Wallingford’s Masonicare expands its senior and health care with acquisition and United Methodist Homes merger

CT Insider – Wednesday, January 8, 2025
By Christian Metzger

WALLINGFORD — Masonicare, one of the biggest senior living and healthcare centers in Connecticut, announced they have officially merged with United Methodist Homes and acquired Atria Greenridge Place, two senior residency and care facilities.

This is the center’s most significant expansion in years, growing the Wallingford-based healthcare provider’s footprint into Rocky Hill, Shelton, Farmington, and Newington, officials said.

With the merger and acquisition, officials said, there will remain an expansion and continuity of service across all of their new facilities, allowing for patients and residents to access care without having to drive all the way to their central location.

Services such as home care, homemaking and companionship will also be expanded into new markets now that Masonicare has infrastructure in several new communities.

According to Masonicare President Jon-Paul Venoit, the service capacity of Masonicare jumped from 4,500 to 7,500 patients being serviced daily and increasing from 1600 to 2100 staff members thanks to the merger.

As Masonicare approaches its 130th anniversary, Venoit said the expansion would be vital in improving their sustainability, with the pressures of operating as a healthcare provider in the not for profit space, and was looking forward to being able to operate for the next 100 years.

“Ultimately, it continues to expand our mission and allows us to serve more individuals across the state of Connecticut,” said Venoit. “ By doing some of these expansions, our existing residents have the opportunity to use any of these services or any of these locations. So it expands their horizons also.”

Atria Greenridge Place, now renamed to Masonicare at Greenridge Place, is a 108-unit assisted living center located at 1 Elizabeth Court in Rocky Hill. The facility provides assisted living service and memory care, though under Masonicare, residents will have integrated healthcare services and wellness programs, officials said.

After seeing success in integrating Chester Village seven years ago, the executive team at Masonicare believed Greenridge Place fit well into the scope of the service they’re working to provide, officials said.

Currently Masonicare is working to improve the facility and increase its current occupancy, which sits at 82 percent.

Meanwhile, UMH is a collection of senior living accommodations across several communities with a history dating back to 1874. The group has already been fully integrated under the Masonicare name and is providing an expanded suite of services.

Venoit said the merger between the two began in an unlikely place – when he and UMH CEO David Lawlor met during a symposium a year ago to discuss the sustainability of not-for-profits, and the pair began talking about potential synergies between the two organizations. Lawlor would call later, but rather than looking for a partnership, instead was pursuing a full merger.

“Some of the things that were just kind of the stars aligned were they’re in markets we’re not,” Venoit said. “ So, you know, as we kind of talked through the geographical locations, there was a great opportunity there. And knowing that we have our home care, our homemaker and companionship business, we could grow that business … This merger is not a merger where we’re reducing staff. This is actually a merger to make us both stronger, but also look at opportunities for more growth.”

The CFO of Masonicare, Steven Beaulieu, was also retiring at the time. With Lawlor having once been the CFO of UMH, it made the perfect fit during the transition and he now currently serves in the position, officials said.

“Our alignment with Masonicare is an exciting opportunity to extend our mission and ensure that our residents benefit from both UMH and Masonicare’s renowned expertise in senior living and healthcare services,” Lawlor said. “Under the Masonicare name, we represent a collective 280 years of excellence and a shared commitment to the highest standards of care.”

Overall the organization seemed pleased with the smooth transition and merger process, as well as what the future will look like in the near future as services continue expanding.

“We’re extremely excited about this,” Venoit said. “This does make us the largest senior living not-for-profit organization in Connecticut. And larger doesn’t mean better, quality is really what it’s all about. I think we’re very proud of what we’ve accomplished and what we’re going to continue to accomplish moving forward.”\

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