The operator of an assisted living facility in downtown Beverly this week sent a letter to its 62 residents, notifying them that they will have to move out within 90 days.
Maryland-based Monarch Communities, which took over the Landmark Senior Living facility in December 2021 and renamed it Motif by Monarch, said they have to close down for a year to make essential repairs and renovations. The company said it is offering residents resources to find new homes. Still, advocates are worried that residents may face limited options and higher bills given the 90-day notice, the minimum required under state regulation.
Monarch Communities managing partner Ross Dingman said the company wishes it did not have to shut down, but the extent of problems has escalated.
“As an operator, it's unacceptable to have generators fail, elevators fail, heating and air conditioning fail and not have confidence in them working,” Dingman said. “We have fixed them in the short term. But what really needs to happen is we need to have a long-term system upgrade so we can feel confident the residents going forward will be safe.”
He also said they found considerable water damage coming from the roof down to the first floor of the multistory building, which dates back to the late 19th century.
"The building is old," said Barbara Packard, who moved into the facility just months ago after living in Cambridge. "I thought it was handled very nicely."
Packard said she plans to walk around Beverly to look for a new place to live. She may also ask friends to drive her to see more facilities.
State Rep. Jerry Parisella, who represents Beverly, said he first heard about the facility closing when he got an email from the granddaughter of a 99-year-old resident.
“So obviously, there was a lot of concern for somebody 99 years old,” Parisells said, “a lot of concern from those folks about, ‘how can we find adequate housing within 90 days?’”
Parisella said one of the biggest worries is residents in the Beverly facility who pay for assisted living through the state’s Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly, or PACE, which is administered by MassHealth and Medicare.
“It's unfortunate that it seems to be that a lot of facilities prefer the private pay and a lot of our most vulnerable residents can't afford that,” said Parisella. “And these family members [of Beverly residents] are being told even some of the facilities that they're checking out, that they may have to pay $800 to $1,300 a month more for their family members, and that's just not doable for a lot of people.”
Dingman said they couldn't commit to accepting residents under PACE when they reopen until they know what rates they can negotiate.
The Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs confirmed that Monarch notified the agency of its intent to temporarily close the Beverly facility within 90 days of July 19, pending the successful relocation of all current residents. Dingman said Monarch recognizes that timeline is "not great."
"I feel like we're doing the best we can and giving resources where we can to make sure that everyone gets placement in a home that's appropriate for them," he said.
One reason giving more than the regulatory 90 days notice is difficult for Monarch, Dingman said, is their ability to retain enough staff temporarily until the facility can close.
“We recognize it's very upsetting for people,” Dingman said. “We have never done this before. I've been in this business for decades. This is a first for us. We don't like doing it. It's terrible for our reputation. But at the end of the day, we feel like it is a safety concern.”
Still Parisella said he’s concerned about the length of notice given by Monarch.
“They met the letter of the law,” Parisella said, “but I think that's something that we as legislators, there may be something we need to look at and just see if more notice should be required.”
Annie Shreffler contributed reporting.
