Long term care facilities may decide to voluntarily close for a number of reasons. The Department of Public Health (DPH) is required to monitor the closure process and works with the Executive Office of Elder Affairs (EOEA) Long Term Care Ombudsman to:
- Review a proposed closure
- Address concerns that have been brought to its attention
- Ensure that measures are put in place to minimize the impact on residents and their families
Throughout the closure process, the facility is not only responsible for working with residents and their families to identify new placement for residents, but it also must maintain safe, high-quality care for all of its residents.
Disclaimer
The Department of Public Health (DPH) is committed to achieving meaningful accessibility to this online environment for all users, including users with disabilities. We recognize that this version of the Essential Service Closure Documentation may not work for all users. If you are a user with visual impairments who needs alternative access to the documents, please contact the Bureau of Health Care Safety and Quality at (617) 624-0508 or by email at DPH.BHCSQ@state.ma.us. To submit written comments on a pending closure, email them to HFLLicenseAction@mass.gov by the date of the public hearing.
Pending voluntary nursing home closures in Massachusetts
For more information about each individual facility, please use the Massachusetts Nursing Home Survey Performance Tool and the CMS Nursing Home Compare website. To request documentation, such as a facility’s Intent to Close letter, please contact DPH.BHCSQ@massmail.state.ma.us.
Facility | Closure Date | Public Hearing Information |
---|---|---|
Phillips Manor Nursing Home | February 20, 2025 | Tuesday, November 19, 2024, at 6pm EST Toll-Free number: 1-888-390-1274 Participant passcode: 1598656 |
Highview of Northampton | February 06, 2025 | Wednesday, November 6, 2024, at 6pm EST Toll-Free number: 888-946-3502 Participant passcode: 6102133 |
Marian Manor | September 11, 2024 | Tuesday, June 11, 2024 at 6pm |
Bridgewater Nursing & Rehab | May 24, 2024 | Tuesday, February 20, 2024 at 6pm EST |
Savoy Nursing and Rehabilitation Center | April 3, 2024 | Thursday, January 11, 2024 at 6pm EST |
New England Sinai Hospital Transitional Care Unit | April 2, 2024 | Wednesday, January 10, 2024 at 6pm EST |
South Dennis Health Care | January 30, 2024 | Wednesday, November 1, 2023 at 6pm |
Arnold House Nursing Home 490 William St, Stoneham, MA 02180 | September 22, 2023 | Wednesday, June 21, 2023 at 6pm |
Willimansett East | June 6, 2023 | Wednesday, March 1, 2023 at 6pm |
Willimansett West | June 6, 2023 | Wednesday, March 1, 2023 at 6pm |
Chapin Center | June 6, 2023 | Thursday, March 2, 2023 at 6pm |
Governors Center | June 6, 2023 | Thursday, March 2, 2023 at 6pm |
Stonehedge Rehabilitation and Skilled Care Center 5 Redlands Road West Roxbury, MA, 02132 | February 10, 2022 | Tuesday, November 9, 2021 |
Heathwood Healthcare 188 Florence St. Chestnut Hill, MA, 02467 | January 5, 2022 | Tuesday, September 28, 2021 at 6 p.m. |
Mt. Ida Rest Home 32 Newtonville Ave. Newton, MA 02460 | December 31, 2021 | Thursday, September 30, 2021 at 6 p.m. |
Wingate at Chestnut Hill 615 Heath St. Chestnut Hill, MA 02467 | October 1, 2021 | Thursday, July 1, 2021 at 6 p.m. |
Halcyon House 175 Berkeley St. Methuen, MA 01844 | July 16, 2021 | Wednesday, April 14, 2021 from 6-9 p.m. |
Agawam HealthCare 1200 Suffield Street Agawam, MA 01001 | July 27, 2021 | Tuesday, April 20, 2021 at 6 p.m. |
Wareham HealthCare 50 Indian Neck Road Wareham, MA 02571 | July 28, 2021 | Wednesday, April 21, 2021 at 6 p.m. |
Town & Country Health Care Center 259 Baldwin Street Lowell MA 01851 | July 31, 2021 | None |
Agawam HealthCare
Arnold House Nursing Home
Attleboro Healthcare
Bridgewater Nursing & Rehab
Chapin Center
- Notice of Intent to Close and Draft of Closure and Relocation Plan (PDF) | (DOCX)
- Approved Closure and Relocation Plan (PDF) | (DOCX)
Chetwynde Healthcare
Dedham Healthcare
Gloucester Healthcare
Governors Center
- Notice of Intent to Close and Draft of Closure and Relocation Plan (PDF) | (DOCX)
- Approved Closure and Relocation Plan (PDF) | (DOCX)
Halcyon House
- Notice of Intent to Close and Draft of Closure and Relocation Plan (PDF) | (Word)
- DPH Approval of Halcyon House Closure Plan (PDF) | (Word)
Heathwood Healthcare
Highview of Northampton
- Notice of Intent to Close (PDF) | (DOCX)
- DPH Approval of Highview of Northampton Closure Plan (PDF) | (DOCX)
Marian Manor
Mt. Ida Rest Home
New England Sinai Hospital Transitional Care Unit
Phillips Manor Nursing Home
Quincy Health and Rehabilitation
Savoy Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
Stonehedge Rehabilitation and Skilled Care Center
- Notice of Intent to Close and Draft of Closure Plan (PDF) | (DOC)
- DPH Comments on Draft of Closure Plan (PDF) | (DOC)
- Stonehedge Response to DPH Comments on Draft of Closure Plan (PDF) | (DOC)
- DPH Approval of Closure Plan (PDF) | (DOC)
South Dennis Healthcare
Town & Country Health Care Center
- Closure and Relocation Plan (PDF) | (Word)
- DPH Approval of Town & Country Health Care Center Closure Plan (PDF) | (Word)
Wareham HealthCare
Willimansett East
- Notice of Intent to Close and Draft of Closure and Relocation Plan (PDF) | (DOCX)
- Approved Closure and Relocation Plan (PDF) | (DOCX)
Willimansett West
- Notice of Intent to Close and Draft of Closure and Relocation Plan (PDF) | (DOCX)
- Approved Closure and Relocation Plan (PDF) | (DOCX)
Wingate at Chestnut Hill
Pending nursing home change of ownership in Massachusetts
There are no nursing home ownership changes pending at this time.
Voluntary nursing home closure process
When a facility decides to voluntarily close, there are several requirements that it must fulfill before it can complete the closure. This process is outlined in the Licensure Procedure and Suitability Requirements for Long-Term Care Facilities regulations (105 CMR 153.000).
- First, at least 120 days before the proposed closure date the facility must notify DPH and those impacted by their decision to close and submit a draft closure plan. The notification must include residents, family members, the facility’s resident and family councils, staff members, labor organizations, the offices of the local and state Long Term Care Ombudsman, local representatives to the State Legislature, and city/town officials.
Owners of the facility should engage with those who are impacted to explore alternatives to closure and further development of a closure plan. - When the facility provides DPH with the 120-day notice of its intent to close, they will work together to schedule a public hearing to occur at least 90 days in advance of the proposed closure date.
- At least 14 days before the scheduled public hearing, the facility must provide notice of the date, time, and location of the public hearing. The facility must also post a copy of the draft closure plan and public hearing notice inside the facility itself and provide both to each party that was initially notified of the closure.
- Once the public hearing is held, DPH will complete its thorough review of the facility’s closure plan and all comments received at the hearing within 14 days. DPH may either issue approval of the plan or request additional information from the facility about the draft closure plan. If additional information is requested, the facility must provide it to DPH within 14 days.
- When DPH approves the closure plan, and at least 60 days prior to the closure date, the facility must:
- Freeze admissions, meaning that it may no longer admit new residents.
- Provide notification to all those who received the initial notice of intent to close that DPH has approved the closure plan. This notification must include both the approved closure date and notice that the facility will close, and it must also be posted inside the facility itself.
- After the facility has completed all required notifications, it can begin to work with residents and/or the residents’ legal representatives to begin finding alternative placement for residents.
Resources for residents
If you are a resident who currently lives at any of these nursing homes, the facility is responsible for working with you to plan for your safe and orderly transfer to another facility capable of meeting your needs.
Questions regarding when you will need to move, where you may move to, and whether that facility will be able to meet your needs should be directed to the nursing home staff that plan for your care such as the facility administrator, director of nursing, and social services staff.
If you believe that your needs are not being met by the facility, there are additional options available to you:
- Your facility’s Long Term Care Ombudsman can provide assistance to advocate on your behalf. Information on how to contact your facility ombudsman must be posted in your nursing home.
You may file a complaint with the Department of Public Health at (617) 753-8150 or submit your complaint in writing to:
Division of Health Care Facility Licensure and Certification
Complaint Unit Intake
67 Forest Street
Marlborough, MA 01752