Waterstone at the Circle
Independent Living, Hospice Care & Palliative Care · Boston, MA

Waterstone at the Circle

Independent Living, Hospice Care & Palliative Care · Boston, MA

Overview of Waterstone at the Circle

At 385 Chestnut Hill Ave in Boston’s Brighton neighborhood, Waterstone at the Circle occupies one of the more genuinely walkable addresses in the Boston senior living market. A Walk Score of 87 means residents can handle most daily errands on foot, which in a city like Boston carries real weight for people who want to stay connected to an urban environment without relying on transportation logistics.

The building is a mid-rise, nine years into operation, with one-bedroom and two-bedroom floor plans. The amenity list reads like someone actually thought about how people spend their time: an indoor heated pool, fitness center, library, card room, and movie theater are all on-site. Dining uses an anytime model built around locally sourced ingredients and seasonal offerings, which is a meaningfully different structure than set-schedule communal dining. Programming is run by a life enrichment team, and the community offers two named specific programs, Financial Resources and the EPOCH Exchange.

The facility carries an independent living designation, and the full profile coheres around that: no staffing hours, no clinical services listed, just a well-appointed building in a walkable Boston neighborhood designed for people who are managing their own lives and want a good physical environment to do it in. For that population in this market, the combination of location, amenities, and flexible dining is a substantive offer.

By The Numbers

Community insights.

Years of operating Info An established community with some operational experience and growing routines. This is the number of years in operation under current management. Rank #59 / 67Years in operation — State benchmarked This independent living community is ranked 59th out of 67 independent 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 independent living community we track in Massachusetts that reports data for that category. Independent living communities without available data are excluded, so the pool size varies from metric to metric.
9 years
Walk Score Info Very walkable. Most errands can be accomplished on foot, and many essentials are within a short walk. Rank #48 / 238Walk Score — State benchmarked This independent living community is ranked 48th out of 238 independent 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 independent living community we track in Massachusetts that reports data for that category. Independent living communities without available data are excluded, so the pool size varies from metric to metric.
87 / 100

About This Community

Type Of 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

Additional Policies & Features

Pets Allowed

Amenities & Lifestyle

Swimming Pool
Library
Movie Theater
Fitness Center

Room Accommodations

Building TypeMid-rise
Room Types
1 Bed 2 Bed

Contact Waterstone at the Circle

Type of Rooms Available

1 Bed
1 Bed
1 Bed
1 Bed
1 / 4
1 Bed
1

Managed by Wendy Kaufman

Executive Director

Waterstone at the Circle Virtual Tour

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Video tour: Waterstone at the Circle
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Places of interest near Waterstone at the Circle

Address 5.0 miles from city center Info Estimated distance in miles from Boston's city center to Waterstone at the Circle's address, calculated via Google Maps.

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Address

Compare Independent 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. HOS (Hospice Care): Comfort-focused care for those with a terminal illness, prioritizing quality of life over treatment. PC (Palliative Care): Comfort-focused care for serious illness at any stage, including alongside curative treatment.
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.
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.
Atria Longmeadow Place
IL
AL
MC
Burlington
110
Facility 110
MA AVG 91
Rank #17 / 93
Yes13
53
Facility 53
MA AVG 57
Rank #133 / 238
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
28
Facility 28
MA AVG 22
Rank #21 / 67
YesNo
The Residence at Boylston Place
IL
AL
MC
RC
Chestnut Hill
99
Facility 99
MA AVG 91
Rank #27 / 93
No18
78
Facility 78
MA AVG 57
Rank #87 / 238
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
26
Facility 26
MA AVG 22
Rank #29 / 67
NoYes
Atria Marina Place
IL
AL
MC
North Quincy (Marina Bay)
110
Facility 110
MA AVG 91
Rank #17 / 93
Yes21
12
Facility 12
MA AVG 57
Rank #219 / 238
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
27
Facility 27
MA AVG 22
Rank #23 / 67
NoYes
Stonebridge at Burlington
IL
AL
MC
Burlington
110
Facility 110
MA AVG 91
Rank #17 / 93
Yes26
36
Facility 36
MA AVG 57
Rank #163 / 238
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed / Companion
13
Facility 13
MA AVG 22
Rank #47 / 67
NoNo
Waterstone at the Circle
IL
HOS
PC
Boston (Commonwealth)-Yes-
87
Facility 87
MA AVG 57
Rank #48 / 238
1 Bed / 2 Bed
9
Facility 9
MA AVG 22
Rank #59 / 67
No-

Rank badges are statewide and care-type specific: each independent living community is ranked against every other MA independent 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

Waterstone at the Circle is in 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.

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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 Waterstone at the Circle

Quick answers from public records and the community's own listing.
01 What neighborhood is Waterstone at the Circle in?
Waterstone at the Circle is in the Commonwealth neighborhood of Boston.
02 Is Waterstone at the Circle in a walkable area?
Waterstone at the Circle has a walk score of 87. Very walkable. Most errands can be accomplished on foot, and many essentials are within a short walk.
03 How long has Waterstone at the Circle been in business?
Waterstone at the Circle has been operating for approximately 9 years, based on available licensing and registration records.
04 Are pets allowed at Waterstone at the Circle?
Yes, Waterstone at the Circle allows residents to bring their pets.
05 Are there photos of Waterstone at the Circle?
Yes — there are 19 photos and videos of Waterstone at the Circle in the photo gallery on this page.
06 What levels of care does Waterstone at the Circle provide?
Waterstone at the Circle offers Independent Living, Hospice Care & Palliative Care.
07 What is the address of Waterstone at the Circle?
Waterstone at the Circle is located at 385 Chestnut Hill Ave, Boston, MA 02135.