Hale House is located in the heart of the Back Bay. Home to a diverse population of 56 elders, with…read morevarious medical conditions aging in place in a community they adore, with 24/7 nursing care. Hale House welcomes many different members of the community to volunteer or complete school hours, required by the highly acclaimed colleges in and around the Boston area. The relationships that are developed with students, volunteers and the residents really is special. You will always be greeted by a smiling receptionist and interact with staff members that enjoy what they do. As far as the appearance, Hale House is a traditional Brownstone that is kept up to date and is well maintained.

I couldn't disagree more with the unfavorable review which is now almost 8 years old. Perhaps it…read morewas true then but I have a loved one who has been living there for over 2 years now, and she couldn't be more pleased with her home. The staff are excellent--caring and engaged with the residents. The food (which I have tasted) is tasty with options for differing pallets. The rooms are small and bathrooms are shared, but housekeeping is on staff daily. Hale House has lots of services, including a nurse in staff 24/7, and activities for the community. I never feel sad leaving my loved one when I visit because I know she is happy and we'll looked after.

The Somerville Home and its incredible staff have been a god send to me in my family. My brother…read morehas been a resident at the Somerville Home for almost 4 years. The care, support and camaraderie that he receives is unmatched. This beautiful place takes pride in making sure that the residents are happy, and engaged with activities and outings. I never have to worry about my brother in anyway, since he became a resident. He is so well monitored. Yet the residents still have a sense of independence. My family and I are forever grateful to the professional and wonderful staff at the Somerville Home, who take such great care of my brother! There should be a way to rate this wonderful facility with 10 stars!

From the owner: In the late 19th century, a local philanthropist Martha R. Hunt and a group of…read more extraordinarily forward thinking women, launched efforts that laid the groundwork for the formation of the Somerville Home. Hunt, started with a group of women belonging to the Daughter's of Maine Club met to discuss what to do with the $11.86 they had collected from a rummage sale. The philanthropically minded women wanted to do something for their fellow Somerville residents so they decided to open a home for aged and indigent women where care and comfort could be provided in a home-style setting. This drew the attention of local philanthropist Martha Hunt , and offered to donate $5,000 to their cause if the women could 1) raise an additional $5,000 and 2) agree to serve both men and women at the home. The women agreed to both conditions and successfully met the financial challenge raising over $6,000! in 1927, the Somerville Home found its current location 117 Summer Street.

As you can see,or as I can see,they,management are doing the old passive/agressive…read morecondecending/patranizing bs.I have asked them for YEARS,to either A)have a local prodestant minister come and give a informal CHRISTIAN service,or B)hire a driver to drive the CCB bus to any of the near by Prodestant churches, so non Jewish residents can partisapate in worship meaningful to themwithin an easy not even 3 mile radius.Both VERY reasonable/DOABLE suggestions were shot down immediately.That is how management works at CCB Hebrew Senior life.It is "Their way or the highway".VERY ridgid/unyeilding,Actually a whole like the dictator like new leader we have in DC. Also,something you should for sure be aware of,that since Oct 6th,their has been ablatant por Israel vibe,waht with flyers,all manner of displays of the war that started in Oct 6th in Gaza.And just like on all of the college/univercities in the area,God forbid you have the nerve/gaul to stand up-speak up for the thousands of women/ children/BABIES being slaughtered in Gaza,and they would probably try to have YIOU deported.They are SOOO biasd/pregidished againt Christian tenants,and gushing with affection/warmth TOWARDS their Jewish bretheren.So obvious,please. I can almost see some of management "Clutching their collective pearls" vehemently denying what i just said,Don't believe me,look at the screen shots of all the pro Israel "propaganda scattered about the lobby.Other folks have also made similiar comments,but are hesident to speak up for fear that they will retalliate by evicting them on some Trumpted up/bogus charge.Also,I haven't gotten to the best part,For roughly 2 years,I have had to deal with this nutsy koo koo resident who because of teh "Mysterious toxic fumes comming from the laundry room,she felt she had the right to crank open the window,winter and summer,letting out the heat in winter and cooling in summer. In addition,since they had be in the prodcess of constructing their 4th senior apt bldg,there was a great deal of construction dust blowing into the hallway window by the elevator.I begged thenm for ovwer 2 yrs to do something about,they said they tried?,but I doubt their tenacity frankly.It was only after bundling up and going out against my doctor's wishes in the cold,I went down to the regioal HUD office,and filed aformal complaint,and only after they were contacted by their reprsentative at Mass Housing did they do what they could have just have easily done TWO years ago,and remove the window crank.Did I mention that about a year prior,said crazy crank lady had come to my door one weeend Sat,and pounded on the door,and prceeded to yell "Where is i'Where is it?" Then 15 minutes later I hear the door pounded on AGAIN,and yup,you guess it,Crazy Crank Lady this time with a Brookline PD ranting "where is it,Where is it?"Where is what i calmly replied? the crank!!!I I laughed and said,"Well it takes a CRANK to know a crank i guess,You may laugh if you wish,as it is mildly funny.Not so the stress that the whole ordeal has heaped upon me.My Geriatrician was becomming concerned,as I was not in the greatest of health w/a lung condition,partly exaubated by the OPEN window,blowing in toxic construction dust. All in all,it has left a very bitter taste in my mouth.that and as well their pretty obvious lack of respect for the other TWO Abrahamic religions.Don't nice caring,empatic,compassionate women like me deserve better?

I have lived in a Center Communities building in Brookline for 5 years. I am disabled and totally…read moredisagree with the other reviewer, Jeffrey E. The staff here are very caring. Maintenance is the BEST. The apartments are amazingly nice. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else.

I don't recommend putting a loved one in here the staff is great except one nurse her name is…read moreBrenda i was there visiting my aunt and she was so rude and nasty to the patients there i was mind boggled by her behavior and the way she spoke to the residents i was not happy at all and when i brought it up to one of the other nurses you can tell that they are very aware of her behavior and tried to do something about it please be aware of where you place your loved ones with the amount of money you pay they deserve top notch care and love not to be belittled and like i said the other nurses were great but this one just ruined it for the whole facility that's how horrible she was!!!!

Happy birthday, Nana! They had a guy come sing and play jazz standards live on the piano, and cake,…read moreice cream, and coffee in the rec room. I've NEVER seen seniors whoop it up like this! I'm not saying it was anything like the old Boost mobile commercials, but it was probably the closest thing I've seen in real life! :) Each resident gets their own apartment. It was the happiest, coolest, most pleasant place for senior folks I've ever seen. The outside was brick and landscaped, and looked very much like a "regular' apartment building. The inside seemed well-staffed, professional, together, but warm: calendars of activities, highlights about residents and upcoming birthdays, photos of residents and their families. A nice emphasis on community. When I was in grammar school, we went to this senior home every year for the holidays. Kids used to ride home on the bus crying; we felt bad about grandparents, the sages, the wise ones, alone and so appreciative of total strangers coming to visit. Not so here. Nana was the belle of the ball and it was clear she had a second family at the House. (Not an official nickname.) I was simultaneously boggled and heartened by my visit there. I mean, there were awesome 80ish year old women talking about how they work out every day and get their hair done with their girls every two weeks. "Oh, that's why you look so good!" I said to one. She fawned and smiled and patted her 'do. I finally had to kick up my heels when somebody got up to sing, "You Must've Been a Beautiful Baby." Yes, we partied like it was 1999. Err...1899? j/k Holla!

The Cambridge Homes is such a quaint Independent and assisted living community. Truly the hidden…read moregem of senior care. The stability of staff and the length of residency really paints a picture of how the company treats their staff and how well cared for the residents are. All very important to me when looking into senior living options

For seven years, due to disability, I have tragically found myself a resident in one of Center…read moreCommunities' buildings. They have been the most bitter and miserable years of my life. I have had horrendous problems which the management has refused consistently to address, in violation of the contract each resident is required to sign. In addition, I have repeatedly requested another apartment, which until recently they have also denied me, in violation of the reasonable accommodation law. I have finally, after seven years of fighting, wrested another apartment from them, but only as a result of six months of threatening the Director of the facility with litigation, public exposure and going to her superiors. Center Communities is owned by Hebrew SeniorLife, an organization in the Boston area that owns and operates nursing homes, rehab facilities and housing for seniors and the disabled. Unfortunately, is a horribly run organization with many problems that have gone unaddressed for decades. Twenty years ago, my grandfather was in their rehab and nursing facility in Roslindale. His life was shortened as a result of the abuse he suffered, and his last several months were made far more difficult than they needed to be. I have since seen, with the elderly parents of friends, more examples of the pattern of abuse, neglect and overall incompetence that characterizes the organization. The program of apathy and abuse which I have encountered, along with the stress to which I have been subjected, have destroyed my health. I have recently begun to blog about my experiences: victimsofhsl.blogspot.com If you love your elderly parent or disabled relative, DO NOT place him or her in a Center Communities building, or in any Hebrew SeniorLife facility.