Friendship Manor has long served as a cornerstone of senior living in New Ipswich, with a history stretching back to at least 1952. Over the decades, the facility has operated as a nursing home, retirement home, or rest home, providing a dependable residence for older adults seeking care and community. Typically, Friendship Manor has supported about 20 residents at a time, fostering an environment focused on attentive, individualized care and a sense of belonging for its residents, many of whom have had limited or no contact with their families. Its legacy is interwoven with the commitment shown by its long-standing owners, who dedicated nearly 40 years to maintaining a high standard of care.
Staffing has always been a critical component of operations at Friendship Manor. Running the facility required the equivalent of eight to ten full-time staff, usually distributed among 15 to 17 full- and part-time employees. From caregivers to nursing staff, these employees formed the backbone of daily life for residents. Like many similar facilities, Friendship Manor faced mounting challenges in recent years as the landscape of healthcare staffing changed dramatically, especially during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Recruiting qualified caregivers became increasingly difficult, with advertised positions often attracting initial interest but rarely resulting in hires. This trend grew more acute during the pandemic, and despite persistent efforts to secure new employees, filling necessary shifts became untenable.
Throughout its final months, Friendship Manor’s existing team displayed extraordinary dedication, often taking on extra shifts to maintain continuity of care. Despite their collective effort, persistent vacancies and a lack of viable new hires made it clear that continuing operations was no longer feasible. The challenge was not for lack of community support or care from staff, but rather an industry-wide shortage of available and willing healthcare workers—an issue felt most acutely in rural areas and in settings where close, consistent staffing is essential to residents’ well-being.
As Friendship Manor prepared to close, thoughtful attention was centered on the welfare of its seventeen remaining residents. Efforts were made to collaborate with other facilities and organizations to secure new placements for each individual, recognizing that many residents did not have family connections to rely on. The process involved exploring various retirement communities and coordinating with partners to find appropriate long-term accommodations in a sector similarly affected by staffing limitations.
Despite the unique challenges of its final years, Friendship Manor stands as a testament to the rewards and difficulties inherent in dedicated caregiving. The relationships built and lives touched over decades speak to the heart of its mission—providing not just shelter but also comfort and dignity to older adults in need. The closure marks the end of an era for both the staff who have committed much of their lives to the facility and for the wider community, which has benefited from its presence for generations.