Goddard House, a not-for-profit organization serving elders in the greater Boston area since 1849, owns Goddard House Skilled Nursing Center and Goddard House in Brookline Assisted Living. A volunteer board of managers governs Goddard House.
We accept Medicare, Medicaid (MassHealth), and most major insurances including long term care insurance, and private pay. These payer sources, with the exception of private pay, are contingent upon certain requirements set forth by the payers.
We have 78 private rooms, however private rooms are not always available. If one is not available at the time of move in, long term residents can request a private room and be put on a waiting list. Requests for private rooms should be addressed to the Admissions Director prior to move in, and the Social Worker following move in.
If your loved one is in the hospital, their preference is for Goddard House in Jamaica Plain should be conveyed to the hospital’s discharge planner. If your loved one is coming from the community (their or your home), please contact our Admissions Director at 617-522-3080 x 338.
What is the difference between short-term rehab, sub-acute, long term, and respite care?
• Sub-acute care is typically referred to when a resident is coming from the hospital and requires nursing and rehabilitation services. They do not need to be seen by a physician daily, however the physician's orders guide the plan of care.
• Short term rehab falls into the sub-acute care category. Many refer to "short-term rehab" when required nursing services are not the primary reason for admission, but rather the focus is on rehabilitation in order to return to the community
• Long term care means that a person becomes a resident in the facility and does not maintain a home in the community
• Respite is a short stay and typically occurs when a caregiver cannot care for a person for a short period of time in the usual home setting. Examples are when caregivers go on vacation, become ill, or just need a break from care giving. Respite stays are typically private pay.
Our in house rehabilitation therapist will complete an evaluation in occupational, physical, and speech therapies and a plan of care with treatment schedule will be developed.
Goddard House in Jamaica Plain is affiliated with credentialed physicians who will maintain communication with your loved one’s primary care provider as appropriate. Appointments with specialists will be ordered by your Goddard House physician.
The nursing staff at Goddard House in Jamaica Plain are all employees of Goddard House and have consistent assignments. We do not use temporary or agency nurses.
What types of alternative programming do you offer for your residents?
At Goddard House in Jamaica Plain we offer a variety of alternative programming for our residents such as:
• Music and art therapy
• Balance fitness and yoga
• Creative poetry
• Classical, Jazz, and world music concerts
• Therapy dog visits
• Games and movies
• Birthday parties and holiday celebrations
We have many different activities at different levels and residents have their own choice of what they wish to participate in.
We have an on-site hair salon and a barber and hair stylist who visits twice a week. This service is paid for out-of-pocket. We are also affiliated with a licensed dentist, podiatrist, and ophthalmologist who regularly visit the facility. Goddard House also provides hospice and palliative care.
Hospice is specialized are for individuals with life-limiting illness and for their families. Goddard House is contracted with various hospice organizations who provide care to individuals with life limiting illnesses. An initial family meeting is held to determine if hospice services are needed prior to the actual referral being made for this service.
Each resident will have an individualized therapy schedule based on their needs following an assessment from our rehabilitation therapy team.
We have a full in house laundry team that functions seven days a week, or if you prefer you may take your loved one’s clothing to launder at your home. Our laundry staff will be notified if you prefer the section option. Please make sure that all new clothing brought in for your loved one is labeled with their name.
What is a typical day like for a Goddard House in Jamaica Plain resident?
A typical day for a long term resident starts with a delicious and healthy breakfast in our main dining room or other dining area of a resident’s choice. At 10:00 am residents have their choice of 2 programs which vary from day-to-day. Examples of daily morning programs are games, fitness activities, music or art therapy, Latino Cultural Group for Spanish speaking residents, and religious services. For a more detailed list of all the programming offered at Goddard House, please see the programming section of these FAQs. When weather permits, activities are often held outdoors on the patio. Our Resident Council decides the destination of a monthly outing such as a local restaurant, museum, beach or shopping center.
Lunch is served in our main dining room at 12:00 pm, but residents may elect to eat their meals at other times, and are always encouraged to select from the alternative or á la cart menus. Afternoon programming starts at 2:00 or 2:30pm. Examples of afternoon activities are bingo, community concerts, movies with pop-corn, and visits to our on-site nail and hair salon. For those residents who are very frail and bed bound, our music therapists, staff, and volunteers make 1:1 room visits.
Before dinner we offer residents a chance to relax with programs such as music appreciation, poetry readings, and small group socials. Quarterly evening concerts feature professional area musicians who offer a wide repertoire of classical, jazz, and folk music. The day winds down for most residents in a common area or their room to watch cable television or read before retiring to bed.
All residents are assessed by a certified dietician who confers with the Goddard House physician and Food Service Director to insure your loved one’s dietary needs and preferences are met. Meals can be taken in any number of dining areas including our main dining room, smaller dining rooms on the resident floors, as well as in a resident’s room. Goddard House offers a changing menu with multiple choices and alternatives offered daily.
South Huntington Avenue is home to many human service organizations, and Boston’s renowned Longwood medical hospitals are just minutes away. Goddard House overlooks the beautiful Olmsted Park, a jewel in Boston’s emerald necklace parks system. The diverse and vibrant neighborhood of Jamaica Plain is a thriving place, home to many restaurants, shops, and community centers.
All Goddard House rooms have televisions sets equipped with satellite cable service. Rooms also come with telephones, and amplifiers are available for the hard of hearing. Both phone and cable services are free of charge.
We currently have a resident council which meets monthly and a friends and family council which meets quarterly. Both councils meet to give suggestions about Goddard House operations, and to discuss any issues they may have related to the facility or our services.
We have no visiting hours, meaning that you may come and go to see your loved one as you please. If you do visit after hours, we ask you to please respect our other residents. The building is secured after 8pm and we suggest you call ahead if you plan an after-hours visit.
Personal items are always allowed at Goddard House. Please inform your nurse of when a personal item is brought into a room, so it can be labeled as such.
We follow the resident’s rights as established by the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office. This list is available with our admissions materials.
Do you have a secured Alzheimer/Dementia unit?
Yes, our 25 bed Olmsted unit is a secured environment dedicated to persons with Alzheimer’s disease and other related dementias.
What hospitals are your physicians affiliated with?
Our physicians are affiliated with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston University Medical Center, and Carney Hospital.
Goddard House is affiliated with the Alzheimer’s Association Massachusetts Chapter, Partners and Seasons Hospices, Massachusetts Senior Care Association, and Massachusetts Aging Services Association. We are also accredited with the Joint Commission for Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO).
We have student nurses from Simmons School of Nursing and Boston University’s Department of Geriatric Medicine. We also have music and expressive arts therapy interns from Berklee College of Music and Lesley University.
What languages do your staff speak?
Our diverse staff speaks English, Spanish, Italian, and French Creole.
Goddard House in Jamaica Plain does not admit residents who are currently smoking.
Alcohol is only allowed by doctor’s orders.
Education will be provided by our rehabilitation therapists as well as our nurses to insure you are comfortable with the care that is being provided at our facility and with plans for discharge.
Goddard House has had 2 deficiency free surveys in the past 2 years (2009 & 2010). Our survey performance tool rating is 129 out of 132. In Massachusetts, the average score is 121.
