Compass on the Bay
Assisted Living, Memory Care & Respite Care · South Boston, MA

Compass on the Bay

Assisted Living, Memory Care & Respite Care · South Boston, MA

Overview of Compass on the Bay

Compass on the Bay is a 39-bed senior living community at 1380 Columbia Road in South Boston, Massachusetts, about half a mile from the neighborhood center. Operating for 29 years, the single-story home provides assisted living, short-term respite stays, and a specialized focus on memory care.

Accommodations consist of studio apartments. Monthly services cover prepared meals, housekeeping, laundry, local rides, and pet-friendly living spaces. On-site care includes 24-hour supervision, structured cognitive activities, and exercise programs. The facility sits about two and a half miles from Mass General Brigham, and the surrounding neighborhood holds a walk score of 72, allowing residents and visitors to handle many errands on foot.

Prospective representatives can call the Columbia Road office directly to check open studio layouts, inquire about short-term stays, or arrange a tour.

By The Numbers

Community insights.

Bed count Info A smaller, more intimate setting that may offer a quieter environment and closer staff-resident interactions. 39 Rank #167 / 176Bed count — State benchmarked This assisted living community is ranked 167th out of 176 assisted living communities we track in Massachusetts for bed count. Shows this facility's certified or reported bed count compared to other Massachusetts facilities. Larger communities may offer more amenities, programs, and on-site services for residents and families. Communities with the same value for a metric share the same rank. Rankings compare like with like: every assisted living community we track in Massachusetts that reports data for that category. Assisted living communities without available data are excluded, so the pool size varies from metric to metric.

Smaller home · May offer a more intimate, personalized care environment.

Years of operating Info A longer operating history, which may indicate experience navigating regulations and delivering ongoing care. This is the number of years in operation under current management. Rank #21 / 152Years in operation — State benchmarked This assisted living community is ranked 21st out of 152 assisted living communities we track in Massachusetts for years in operation. Shows how long this facility has been in operation compared to other Massachusetts facilities. Longer operating histories may benefit residents, families, and staff. Communities with the same value for a metric share the same rank. Rankings compare like with like: every assisted living community we track in Massachusetts that reports data for that category. Assisted living communities without available data are excluded, so the pool size varies from metric to metric.
29 years
Walk Score Info Very walkable. Most errands can be accomplished on foot, and many essentials are within a short walk. Rank #48 / 243Walk Score — State benchmarked This assisted living community is ranked 48th out of 243 assisted living communities we track in Massachusetts for walk score. Shows how walkable this facility's neighborhood is compared to the average walk score across Massachusetts facilities. Higher scores benefit residents, families, and staff. Communities with the same value for a metric share the same rank. Rankings compare like with like: every assisted living community we track in Massachusetts that reports data for that category. Assisted living communities without available data are excluded, so the pool size varies from metric to metric.
72 / 100

About This Community

License Details

Year Opened1997

Certifications & Programs

Certified Dementia Practitioner staff — National Council of Certified Dementia PractitionersStaff hold the Certified Dementia Practitioner credential from the NCCDP, which requires formal Alzheimer's/dementia training and hands-on experience - a signal of dedicated dementia-care training beyond state minimums.
SAGECare LGBTQ+ Cultural Competency Training — SAGECare / SAGE, 2022An LGBTQ+ cultural-competency credential from SAGE, the national advocacy organization for LGBTQ+ elders. Tiers (bronze through platinum) reflect the share of staff completing training in inclusive care for LGBTQ+ older adults.

Ownership & Operating Entity

Nonprofit OwnershipNo

Type Of Units

Special Care
39 units
Low Income Rooms Yes/No from payment or funding tags indicating low-income accessibility options in state disclosures—not a determination of personal eligibility.
No
Total beds
39 units

Memory & Specialized Care

1 service
Mild Cognitive Impairment

Additional Services

5 services
Personalized Care Plans
Housekeeping
Laundry & Linen
MaintenanceListed as: Maintenance of apartment, community and grounds
Transportation

Contact Information

Fax(617) 268-3463
Business HoursMonday-Friday 9:00am- 5:00pm

Additional Policies & Features

Pets Allowed

Amenities & Lifestyle

Outdoor Garden Spaces/Patios
Small-Scale Community Rooms
Waterview ApartmentsApartments with views of nearby water or waterfront scenery, offering residents a relaxing outlook and natural surroundings.
Single-Story Layout
Designated Programming Spaces
Emergency Call System
Activities
Continued Learning Programs
Arts Programming
Brain Healthy Cooking Program
Multi-Track Cognitive Programming (All Day)

Room Accommodations

Building TypeSingle-story
Studio Floor plans: Waterview
Semi-Private / Shared Room
In-Room Features
Walk-In Shower Individual Thermostat Cable Tv, Internet & Phone Wiring (In-Unit) In-Unit Kitchenette (Select Apartments)

Contact Compass on the Bay

Inspection History

In Massachusetts, the Executive Office of Elder Affairs (for assisted living facilities) and the Department of Public Health (for nursing homes) are the agencies authorized to inspect and report on facility safety.

Since 2025 · 1 year of data These figures come from state-published data and the state inspection reports we hold on file. The period covered can vary depending on document availability.
Includes all inspection records for this property, which could include management/ownership changes.
5 citations 1 inspection

Inspection Scorecard Info This scorecard compares key inspection, citation, and complaint metrics at this facility against the Massachusetts state average. Metrics rated ≥15% worse than average are highlighted in red; those ≥15% better are highlighted in green.

Since 2025 vs. Massachusetts state average
Overall vs. MA average 0 Worse No metrics in this bucket. 2 Better Metrics better than Massachusetts average:
• Total citations (17% below)
• Citations per inspection (22% below)

Citations Info Citations are formal regulatory issues recorded during state inspections.

This FacilityMA Averagevs. MA Avg
Total citations Info Formal regulatory issues recorded by inspectors across all inspection types. 56.0 This facility has 17% fewer total citations than a typical Massachusetts assisted living residence (5 vs. MA avg 6).↓ 17% better
Citations per inspection Info Average citations per inspection. 5.06.4 This facility has 22% fewer citations per inspection than a typical Massachusetts assisted living residence (5 vs. MA avg 6.4).↓ 22% better

Inspections Info State inspections evaluate whether the facility meets health and safety standards.

This FacilityMA Averagevs. MA Avg
Total inspections Info Combined count of all inspections conducted at this facility. 121.0 This facility has had 95% fewer total inspections than the Massachusetts average (1 vs. MA avg 21). More inspections can mean more regulatory scrutiny rather than worse care.↓ 95% fewer

Places of interest near Compass on the Bay

Address 0.5 miles from city center Info Estimated distance in miles from South Boston's city center to Compass on the Bay's address, calculated via Google Maps. — 2.49 miles to nearest hospital (Mass General Brigham)

Calculate Travel Distance to Compass on the Bay

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Address

Compare Assisted Living around Boston

Info below is compiled from the MA Executive Office of Elder Affairs, senior community websites & trusted data sources such as Walk Score & BBB.

Communities are listed from highest-ranked to lowest-ranked based on our methodology.

Care Types in This Table AL (Assisted Living): Housing with help for daily activities like bathing, dressing, and medication, without 24-hour skilled nursing. MC (Memory Care): Secured, specialized care for people living with Alzheimer's or dementia. RC (Respite Care): Short-term temporary care that gives family caregivers a break. IL (Independent Living): Community living with dining, activities, and transportation for active seniors who need little personal care.
City and state of the facility. Used for mapping and state-average comparisons.
Licensed bed capacity (maximum allowed). Not the same as how many beds are currently filled.
Indicates whether residents are allowed to have pets in the facility.
Licensed beds designated for special-care services (e.g. memory or other specialized units), as reported in state licensing data.
Third-party neighborhood walkability score (0–100). Convenience/context metric, not a healthcare quality measure.
Description of bed or unit types offered (e.g. assisted living, memory care), as reported in state or facility disclosures.
Number of years the company has been in operation.
Better Business Bureau grade for the operating company. Reflects complaint handling and business practices, not clinical care quality.
Yes/No from payment or funding tags indicating low-income accessibility options in state disclosures—not a determination of personal eligibility.
Whether the community is disclosed as co-located or on the same campus as a nursing home in state records.
Chestnut Park at Cleveland Circle
AL
MC
RC
Boston (Brighton)
84
Facility 84
MA AVG 81
Rank #80 / 176
Yes28
86
Facility 86
MA AVG 45
Rank #22 / 243
Studio / Suite / 1 Bed
30
Facility 30
MA AVG 22
Rank #9 / 152
ANoYes
Atria Longmeadow Place
AL
IL
MC
Burlington
110
Facility 110
MA AVG 81
Rank #22 / 176
Yes13
53
Facility 53
MA AVG 45
Rank #89 / 243
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
28
Facility 28
MA AVG 22
Rank #47 / 152
-YesNo
The Residence at Boylston Place
AL
IL
MC
RC
Chestnut Hill
99
Facility 99
MA AVG 81
Rank #39 / 176
No18
78
Facility 78
MA AVG 45
Rank #41 / 243
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
26
Facility 26
MA AVG 22
Rank #70 / 152
-NoYes
Providence House Assisted Living
AL
MC
Brighton
102
Facility 102
MA AVG 81
Rank #34 / 176
Yes12
87
Facility 87
MA AVG 45
Rank #20 / 243
Studio / 1 Bed
22
Facility 22
MA AVG 22
Rank #90 / 152
-YesNo
Compass on the Bay
AL
MC
RC
South Boston
39
Facility 39
MA AVG 81
Rank #167 / 176
Yes39
72
Facility 72
MA AVG 45
Rank #48 / 243
Studio
29
Facility 29
MA AVG 22
Rank #21 / 152
-NoNo

Rank badges are statewide and care-type specific: each assisted living community is ranked against every other MA assisted living community we track that reports that metric, not just the 5 on this page. See how we rank facilities

Financial assistance

Programs that may help with care and living costs in Massachusetts

Compass on the Bay is in South Boston, Massachusetts. These programs may support different care settings or living expenses. A listing does not confirm this community participates; our concierge team can help confirm.

Get financial aid guidance
Cash support · veterans

VA Aid and Attendance (A&A) and Housebound Benefits

VA Pension Aid and Attendance and Housebound Benefits (Federal)

Who it is for
Veterans or survivors with VA pension eligibility and an Aid and Attendance or Housebound medical need
Income limit
No single monthly income cutoff. VA compares countable annual income, after permitted deductions, with the applicable Maximum Annual Pension Rate for the household and benefit category.
Asset limit
Net-worth limit is $163,699 from December 1, 2025 through November 30, 2026. Net worth includes countable assets plus annual income; exclusions and transfer rules apply.

Eligibility

General
Veterans or eligible survivors who qualify for VA Pension or Survivors Pension and meet the additional Aid and Attendance or Housebound criteria. Service, discharge, family status and pension eligibility rules also apply.
MA specifics
A federal VA pension benefit; Aid and Attendance and Housebound enhancements cannot be received together.

What it provides

  • A higher pension ceiling for eligible Aid and Attendance or Housebound recipients. Actual pension equals the applicable annual maximum minus countable income; the two enhancements cannot be paid together.
Personal care at home or in assisted living

MassHealth Group Adult Foster Care (GAFC)

Massachusetts MassHealth Group Adult Foster Care (GAFC)

Eligibility

General
Adults 22 or older eligible for MassHealth Standard or CommonHealth who need physical assistance or cueing and supervision with at least one daily-living activity in an eligible home setting.

What it provides

  • Daily personal care by a GAFC agency’s direct-care worker; with medication reminders; nursing oversight and case management.
In-home support

Home Care Program

Massachusetts Home Care Program

Eligibility

General
Massachusetts residents meeting Home Care Program age, need and daily-function criteria, assessed by an Aging Services Access Point.

What it provides

  • Assessed home/community supports to help an eligible person remain at home; service mix and cost sharing depend on program rules.
In-home & community support

Frail Elder Waiver

Massachusetts Medicaid FE Waiver

Eligibility

General
People age 65 or older, or ages 60–64 with a disability, who meet MassHealth financial and nursing-facility-level-of-care requirements but wish to live at home.
MA specifics
The waiver can cover eligible adults beginning at age 60, not only age 65. Services delivered before plan approval are not automatically payable.

What it provides

  • Services authorized in an approved comprehensive service plan; including eligible home/community supports.
Caregiver support

Family Caregiver Support Program

Family Caregiver Support Program (Massachusetts)

Who it is for
Family or informal caregivers of an adult 60+ or of someone of any age with dementia

Eligibility

General
Adult family or informal caregivers of adults age 60 or older or people of any age with Alzheimer's disease or a related disorder. The federal program also supports specified older-relative caregiver categories.

What it provides

  • Caregiver information and access assistance; counseling and training; support groups; respite and limited supplemental services under the federal caregiver-support framework.
Live-in caregiver support

MassHealth Adult Foster Care (AFC)

Massachusetts MassHealth Adult Foster Care (AFC)

Eligibility

General
MassHealth members age 16 or older with qualifying coverage who need physical help or cueing and supervision with at least one daily-living activity. The member and qualified caregiver live together.

What it provides

  • Caregiver assistance with daily activities; nursing oversight and care management in the member’s or caregiver’s home.
In-home support

MassHealth Personal Care Attendant (PCA) Program

Massachusetts MassHealth Personal Care Attendant (PCA) Program

Eligibility

General
People eligible for MassHealth Standard or CommonHealth with a chronic or permanent disability who need physical assistance with at least two daily-living activities and can manage attendants or have a surrogate/administrative proxy.

What it provides

  • MassHealth-funded attendants hired by the participant to provide authorized personal care and daily-living assistance at home or in the community.
Medicare costs

Medicare Savings Program (MSP)

Massachusetts Medicare Savings Program (MassHealth Buy-In)

Who it is for
Medicare beneficiaries with limited income who need help with premiums or cost sharing
Income limit
QMB at or below 190% of the federal poverty level; SLMB/QI through 225%, under state counting rules.
Asset limit
No asset limit for MSP-only eligibility, effective March 1, 2024.

Eligibility

General
Medicare beneficiaries meeting the applicable state Medicare Savings Program eligibility rules.
MA specifics
Applications are administered by the state Medicaid program.

What it provides

  • Assistance with Medicare premiums and; for qualified QMB beneficiaries; Medicare-covered deductibles and coinsurance. The qualifying category determines which costs are paid.
Know before you visit

Frequently Asked Questions about Compass on the Bay

Quick answers from public records and the community's own listing.
01 Is Compass on the Bay in a walkable area?
Compass on the Bay has a walk score of 72. Very walkable. Most errands can be accomplished on foot, and many essentials are within a short walk.
02 How long has Compass on the Bay been in business?
Compass on the Bay has been operating for approximately 29 years, based on available licensing and registration records.
03 Are pets allowed at Compass on the Bay?
Yes, Compass on the Bay allows residents to bring their pets.
04 Does Compass on the Bay operate as a for-profit or non-profit?
Compass on the Bay is registered as a for-profit in MA.
05 How many beds does Compass on the Bay have?
Compass on the Bay has 39 beds.
06 Has Compass on the Bay had any citations?
Compass on the Bay has had 5 reported citations according to records from Massachusetts Executive Office of Aging & Independence (AGE).
07 Are there photos of Compass on the Bay?
Yes — there are 5 photos of Compass on the Bay in the photo gallery on this page.