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The state’s order follows two inspections after a resident was found dead in a 99-degree room at the Hopkinton assisted living facility at the end of September.
Massachusetts officials have ordered Golden Pond in Hopkinton to stop accepting new residents and correct regulatory violations, more than three weeks after staff found an 86-year-old woman dead in a room where the thermostat read 99 degrees.
The Executive Office of Aging & Independence issued the order after inspections on Oct. 2 and Oct. 20 found violations at the assisted living facility, including problems with staff training, emergency communications, and required safety documentation.
Golden Pond must immediately address the violations and submit documentation showing compliance within 10 days of receiving the state’s letter.
The agency said the deficiencies identified during both inspections did not pose an immediate risk to residents’ health or safety.
“The safety and well-being of residents in Assisted Living Residences across Massachusetts is our top priority,” an agency spokesperson said.
“We will continue to monitor their progress to ensure the safety of all current and new residents.”
What the inspections found:
The inspections followed the Sept. 30 death of the resident at the facility at 50 West Main St. Authorities have not released her cause of death.
During the Oct. 20 visit, the agency said inspectors identified deficiencies in staff training on emergency preparedness, general orientation, and the use of lift devices.
Golden Pond also failed to make its oxygen use and storage policy readily available and lacked the required documentation of its special-care residence operations review.
Inspectors also found that the facility lacked documentation confirming that every resident using transfer devices, bed rails, or U-bars had a complete, current assessment from a physical or occupational therapist.
Those findings followed an Oct. 2 inspection that identified other violations of state regulations governing assisted living residences.
During that visit, the agency said inspectors found that Golden Pond’s communication log lacked information for staff on ongoing heat conditions and precautions to protect residents during excessive heat.
The facility also lacked an automated external defibrillator and had not posted its assisted living certificate on its website, the agency said.
The Hopkinton Board of Health separately issued a corrective order on Oct. 14.
Persistent problems:
Golden Pond has faced admissions restrictions before.
In January 2025, the state barred new admissions and suspended the facility’s certification. The agency lifted the suspension in February after Golden Pond made required improvements, then recertified the facility in May after finding no deficiencies.
The Hopkinton Independent also reported that the state ordered Golden Pond to stop accepting new residents after failed compliance reviews in 2023.
Golden Pond has 173 assisted living units, including 59 special-care units.
Golden Pond’s director did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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