In addition to being the capital and most populous city in Massachusetts, Boston is one of the oldest cities in America. Out of its total population of 696,600, around 80,109 residents are seniors over 65. The city has 163% more physicians per capita than the United States average, which helps support its ranking among the top 10 best cities for seniors. Harvard Medical School’s two largest teaching hospitals, Massachusetts General and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, are among the many nationally ranked hospitals in the area that enable seniors to benefit from the institutions’ world-renowned expertise and innovations in health care research.
For Boston’s most frail older adults who require 24-hour access to medical care, a nursing home is the most appropriate environment to ensure their needs are being met. Nursing homes usually have physicians and registered nurses on-site 24/7 who can perform specialized services, such as wound treatment and IV therapy, while providing assistance with daily living activities, such as eating, dressing and bathing. For seniors with less advanced needs, home care and assisted living are worth considering, especially since Boston’s median cost of nursing home care is over $13,000 per month.
This guide overviews the cost of nursing homes in and around Boston, and it also provides low-cost resources to help seniors pay for care.