A Few Words About Us

Tockwotton on the Waterfront is the beautiful evolution of the charitable spirit, optimism, and resolve of sixteen Providence women who, in 1856, took it upon themselves to establish a home for the elderly that would offer exceptional care and good cheer in comfortable surroundings. The steadfast determination of these women left a lasting legacy that lives on today.

Now situated on the banks of the Providence Harbor, Tockwotton on the Waterfront stays true to its mission. As a non-profit organization, we provide greater Providence and all of Rhode Island with a variety of services designed to meet the changing needs of older adults and their families. We serve a broad spectrum of the community, including those whose financial resources are limited.

Tockwotton on the Waterfront is a senior living community of uncompromising quality and comfortable surroundings where superior care is delivered by trusted professionals. This quality speaks to the mission so rooted in the history of Providence.

Our Philosophy

At Tockwotton on the Waterfront every resident is treated as an individual—each with their own unique personality, wishes, needs and desires. As staff members learn about a resident’s preferences they can encourage them to make their own decisions about personal issues. The residential atmosphere throughout our community offers residents and staff opportunities to foster bonds and to develop close relationships with each other. Early studies show residents living in this type of setting function at higher cognitive levels, take less medication and are generally much happier.

While a new concept in nursing care, we have been practicing Individualized Person-Centered Care for a number of years. In fact, Tockwotton on the Waterfront is the first community in Rhode Island constructed from the ground up with this philosophy as its guiding principle.

Our Mission

Our History

From the President

Leadership Team

Enhanced Living By Design

Through a collaboration of architects, developers, engineers and interior designers every aspect of Tockwotton on the Waterfront was carefully designed, engineered and built to successfully serve each resident at every stage of the aging process. Whether living in our Assisted Living or Memory Care residences or receiving Short term rehabilitation or skilled nursing, every detail of the building has been thoughtfully planned to function both individually and seamlessly together. Details such as color schemes, wall and floor finishes and furniture were carefully selected to serve both form and function, yet also provide a safe and comfortable residential environment.

Our Mission

As a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization, Tockwotton on the Waterfront provides the Rhode Island community with a variety of services designed to meet the changing needs of older adults and their families.

Our mission is to enable older adults to enjoy life to the fullest and to share with families and friends the responsibility for their care. At our core we serve a broad spectrum of the community, including those whose financial resources are limited.

Tockwotton on the Waterfront seeks to achieve the highest level of quality in everything we do and to serve as a model to the senior care community. Our highest priority is to preserve the dignity and quality of life of those we serve.

The services of Tockwotton on the Waterfront are available to all without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, or source of payment.

Our History

Our history tells the Tockwotton story.

Born out of a commitment to make life easier for the less fortunate, it was the charitable spirit and steadfast determination of Eliza B. Rogers and fifteen other Providence women who, in 1856, founded the Home for Aged Women. Later named Tockwotton Home, it has since evolved into one of the best senior care communities of its kind in Rhode Island.

Today, as we celebrate its new waterfront location on the banks of Providence Harbor, the very aptly named Tockwotton on the Waterfront retains the spirit of compassion, charitable giving, optimism and dedication of the original sixteen founders. Their charitable example has been a continuing force through fifteen decades of development, growth and change.

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It all began in March, 1856. Eliza B. Rogers and her friends sponsored a fundraising meeting at the First Baptist Church in America, on North Main Street. They made their appeal for the creation of a Home for Aged Women and received enthusiastic approval. They completed a successful fund drive in short order, rented a house for $190 a year and five elderly women moved into the single family residence on May 1, 1856 – just six weeks after the first public meeting.

Eliza Brown Gano, born 1800, was the daughter of Mary Brown and Stephen Gano, M.D. and granddaughter of Joseph Brown, founder of Brown University. In 1821 Eliza Brown married Joseph Rogers, a successful manufacturer. Eliza and most of the women who supported the Home throughout the late 19th and early 20th century were women of means. They used their good fortune and leadership skills to make life at the Home as comfortable as possible. For most of these women, their service was a lifelong commitment.

The multi-decade tenure of many officers and members of the Board began with its founders. Eliza Rogers herself served for more than 21 years. Throughout its history, a large part of what has made Tockwotton special are the volunteers from the area who have given their time and generosity to make the Home a special place to live.

In the days before buses and vans, the women of the Home were far from house bound. The spirit of volunteerism and generosity provided many opportunities for the residents to “get out of the house”. There was always a flurry of invitations to attend luncheons, state fairs, parks, outings and dinners. Free transportation on horse-drawn trollies, rails and steamboats was made available taking the women to some of the most popular places of the day in Rhode Island. The idea of enrichment, entertainment and adventure lives on today.

Through ongoing efforts to raise money, in 1864 a completely new Home for Aged Women was opened, complete with a formal dedication ceremony. This building would expand even further over the years, housing as many as 65 women by the 1940’s. Renamed Tockwotton Home in 1977, it was debt-free upon opening due to the outstanding fundraising efforts of the original founders.

From the Home’s inception, the desire for expansion and improvements remained a     constant wish among Board members. Just as important was keeping up with the latest innovations in care and current technologies. By the late 1990’s, under the leadership of a new generation of Board members, the dream of a better and larger building was beginning to take shape.

That dream is now a reality. Tockwotton on the Waterfront represents the first true senior care community developed in the Providence area in more than a decade.  Located near Bold Point Park, just one half mile from its former location, Tockwotton on the Waterfront is situated on more than 6 acres of waterfront property with views of downtown Providence.

True to its original mission, Tockwotton on the Waterfront remains a not for profit organization. Financial subsidies, funded through the Eliza B. Rogers Fund, demonstrate our commitment to serve a broad spectrum of the community with the same sense of compassion and dignity the original 16 women of Providence set out to provide in 1856.

From the President and CEO

“Welcome to the new Tockwotton on the Waterfront website! I truly hope you experience the essence of our community, the compassion of our staff and the uniqueness of our services as you walk through this beautiful website.

A non-profit organization, Tockwotton on the Waterfront is truly where a tradition of excellent care meets waterfront elegance. Since 1856, Tockwotton has been a symbol of quality care for seniors and we take this standing quite seriously. We are pleased to have been recognized by US News & World Report for our care and are grateful for the many success stories we see every day from our residents and their families.

Reputation, services and a nice building are only a few of the reasons Tockwotton is unique. It’s also our people, and while it sounds commonplace, I can truly state that we have the best nursing, activities, programming, operations and dining staff in the business. Our very low staff turnover rate is just one example of how happy, fulfilled and compassionate our experienced team is.

The best way to show you what we’re all about is for you to pay us a visit – anytime. We look forward to sharing with you how our beautiful community, happy residents and attention to detail sets Tockwotton on the Waterfront apart from the rest.”

Kevin McKay
Kevin McKay
President and CEO

Leadership Team

Kevin McKay
President, CEO

Michaela McKay
Assisted Living Administrator

Mariann Pari R.N, BSN
Director of Nursing

Amy Lemieux

Quality Manager

Joyce M. Nallen, CPA
Director of Finance

Erik Johnson

Community Program Director

Zuleika Vargas
Director of Culinary Services

Sandra Botelho

Director of Human Resources

Denise Todd
Director of Fund Development

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