Gabriel House Lost Certification for Resident Mistreatment Before Fatal Fire

The Gabriel House assisted living facility in Fall River, Massachusetts, where a fire recently killed 10 people, had its certification temporarily suspended in 2016 due to resident mistreatment, according to state regulators. The suspension, lasting about a month, was prompted by an incident involving a certified nurse’s aide and findings that the facility failed to treat residents with respect, dignity, and privacy. During the suspension, Gabriel House was barred from accepting new residents until it implemented corrective actions, which the state confirmed in November 2016. Over the last decade, state records reveal multiple complaints against the facility, including abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, unsafe conditions such as prolonged elevator outages, and staff withholding medication. The deadly fire has brought renewed attention to the lack of stringent regulations for assisted-living facilities serving vulnerable populations. Meanwhile, Governor Maura Healey has refrained from commenting on inspection efficacy but emphasized that a state commission is working on recommendations to improve assisted-living facility oversight.