Maria Ennever
Jun 2026
On June 5, 2026, I flew from Florida to Boston, a three-hour flight, with the sole purpose of visiting my father, Jose Morillo, who resides at The Center at Advocate, located at 111 Orient Avenue, East Boston, MA 02128. As his daughter, I was looking forward to spending quality time with him and ensuring that he was receiving the care and dignity that every elderly resident deserves. Unfortunately, what I witnessed upon arriving was heartbreaking, disturbing, and completely unacceptable. After taking the elevator to the third floor and approaching Room 317, I was immediately overwhelmed by an extremely strong odor of urine, feces, and uncleanliness. The smell was so powerful that it was difficult to enter the room without covering my nose. No family member should have to encounter those conditions when visiting a loved one. The room itself was shared by three elderly residents and appeared overcrowded and poorly maintained. One resident near the entrance was repeatedly slamming his food tray against the wall, yelling and screaming loudly. Another resident sat watching the incident unfold, as did my father, who is wheelchair-bound and unable to simply leave the environment. Witnessing vulnerable elderly residents exposed to such disruptive behavior without intervention was concerning and upsetting. Wanting to understand why the room smelled so terrible, I spoke with a nurse. I was informed that the second shift had not been properly removing laundry. What I found even more alarming was that each resident, including my father, had multiple bags containing urine-soaked clothing, soiled garments, and vomit-stained items stored inside their closets alongside clean clothing. This is not only unsanitary but completely unacceptable in a healthcare environment. In addition to the odor and laundry issues, the room appeared as though it had not been thoroughly swept or mopped in days. Dust was visible throughout the room, and overall cleanliness appeared to be severely neglected. Perhaps most shocking was the fact that the air conditioning was not functioning. Fans were scattered throughout the facility, and several staff members informed me that the A/C had been out for days. Elderly residents, many with serious medical conditions, should never be forced to endure uncomfortable temperatures and poor ventilation, especially during warmer weather. What saddens me the most is that these are not temporary visitors—these are individuals spending their final years in this facility. They deserve dignity, cleanliness, comfort, and respect. No resident should have to live in an environment filled with foul odors, dirty laundry, excessive dust, and inadequate climate control. I brought my concerns to the attention of the nursing staff and sincerely hope management takes immediate action. These issues require more than a simple discussion—they require leadership, accountability, routine audits, improved housekeeping procedures, proper supervision of all shifts, and ongoing staff training emphasizing hygiene, cleanliness, and resident well-being. If staff members observe problems, they should feel empowered and obligated to report them to supervisors so corrective action can be taken promptly. The phrase should be simple: "If you see something, say something." As a daughter, I left feeling heartbroken and deeply disappointed. The images of what I saw and the odors I encountered remain vivid in my mind. My father and every resident in this facility deserve far better than what I witnessed on June 5, 2026. I sincerely hope management addresses these concerns immediately and makes the necessary changes to improve the living conditions and quality of care for all residents. Maria Ennever A Very Concerned and Disappointed Family Member
