What Goddard House Assisted Living does

Goddard House Assisted Living is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit senior living community located at 165 Chestnut Street in Brookline, Massachusetts, founded in 1849 and recognized as Massachusetts' oldest elder care organization. It serves approximately 120 residents across two core products: Traditional Assisted Living for generally independent seniors who need occasional support with daily tasks, and Olmsted Place Memory Support for residents with Alzheimer's and related dementia. The community is differentiated by an unusually deep portfolio of evidence-based creative aging programs, including Opening Minds through Art (OMA), Brain Healthy Cooking built on the Mediterranean diet, Making Music Connections with Berklee College of Music, Expressive Arts, Fitness at Goddard House, Growing the Farm, Gallery M, and Parkinson's in Motion, supplemented by Purple Flag for Dementia Care and SAGECare Platinum LGBTQ cultural competency certifications.

Revenue is generated primarily through monthly residential fees covering housing, meals, 24-hour staffing, personal care, housekeeping, and access to therapeutic programs, supplemented by short-term trial stays and grant income from foundations including The Hamilton Company Charitable Foundation, the Parkinson's Foundation, and the Alzheimer's Foundation of America. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer, with prospective residents and families acquired through the website, community events, tours, healthcare provider referrals, and partnerships with organizations such as the Brookline Senior Center and the Alzheimer's Association. The Goddard House Community Initiatives (GHCI) program extends the same creative aging curricula to external partner sites including Mount Pleasant Home, Anna Bissonnette House, and Ruggles Assisted Living.

Operationally, the community is led by President and CEO Candace Cramer (appointed March 2019), governed by an independent Board of Trustees, and supported by a workforce of 51-100 employees. Strategic priorities in 2024-2025 are anchored by the Visioning! Campaign and a $16.5 million renovation and addition project that broke ground in July 2025, which will deliver a new creative aging hub and upgraded common spaces ahead of and beyond the organization's 175th anniversary milestone.

Name

Goddard House Assisted Living

Legal name

Goddard House

Website

https://goddardhouse.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1849

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Goddard House is a 175-year-old nonprofit assisted living and memory support community in Brookline, Massachusetts, serving approximately 120 residents through Traditional Assisted Living and Olmsted Place Memory Support, differentiated by evidence-based creative aging programs and 24-hour residential care.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Assisted Living and Memory Support Senior Living Services

NAICS

Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (623312), Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (6233), Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (62331)

SIC

Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Assisted Living with Memory Care (Mixed Campus) (HLADABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Memory Care Units within Assisted Living Communities (HLADACAB), Short-Term Dementia Respite & Transitional Memory Care Programs (HLADACAG), Memory Care Respite (Short-Term) (HSABAEAD), Adult Day Memory Care Programs (Dementia Day Care/Day Health) (HLADACAH)

Keywords

• Assisted living services
• Memory care support
• Senior living community
• Dementia care programs
• Elder care housing

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Assisted Living Residential Services: Goddard House generates revenue through residential care fees for assisted living and memory support services. Services include housing, meals, personal care assistance, 24-hour staffing, housekeeping, and access to creative programs. Short-term trial stays with furnished apartments are also offered.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Goddard House is a nonprofit assisted living and memory support community in Brookline, MA that delivers 24-hour residential care to approximately 120 seniors. Core offerings include Traditional Assisted Living for generally independent seniors needing daily task support and Olmsted Place Memory Support for residents with Alzheimer's and related dementias, complemented by short-term trial stays. Differentiated programs include Opening Minds through Art (OMA), Brain Healthy Cooking, Making Music Connections (Berklee music therapy), Fitness studios, Parkinson's in Motion, Expressive Arts, Growing the Farm, and Gallery M.

Product overview

Goddard House Assisted Living operates as a comprehensive senior living community offering Traditional Assisted Living and Olmsted Place Memory Support as core residential products. The organization differentiates through an extensive portfolio of innovative therapeutic and wellness programs including Opening Minds through Art (OMA), Expressive Arts with music therapy partnerships with Berklee College of Music, Growing the Farm, Gallery M art gallery, Brain Healthy Cooking Program, and Fitness programming with two dedicated studios. Specialized care programs include Parkinson's in Motion, Purple Flag-accredited memory care, and SAGECare Platinum LGBT competency services. The Goddard House Community Initiatives (GHCI) program extends these creative aging innovations to partner organizations across Greater Boston, making Goddard House both a residential provider and an innovator in creative aging methodologies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Parkinson's in Motion: A comprehensive Parkinson's program including support groups, movement therapies, and educational speaker series.
• Gallery M
• Phyllis Vineyard Award

Products and services

• Traditional Assisted Living Residential assisted living for generally independent seniors needing occasional to ongoing support with daily tasks, personal care, medication management, dining, housekeeping, and creative aging programming. Located at 165 Chestnut Street, Brookline, MA. Includes 24-hour staffing, weekly housekeeping, fine dining, and access to innovative programs.
• Olmsted Place Memory Support Secure memory care neighborhood for individuals with Alzheimer's and related dementia, featuring research-based programs and a person-centered approach that reconnects residents with purpose and well-being. Includes OMA, Reconnections adult learning, Healing Hearts Yoga, and seated balance classes.
• Short-Term / Trial Stays Temporary residential experience with furnished apartment, all meals, 24-hour staffing, creative programs, and weekly housekeeping for those considering a permanent move to Goddard House or needing short-term respite. All-inclusive pricing model.
• Opening Minds through Art (OMA) Award-winning, evidence-based, intergenerational art-making program for older adults and individuals living with dementia, developed by Dr. Like Lokon at Scripps Gerontology Center. Uses step-by-step, hands-off approach to enable independent artistic creation. Delivered on-site and through GHCI partner sites.
• Making Music Connections (Music Therapy) Music therapy program in partnership with Berklee College of Music, creating opportunities for older adults and those with Alzheimer's to stay connected through prescriptive music healing. Reaches nearly all 120 residents and is distinguished by student training partnerships.
• Expressive Arts Program Weekly expressive arts programs led by credentialed therapists including music therapy, art therapy, life-storytelling, poetry, and dance-movement therapy. Supports dementia care communication and emotional engagement.
• Brain Healthy Cooking Program Award-winning culinary program based on the Mediterranean diet with natural sweeteners, healthy fats, and brain-healthy foods including vegetables, fruits, whole grains, spices, nuts, and olive oil. Designed to boost brain health and cognitive function.
• Fitness at Goddard House Two fitness studios offering daily fitness opportunities including Mindfulness Classes, Dancercise, Morning Stretches, Pilates, Yoga, Tai Chi, weekly one-on-one trainer sessions for Traditional Assisted Living residents, plus specialized seated exercises, Healing Hearts Yoga, and balance classes for Olmsted Memory Support residents.
• Growing the Farm Organic vegetable garden, chicken coop, and indoor herb garden providing unique natural spaces for residents to engage with nature and gardening activities.
• Gallery M Art gallery space at Goddard House named after Matilda Goddard, featuring monthly rotating exhibitions of resident-created artwork alongside community artists.
• Parkinson's in Motion Comprehensive Parkinson's program including support groups, Tai Chi, dance, music therapies, movement classes, and educational speaker series, free and open to community members with Parkinson's and their caregivers.
• Multi-Faith Programming Spiritual and religious programming serving diverse faith traditions for residents seeking community, worship, and pastoral support.
• Goddard House Community Initiatives (GHCI) Community outreach program that extends Goddard House's creative aging programs (including OMA, art, music, and dance) to Boston-area older adults at partner sites such as Mount Pleasant Home, Anna Bissonnette House, and Ruggles Assisted Living.

Quantifiable outcome

• Music therapy reaches nearly all 120 residents
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Construction/Renovation PartnerscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 24 July 2025$16.5 million renovation and addition project broke ground in July 2025, updating common spaces and creating new opportunities for residents to socialize and connect.
• UMass Boston College of Nursing and Health SciencesflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 March 2020$500,000 pledge over five years to the Goddard House-Doane Scholarship program for mid-career nursing students. Since 2015, provided 50 awards totaling $340,000 to 39 experienced nurses. Preference given to students interested in elder care careers.
• Berklee College of MusiccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Making Music Connections music therapy program. Berklee music therapy interns train at Goddard House during academic year, providing additional contact hours for residents while gaining clinical skills in geriatric settings and Alzheimer's population care.
• Lesley University Expressive TherapiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGraduate student interns from Lesley University Expressive Therapies program participate in OMA programming both at Goddard House and in Boston-area GHCI programs, gaining clinical training experience.
• SpeakEasy Stage CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with SpeakEasy Stage Company to highlight synergy between artmaking and well-being, showcasing therapeutic power of creative expression through panel events.
• Mount Pleasant Home (Jamaica Plain)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGHCI partnership bringing OMA and creative aging programs to Mount Pleasant Home residents. Approximately 25 of 60 residents participate in 8-week OMA sessions.
• Anna Bissonnette House (South End)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGHCI partnership bringing OMA programming to residents of this Hearth, Inc. property.
• Ruggles Assisted Living (Roxbury)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGHCI partnership bringing OMA programming to residents of this Hearth, Inc. property.
• Simmons UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMeredith Griffiths, art therapist at Goddard House, is a Simmons University graduate (class of 2003) and the partnership features Simmons students as volunteers for OMA program.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Benchmark Senior Living: New England-based operator of assisted living and memory care communities. Directly comparable to Goddard House in target population, programming-led differentiation, and regional (Greater Boston / New England) market overlap.
• Sunrise Senior Living: National assisted living and memory care operator with established Boston-area communities. Comparable in programming-rich model and memory care specialization, competing in the same metro.
• EPOCH Senior Living: Northeast-based assisted living and memory care provider, including Waterstone communities. Overlaps with Goddard House in target market, programming-led care, and New England geography.
• Northbridge Companies: Massachusetts-based senior living operator managing assisted living and memory care communities (e.g., Avita of Needham, NewBridge on the Charles). Direct regional competitor in Greater Boston.
• Atria Senior Living: Large national assisted living and memory care provider with a strong presence in Massachusetts. Comparable in core service offering (assisted living, memory support, programming) but with materially greater scale.
• Senior Living Residences (SLR): Massachusetts-based assisted living and memory care operator with a strong research-driven, programming-focused model (Bainbridge, Standish Village, Compass on the Bay). Closest peer in philosophy and Boston-area footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Hebrew SeniorLife (HRC): Greater Boston nonprofit senior services organization offering independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing with Harvard Medical School-affiliated research. Overlaps with Goddard House in nonprofit, research-driven elder care, and Boston market.
• Brookdale Senior Living: Largest U.S. senior living operator offering assisted living, memory care, and independent living nationwide. Competes in the Boston market with broader service lines and significantly greater scale.

Regional players

• Welch Healthcare and Retirement Group: Massachusetts-based family operator of assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing communities. Comparable in service mix and regional focus, with multiple sites across Greater Boston.
• Chelsea Jewish Foundation / Chelsea Jewish Lifecare: Nonprofit operator of assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing in the Greater Boston area. Comparable in nonprofit structure, community orientation, and elder care service mix, with a slightly broader continuum.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/goddardhouse

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Goddard House Assisted Living