Private pay
Many families pay for care with private funds: personal savings, pension payments, retirement accounts, or a combination of these and family contributions.
Reviewed by BoomersHub Senior Living AdvisorsUpdated
Compare communities across 202 cities and 11 counties. Massachusetts averages $15,817 per month for nursing homes, and BoomersHub advisors help you shortlist, confirm pricing, and book tours for free.
Massachusetts has a four-season New England climate and draws retirees for Boston-area medical access, mature senior-care campuses, and quieter western-Mass options. Communities cluster across Boston, Worcester, Springfield, and Cambridge, from small residential care homes to full-campus senior-living properties. This guide walks through what nursing home in Massachusetts costs, how families pay for it, the state's licensing rules, and how to shortlist communities without doing the legwork alone.
Start with a major metro, or jump straight to your town in the A–Z directory. Every link opens that city's nursing homes options.
The average cost of nursing homes in Massachusetts is $15,817 per month. Your actual rate depends on the city, apartment size, and level of care, which is what our advisors confirm for you before you tour.
State averages. Individual community rates vary by city, floor plan, and care level.
Average monthly cost in Massachusetts by care type. Tap any card to explore that care type across the state.
$9,600/mo
$7,680/mo
$12,000/mo
$15,817/mo
Skilled nursing and rehabilitation
$477/mo
Massachusetts state averages. Bars are scaled to the highest cost shown.
Most Massachusetts families combine two or three of these. An advisor walks through which apply to your situation.
Many families pay for care with private funds: personal savings, pension payments, retirement accounts, or a combination of these and family contributions.
Selling a parent's home can help finance nursing homes, especially once the home is no longer occupied. Proceeds often fund several years of care.
Homeowners aged 62+ can convert part of their home equity into cash while retaining ownership, with no loan payments due while living in the home. A spouse may remain in the home while proceeds help pay for a partner's care.
LTC policies typically begin paying out when the policyholder needs help with two or more activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, or eating. Check the policy's elimination period and daily benefit before counting on it.
Veterans with at least 90 days of active duty (including one day during wartime) may qualify for VA benefits such as Aid & Attendance, which can add a monthly amount on top of a VA pension.
Massachusetts Medicaid can help eligible lower-income seniors offset nursing homes costs through MassHealth Group Adult Foster Care (GAFC). The program does not pay room and board, and not every Massachusetts community participates — confirm before you tour.
MassHealth Group Adult Foster Care (GAFC) detailsEvery nursing homes community in Massachusetts is licensed and inspected by Massachusetts Executive Office of Aging & Independence — Assisted Living Residences. Massachusetts licenses 2 settings — see the cards below for what each covers. Communities must meet standards for staffing, caregiver training, medication administration, and building safety, with managers and staff completing continuing in-service training each year.
Assisted Living Residence (ALR)
Massachusetts's single assisted-living certification — apartment-style community offering meals, personal care, and health services.
Special Care Residence Endorsement
Additional certification for communities operating dementia-care neighbourhoods, with stricter staffing and training standards.
Verify any Massachusetts community
No Area Agency on Aging directory published yet for this state.
The Massachusetts median for nursing home sits well above the national average, driven by Boston-metro real estate, higher minimum-wage staffing, and strict state licensing that add operating overhead. Where a state lands depends on labour costs, cost of living, and the mix of urban vs rural communities. Your actual rate depends on the city, apartment size, and level of care — an advisor confirms current pricing for any community you're considering, free.
Searching Massachusetts alone is overwhelming. Our advisors know the nursing homes communities, the real pricing, and the availability across Massachusetts, and they do the legwork for you.
Guides written for families starting the search, from first conversations to moving day.
Start with an honest family conversation and a needs assessment from their physician. Tour two or three Massachusetts communities together, ask about care levels and pricing, then complete the community's health assessment and residency agreement. A BoomersHub advisor can shortlist communities, confirm pricing, and schedule tours for free.
Pet-friendly Nursing Home communities welcome residents' cats, small dogs, or other companion animals, usually with size limits, a pet deposit, and the expectation that the resident or family can care for the pet. Ask each Massachusetts community for its written pet policy before move-in.
Over 30,000 licensed Nursing Home communities across the United States, housing more than 800,000 residents (AHCA / NCAL industry data). Ranges from large resort-style campuses to small residential care homes.
Large states lead the count: California, Florida, and Texas consistently rank among the top states for the number of licensed Nursing Home communities.
Southern and Midwestern states consistently rank among the most affordable for Nursing Home — Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, North Dakota, and South Dakota all sit well below the national median. New England, the West Coast, and Alaska are the expensive end.
The average Nursing Home resident is in their mid-80s. A typical resident needs help with 2 or 3 daily activities — bathing, dressing, medication management. Many move in after living alone became difficult rather than after a single medical event.
Many Massachusetts communities allow pets — most commonly cats and small dogs, subject to the community's pet policy. Expect size or breed limits, a pet deposit, and a check that the resident or family can handle daily pet care.
Usually not. The base monthly rate typically covers housing, meals, housekeeping, activities, and help with daily activities. Medical services (doctor visits, therapy, medications) are billed separately, often through Medicare or private insurance. Ask each community exactly where its rate ends and medical billing begins.
Yes. Family and friends are welcome at Massachusetts Nursing Home communities, subject to reasonable visiting hours and sign-in policies. Many communities also host family dinners, holiday events, and overnight guest options.
Partially. Massachusetts Medicaid programs (HCBS waivers) can cover personal-care services in participating Nursing Home facilities for eligible lower-income seniors. Waivers do not pay for room and board, and not every community participates, so confirm before touring.
I had reached out to you before,however, would like to reach out to you again regarding my 68 yr old brother who is very strictly kosher and has bipolar/schizophrenia and being cared for in New Jersey and may have some dementia. I would consult my attorney to get him mass health in place hoping you would have a bed for him as I am his guardian and sister and needs to be back here home in ma with his family and friends. I have nj guardianship so that would not be a problem and he has medicaid/Medicare and soc sec disability. Please can you help me help him. Thank you his sister beverly and guardian,
Beverly cohen · Julian J Levitt Family Nursing Home · Longmeadow
I had reached out to you before,however, would like to reach out to you again regarding my 68 yr old brother who is very strictly kosher and has bipolar/schizophrenia and being cared for in New Jersey and may have some dementia. I would consult my attorney to get him mass health in place hoping you would have a bed for him as I am his guardian and sister and needs to be back here home in ma with his family and friends. I have nj guardianship so that would not be a problem and he has medicaid/Medicare and soc sec disability. Please can you help me help him. Thank you his sister beverly and guardian,
Beverly cohen · Julian J Levitt Family Nursing Home · Longmeadow
I had reached out to you before,however, would like to reach out to you again regarding my 68 yr old brother who is very strictly kosher and has bipolar/schizophrenia and being cared for in New Jersey and may have some dementia. I would consult my attorney to get him mass health in place hoping you would have a bed for him as I am his guardian and sister and needs to be back here home in ma with his family and friends. I have nj guardianship so that would not be a problem and he has medicaid/Medicare and soc sec disability. Please can you help me help him. Thank you his sister beverly and guardian,
Beverly cohen · Julian J Levitt Family Nursing Home · Longmeadow
Events are attended by my father on a regular basis. Kara, the Activities Director, keeps patients involved and gives them a sense of purpose. His quality of life has greatly improved since he joined the center. He is now happier, more energetic, stronger, and more cognizant. Foremost's quality staff is directly responsible for these improvements. We are grateful!
Wingate At Sharon · Sharon
My grandmother loved that place. Rosewood was a rehab facility for my grandmother in 2018. They were so kind to her and our family each time we visited. My grandmother was admitted to long-term care at Rosewood this August after she had been in Wakefield's previous rehab. This did more harm than good. While I understand that we are currently in a pandemic, her care at the Wakefield center was poor. Rosewood was a wonderful place to be. Rosewood was the place where my grandmother died last month. The staff were so kind to her and took great care of her. My family and I believed she would pull through. We also believed Rose Wood would prolong her life. My grandmother quit eating and stopped taking her medication, which was sad. Even Rose Wood's medical staff tried to help her, but she refused to be there, especially during the pandemic. She left on her own terms. All of the Rose Wood staff were so helpful in providing care and services for my family. They are amazing and we can't thank them enough. They are heroes, even in the difficult times we live in.
Alliance Health At Rosewood · Peabody
The physical facility was my main concern, but it has been fixed beyond my expectations. The director of nursing, activities, and human resources are responsive to any questions or concerns. There is more CNA coverage at mealtimes, but all residents are well taken care of. They were quick to respond to COVID emergencies and kept them informed.
Bear Mountain At Sudbury · Sudbury
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