BOSTON – In response to a tragic fire last year that claimed the lives of 10 residents, Massachusetts is implementing a series of comprehensive safety reforms aimed at improving conditions in assisted living facilities. Announced on Monday by the governor, these measures are designed to enhance inspections and increase transparency through better access to facility records.

The reform proposal, presented in a detailed report by the Assisted Living Residents (ARL) commission, suggests several key changes. Among these is the requirement for annual inspections to be conducted with approval from the local fire department, board of health, and building inspector. Additionally, facilities will need to annually update and review their emergency plans. The proposal also mandates quarterly emergency exercises for all staff and annual evacuation drills to ensure preparedness.

Further recommendations from the commission focus on affordability and transparency. There is a call to establish a task force dedicated to examining the financial accessibility of assisted living options, especially for low-income residents. To aid families in making informed decisions, the report suggests creating a statewide online database. This resource would provide easy access to compliance records, ownership details, and corrective action plans, while also standardizing information on services, costs, staffing, and resident rights across facilities.

Governor Maura Healey emphasized the importance of these reforms, stating, “Every older adult deserves a safe home and peace of mind, and every family deserves transparency and accountability. The heartbreaking tragedy at Gabriel House showed us the urgency of strengthening protections for assisted living residents. We are taking immediate action on these recommendations to better protect residents, support families, and ensure our assisted living system serves people well into the future.”

Robin Lipson, the Aging & Independence Secretary and Chair of the ALR Commission, underscored the state’s obligation to protect individuals residing in these facilities, affirming the commitment to enhance safety and security for all residents.

“These changes will strengthen fire safety, clarify standards and practices that impact resident well-being, and make critical information more accessible so families can make informed decisions,” Lipson said. “We have already begun putting stronger protections in place and will work to ensure that residents across the Commonwealth are safer, better supported, and treated with the dignity they deserve.”

Brian Doherty, president and CEO of the Massachusetts Assisted Living Association, said his nonprofit association welcome the report, especially the recommendations to develop a standardized resident assessment, integrate Certified Medication Aides into assisted living, and establish an affordability task force.

“Assisted living blends social activity with personal care, and we will continue to champion a model of diverse community options over restrictive, institutionalized settings to ensure residents maintain their independence and dignity,” Doherty said in a statement.

The commission was already studying the sector when a fire broke out last summer at Gabriel House in Fall River. It was the state’s deadliest in more than 40 years and raised questions about a lack of regulations around the sector in Massachusetts.

Investigators said that the Gabriel House fire began unintentionally by either someone smoking or an electrical issue with an oxygen machine. The blaze left some residents of the three-story building hanging out of windows and screaming for help.

Documents from the state Executive Office of Aging & Independence showed Gabriel House had lost its certification nearly a decade ago due to resident mistreatment. The facility in Fall River was barred from accepting new residents until it took corrective action.

The documents add to a list of issues raised with the Gabriel House facility over the years. A resident filed a lawsuit alleging the facility was not properly managed, staffed or maintained and that “emergency response procedures were not put in place.” The son of another resident said an elevator had been out for as long as nine months at one point.

State records include about two dozen complaints about the facility during the last decade, including several related to “abuse, neglect or financial exploitation” but details are redacted. Other complaints involved a resident getting stuck for hours in an elevator that was then out of service for months, and staff members who threatened residents and withheld medication.