Colonial Rehabilitation & Nursing Center

Colonial History

For over 30 years, the Colonial Rehabilitation & Nursing Center in Weymouth has served as one of the South Shore's premier healthcare facilities. But this isn't a story about bricks and mortar. It's the story of one woman's vision of what community healthcare could be. And should be.

It all began in 1935, in our grandmother Florence St. John's parlor. As a young home health nurse, she saw first hand the unique difficulties many of her elderly patients faced. Often what they needed most was emotional support and care in a warm and compassionate environment. In those days, there were few facilities either designed or prepared to provide that. But our grandmother was.

So she began caring for seniors in her home and two years later opened one of the area's first nursing homes. In 1949, our mother Rita Welch and our father Thomas continued the tradition of caring by founding the John Scott House Nursing Home in Braintree. The Colonial was founded in 1963 and eventually was expanded twice to meet the growing demand for its high quality care. Since then, under the leadership of Richard Welch, Michael Welch and Paul Casale, the Welch Healthcare & Retirement Group has grown to become a leading provider of senior housing, health care and rehabilitative services on the South Shore.

Which brings us to the point of this story.

For us, the Colonial Rehabilitation & Nursing Center represents a living testament to the ideals that were so important to our grandmother. We're obviously very proud of our family accomplishments. And we're absolutely committed to making sure everything about the Colonial reflects that pride.