How much does Zelma Lacey House cost per month?

Zelma Lacey House offers competitive pricing, with rates starting at a cost of $3,200 per month.

What levels of care does this community offer?

Zelma Lacey House offers assisted living.

Are there photos of this home?

There are 6 photos of Zelma Lacey House on Mirador.

What is Zelma Lacey House's address?

The full address for this community is 9 West School Street, Charlestown, MA, 02129.

Does this community offer respite care?

Yes, Zelma Lacey House offers respite care. Respite care in assisted living communities provides temporary, short-term relief for primary caregivers by offering professional care for their loved ones. It allows individuals to stay in an assisted living community for a limited time, giving caregivers a break while ensuring residents receive necessary support and assistance with daily activities.

Zelma Lacey House - Charlestown, MA

Overall sentiment in the reviews for Zelma Lacey House is strongly positive, with consistent emphasis on cleanliness, staff quality, attractive surroundings, and a comfortable, home-like atmosphere. Multiple reviewers call out the facility as "extremely clean" or "spotless," and several mention freshly cleaned and painted units with new appliances—indications that both common areas and individual apartments are well maintained. The interior decor and furnishings are repeatedly described as lovely and attractive, and common areas are bright and well-lit, contributing to a welcoming environment.

Staff and management receive frequent praise. Reviewers describe the team as friendly, personable, helpful, and long-term, which suggests staff continuity and strong resident relationships. One reviewer specifically notes the director as nice and informative, and another highlights good staff communication. These comments point to a culture of approachable management and attentive front-line caregivers. While at least one review characterized care/assistance as "satisfactory" rather than exemplary, the dominant view is that staff are supportive and contribute significantly to residents' satisfaction.

Facilities and amenities are another clear strength. The community offers a variety of attractive communal spaces—great community rooms, a gorgeous outdoor patio and garden, and multiple activity spaces. Specific amenities mentioned include an exercise room, game room, theater, and computers. The facility is praised for being "not overwhelming in size" and easy to navigate, which can be particularly important for older adults who value both accessibility and a manageable footprint. Reviewers also note the facility feels "homey" and "quaint," with a balance of quietness and a steady stream of activity.

Dining and services are viewed positively. The dining experience is described as restaurant-style with options in the dining room and the ability to order what you want; the food also "looked good" to reviewers. Practical advantages such as transportation services and proximity to medical services, Boston, major hospitals, and local shopping centers are highlighted, reinforcing convenience for residents who need regular appointments or family members visiting from the city.

The primary concerns center on activity availability and COVID-related restrictions. Several reviewers mention that activities were limited or canceled during COVID, and there are notes about inconsistent daily changes to the schedule. This inconsistency is the most recurrent negative theme and may reflect pandemic-related disruptions or variability in programming. Visitor limit restrictions were also mentioned, again likely tied to public health precautions. Finally, while most comments about care are positive, one review described care as merely "satisfactory," indicating that although care quality is generally acceptable, expectations may vary among families and prospective residents.

In summary, Zelma Lacey House projects a strong, favorable profile: a clean, comfortable, and attractive community with engaged and long-tenured staff, a wide range of amenities, convenient location, and good value for apartments. Prospective residents and families should be encouraged by the facility's maintenance, staff responsiveness, and social spaces. They should also ask current management for the latest information on activity programming, schedule consistency, and visitor policies (especially any lingering pandemic-related rules) to ensure those details meet their expectations.

Zelma Lacey House serves older adults with a focus on daily comfort, and the place has a kind of home-like feel with its colonial design and historic touches, and if you walk around back you'll see a private green space and garden where residents can visit or sit outside on a shaded patio, all right in a walkable urban area, so if someone wants to take a stroll they'll find walking paths on the grounds too. The facility offers 66 apartments, with choices for studio or one-bedroom units, and half of those are affordable, and for people who need extra help, there are options with affordable programs so people with different financial backgrounds can live here. Residents must be at least 62 years old, and rooms include amenities like kitchenettes, central air conditioning, refrigerator, stove, window treatments, and wall-to-wall carpet, and residents are welcome to bring their own things to make their apartment feel more like home, plus pets are allowed. There's a Country Kitchen for getting a coffee or tea with neighbors, and lots of shared spaces, so folks spend time in places like the club room, great room with a fireplace and piano, cozy library, meditation room, mail center, and a community media room, and there's a computer nook, too.

The staff offers assistance with daily living needs, things like bathing and dressing, plus medication management and a 24-hour call system for emergencies, and there's always an awake staff member available day and night, with nursing support 12-16 hours a day, and if you need skilled nursing or help with transfers or incontinence, that can be covered as well, and a visiting nurse, social worker, physical, occupational, and speech therapists will come by regularly for added care. For those with dementia or Alzheimer's, Zelma Lacey House has design features and supports aimed at reducing confusion and preventing wandering. Residents get three restaurant-style meals a day, with the menus often chosen by residents, and there's help with homemaking, laundry, and daily personal care. If someone needs hospice, respite care, or assistance managing VA benefits, that's available too. Transportation is free, so whether it's going out for a medical appointment or a group outing or activity somewhere else, the staff will coordinate that, and in the building, people can meet up for movie nights, music programs, religious services, and a whole calendar of events, and there are offsite activities also available.

There's a system for classifying the level of care each resident requires, which allows the staff to provide light, medium, or heavy care as needed. The facility covers a wide range of physical needs, including wheelchair accessible showers, non-ambulatory care, and support for people with bladder or bowel issues. If personal grooming is important, there's a hair stylist available onsite. Each resident has access to a fitness room, and there are plenty of places to just sit, read, or talk with friends. Smoking is allowed outside. Apartments are ready for personal furnishings and belongings, and the overall layout welcomes both privacy and socializing, letting residents host visitors or join group activities as they wish. The facility is licensed by the state and follows elder care regulations.

There is a monthly fee for single residents, with studio apartments starting at $3,995 and one-bedroom apartments at $4,995, and there's a one-time community fee of $2,000, with an added monthly charge for a second person if needed. Laundry and dry cleaning are done onsite, with linen service available. On top of the daily routines, there's free transportation for shopping, medical appointments, or events, and for those who like planning ahead or want financial guidance, assistance with homeownership programs or VA benefits is offered. There are about 66 assisted living units, and a plan under review may change some of those apartments to income-restricted senior housing, but for now Zelma Lacey House continues to offer a full range of support and living choices, all designed to help older adults enjoy a safe, supportive community where life can be shared or spent quietly as they prefer.

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