapy and 24-7 supervision.
• Facility boast a general store and beauty parlor on-site for residents' needs.

Zelma Lacey House of Charlestown

9 W School Street

Boston, MA 02129

(617) 241-0328

Talent shows, chair massages and creative crafts are just some of the activities on the calendar at Zelma Lacey House of Charlestown. This assisted living community offers a blend of award-winning green space and helping hands for seniors that can still live primarily independently. Residents decide on the weekly menu that is served restaurant-style in the communal dining room. Fitness classes help seniors stay active and moving, while resident groups and classes provide opportunities to enjoy a hobby or learn something new. There are a hydration room, meditation center and computer nook, all available to residents throughout the day.

• Restaurant-style dining
• Amenities include, meditation center, hydration room, and computer nooks.

Susan Bailis Assisted Living

352 Massachusetts Avenue

Boston, MA 02115

(617) 247-1010

Residents of Susan Bailis Assisted Living, nestled in Boston's historic South End neighborhood, have easy access to Tufts Medical Center and many high-end shops. Several cozy floor plans are available; they all have walk-in showers, kitchenettes and other homelike features. Residents can get pampered in the beauty salon, challenge their friends to a card game in the community room or relax with a new book in the library. Additional on-site amenities include patios, gardens and computer stations. Residents and their guests can park their cars in the monitored, heated garage.

• All floor plans have walk-in showers, kitchenettes, and other homelike features.
• On-site amenities include patios, gardens and computer stations.

Standish Village

1190 Adams Street

Boston, MA 02124

(617) 298-5656

Standish Village is nestled in Boston's historic Lower Mills neighborhood, just a few minutes away from Carney Hospital. Each assisted living apartment has a large bathroom, ample storage space and an in-unit kitchenette. Some floor plans have granite countertops, oversized windows and other high-end features. Standish Village has many common areas, including a community room, game room and hallway nooks. For fresh air, residents can head to the patio or rooftop deck. In the elegant dining room, residents are served fresh, healthy meals based on a Mediterranean diet; for special events, residents can reserve the private dining room.

• Each apartment has a large bathroom, ample storage space and an in-unit kitchenette.
• Healthy Mediterranean diet based meals served fresh.

Compass on the Bay Assisted Living

1380 Columbia Road

Boston, MA 02127

(617) 268-5450

Recognized by Assisted Living Today as one of the top 20 assisted living communities in Massachusetts, Compass on the Bay provides individualized care services and research-based treatment for seniors in a home-like environment with beautiful views of Carson Beach and Dorchester Bay. The facility is brightly lit and features private apartments, intimate community rooms and accessible outdoor garden spaces. Its single-story design makes it easy for seniors to navigate independently and helps residents feel a sense of belonging and community. A wide range of daily activities are offered that build confidence and encourage relationships between residents, including yoga classes, educational seminars, art lessons and a weekly baking group. The facility also hosts frequent special events, live entertainment performances and scheduled group outings to local restaurants and attractions.

• Individualized care services and research-based treatment for seniors in a home-like environment.
• Wide range of daily activities are offered, including yoga classes, educational seminars, art lessons and a weekly baking group.

Brookdale Quincy Bay

99 Brackett Street

Quincy, MA 02169

(617) 472-4457

Seniors moving into Brookdale Quincy Bay can choose accommodations, from studio to 2-bedroom apartments. Each unit is equipped with a kitchenette, or seniors may choose to eat their meals in the community dining room. Compassionate staff is available 24/7 to help with mobility and other daily living needs, and a skilled nurse is on hand during business hours. Residents have access to a garden and patio, computer room, and a library, and there is Wi-Fi available in each room. To help develop friendships, Brookdale organizes games, hobby groups, and fitness classes, as well as group trips off-site. Parking is available for those that drive, and for those that don't, Brookdale has transportation.

• 24/7 available staffing.
• On-site amenities include, garden patios, computer room, and library, as well as, WIFI access.

Chestnut Park at Cleveland Circle

50 Sutherland Road

Brighton, MA 02135

(617) 981-6477

Chestnut Park at Cleveland Circle offers different assisted living service plans that cater to each resident's individuality. Basic services include assistance for personal needs and medication management, as well as the privacy of one-bedroom or studio apartments. The Live Now, Live Well program promotes fun and fitness through a robust calendar of programs, which include a wide array of recreational activities, as well as religious services. The adjacent Jewish Community Center Early Learning Center helps cultivate a sense of purpose among residents, allowing them to volunteer as classroom grandparents to preschool kids. Additionally, Chestnut Park's relationship with Showa Boston, a Japanese language and culture center, provides engaging intercultural exchanges with visiting university students.

• Individually catered care and services offered to each resident.
• Facility offers fitness programs as well as diverse cultivational experiences.

Atria Marina Place

Four Seaport Drive

North Quincy, MA 02171

(617) 830-7921

Atria Marina Place is located just south of Boston in North Quincy's upscale Marina Bay neighborhood. With kitchenettes, walk-in showers and individual thermostat control, seniors can feel comfortable in their apartments; varied floor plans are available. Pets are welcome, and seniors may enjoy exploring the walking paths, patios, gazebos and other outdoor areas with their furry friends. Podiatry, rehabilitation and other medical services are conveniently available on-site. We featured Atria Marina Place in Boston's top 10 because of their award-winning culinary team. Varied menus are served restaurant-style in the elegant dining room, but residents can also enjoy casual meals in the pub. Special diets, such as vegetarian or no-salt-added, can be accommodated.

• Pet-friendly facility.
• Various menu options ranging from casual to elegant to special dietary meal plans.

Wingate Residences at Boylston Place

615 Heath Street

Chestnut Hill, MA 02467

(617) 244-6400

Seniors who choose Wingate Residences for assisted living accommodations have apartment-style options that range from a studio to a two-bedroom, all of which have individual kitchens, housekeeping and linen services and access to a concierge 24 hours a day. Attentive caregivers are available for daily living and mobility assistance, and skilled nurses are on staff around-the-clock. Nutritious meals are served restaurant-style in the community dining room, with optional room service. Planned activities and games help residents make new friends, while group outings encourage them to explore the area. Transportation is provided for medical appointments and shopping, and parking is available for those who still drive. Small pets are welcome.

• Housekeeping, linen services, and concierge access is available 24 hours a day.
• Nutritious meals served restaurant-style or via room service.

Evans Park at Newton Corner

430 Center Street

Newton, MA 02458

(617) 910-3184

Evans Park at Newton Corner seeks to create a meaningful experience for its senior residents through human connection. With an emphasis on each residents' individuality, the dedicated staff work to provide comfort through a range of personal services while preserving independence to promote overall well-being. Services range from help with everyday tasks, such as laundry and housekeeping, to more complex needs, including one-on-one companionship, behavioral support and mealtime assistance. Residents can enjoy the facility's many amenities, such as a games and activities lounge, fitness room and library. Its signature Live Now, Live Well program encourages seniors to stay active through activities such as exercise classes, games, book discussions and art workshops, and to remain engaged with the community through organized group outings and volunteer opportunities.

• Services offered include, help with everyday tasks, laundry, housekeeping, or more complex needs, such as behavioral support or meal assistance.
• Residents can enjoy the facility's many amenities, such as a games and activities lounge, fitness room and library.