Waltham's Leland House To Close After 140 Years

WALTHAM, MA — After more than 140 years, the Leland Home, an assisted living facility for seniors, will close this fall —meaning many of the elderly who have lived there for years will have to find a new place to call home.

"Unfortunately, the obstacles of an aging facility, changing consumer preference and challenging economics have led to this decision," said Christopher Sintros, CEO of Deaconess Abundant Life Communities, the nonprofit that manages the home, in a statement.

The board of managers for the Leland Home announced they planned to close the 38-bed facility, which currently houses 19 residents, on Nov. 20. At least one resident has already made plans to move elsewhere.

Given the long history and mission, Leland Home officials said they tried to avoid closure.

"Our leadership and boards have grappled with alternatives for a long time before making this very difficult decision," the home's Executive Director Christine Battisti Keane said in a statement. "We are committed to do our best to make this transition a smooth one for each resident, family member, staff member and the Waltham community."

The board recently submitted closure and relocation plans to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, outlining steps to work with residents to find a new home for each resident and assisting them with the transition, as is required by law.

Keane said the hope is that staff will stay on throughout the transition, and to then consider a position within the Deaconess home care division or one of the other Deaconess communities nearby. She also said there is an effort underway to ensure the nonprofit affiliated with the Leland Home, the Leland Mission, to continue in some form in the community.

"We are pursuing multiple options that will allow the not-for-profit Leland Mission to continue in the Waltham community," Keane said.

The idea of a home for elderly women was proposed by a group of philanthropists including President of the Waltham National Bank Frederick Stone, Rector of Christ Episcopal Church Thomas Fales, Charles Dix, of the Waltham Hospital and Daniel French. They were granted a Charter of Incorporation for The Home for Aged Women of Waltham in 1879. Deaconess Abundant Life Communities later became affiliated with it, according to the Leland Home website.

The building was built around 1900 and has had a few additions over the years. But the home with 36 bedrooms and 9 bathrooms on an acre and a half was last valued at $2.2 million, according to the city.

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