Information about nursing home closures

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 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.

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.

Arnold House Nursing Home 

• Notice of Intent to Close (DOCX) 

• Draft of Closure and Relocation Plan (DOCX) 

Chapin Center

• Notice of Intent to Close and Draft of Closure and Relocation Plan (PDF) | (DOCX)
• Approved Closure and Relocation Plan (PDF) | (DOCX)

Governors Center

• Notice of Intent to Close and Draft of Closure and Relocation Plan (PDF) | (DOCX)
• Approved Closure and Relocation Plan (PDF) | (DOCX)

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)

Agawam HealthCare

• Notice of Intent to Close
• Draft of Closure and Relocation Plan

Attleboro Healthcare

• Notice of Intent to Close (PDF) | (Word)
• Draft of Closure and Relocation Plan (PDF) | (Word)

Chetwynde Healthcare

• Notice of Intent to Close (PDF) | (Word)
• Draft of Closure and Relocation Plan (PDF) | (Word)

Dedham Healthcare

• Notice of Intent to Close (PDF) | (Word)
• Draft of Closure and Relocation Plan (PDF) | (Word)

Gloucester Healthcare

• Notice of Intent to Close (PDF) | (Word)
• Draft of Closure and Relocation Plan (PDF) | (Word)

Quincy Health and Rehabilitation

• Notice of Intent to Close (PDF) | (Word)
• Draft of Closure and Relocation Plan (PDF) | (Word)

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)

Wareham HealthCare

• Notice of Intent to Close
• Draft of Closure and Relocation Plan

Town & Country Health Care Center

• Closure and Relocation Plan (PDF) | (Word)
• DPH Approval of Town & Country Health Care Center Closure Plan (PDF) | (Word)

Wingate at Chestnut Hill

• Notice of Intent to Close and Draft of Relocation Plan (PDF)
• Notice of Intent to Close (Word)
• Draft of Closure and Relocation Plan (Word)

Mt. Ida Rest Home

• Notice of Intent to Close and Draft of Relocation Plan (PDF) | (DOCX)

Heathwood Healthcare

• Notice of Intent to Close (Word)
• Draft of Relocation Plan (Word)

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)

There are no nursing home ownership changes pending at this time.

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).

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.

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