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Nursing Home Inspect > Massachusetts > Middlesex County Data as of February 2025

    Life Care Center Of Merrimack Valley

    For profit - Limited Liability company  ·  80 Boston Road, Billerica, MA 01862  ·  See home’s Medicare page

    Special Focus Facility Candidate
    Has a history of serious quality issues but has not been formally flagged by the government.
    Affiliated With Life Care Centers Of America
    People or companies with an ownership interest in or managerial control of this home, according to CMS data.
    3.99
    Nurse hours/resident/day
    Reported total nurse staffing hours per resident per day.
    State Average: 3.9
    40.0%
    Nurse turnover
    The percentage of nursing staff who stopped working at the home over a 12-month period.
    State Average: 43.7%
    124
    Certified beds
    Qualifying beds in the certified provider or supplier facility.
    109
    Average residents/day
    Average number of residents based on daily census.
    Direct owners are the layer of ownership closest to the nursing home while indirect owners have a stake in the nursing home but are further removed, like a company that owns the direct owner of a home. All owners listed below are people or companies who have at least a 5% stake in the nursing home. Entities with “managerial control” are those who conduct the day-to-day operations of the nursing home.
    Direct owners
    Life Care Centers Of America, Inc. (100%)
    Indirect owners
    Forrest Preston (100%)
    Managerial control
    Life Care Centers Of America, Inc. since Dec, 2015
    Managing employee(s)
    Karen Babb since Aug, 2017

    Inspection Reports

    37

    total deficiencies

    2

    infection-related deficiencies

    This home violated federal standards protecting residents from the spread of infections.

    Inspection reports document deficiencies, which are nursing homes’ failures to meet care requirements. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services releases the last three standard inspection reports, as well as the last 36 months of complaint and infection-control reports.
    Dec 4, 2024
    Standard report
    17 deficiencies
    (1 infection)

    This report includes a citation for violating federal standards protecting residents from the spread of infections.
    D

     to K
    K
    Full report
    Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiency — F0600
    Failure to: Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
    Severity
    Immediate jeopardy to resident health or safety
    Scope
    Some people affected
    Seriousness
    K
    Quality of Life and Care Deficiency — F0686
    Failure to: Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
    Severity
    Immediate jeopardy to resident health or safety
    Scope
    Some people affected
    Seriousness
    K
    Nursing and Physician Services Deficiency — F0726
    Failure to: Ensure that nurses and nurse aides have the appropriate competencies to care for every resident in a way that maximizes each resident's well being.
    Severity
    Immediate jeopardy to resident health or safety
    Scope
    Some people affected
    Seriousness
    K
    Administration Deficiency — F0835
    Failure to: Administer the facility in a manner that enables it to use its resources effectively and efficiently.
    Severity
    Immediate jeopardy to resident health or safety
    Scope
    Some people affected
    Seriousness
    K
    Administration Deficiency — F0837
    Failure to: Establish a governing body that is legally responsible for establishing and implementing policies for managing and operating the facility and appoints a properly licensed administrator responsible for managing the facility.
    Severity
    Immediate jeopardy to resident health or safety
    Scope
    Some people affected
    Seriousness
    K
    Administration Deficiency — F0838
    Failure to: Conduct and document a facility-wide assessment to determine what resources are necessary to care for residents competently during both day-to-day operations and emergencies.
    Severity
    Actual harm that is not immediate jeopardy
    Scope
    Some people affected
    Seriousness
    H
    Nursing and Physician Services Deficiency — F0841
    Failure to: Designate a physician to serve as medical director responsible for implementation of resident care policies and coordination of medical care in the facility.
    Severity
    Actual harm that is not immediate jeopardy
    Scope
    Some people affected
    Seriousness
    H
    Administration Deficiency — F0865
    Failure to: Have a plan that describes the process for conducting QAPI and QAA activities.
    Severity
    Actual harm that is not immediate jeopardy
    Scope
    Some people affected
    Seriousness
    H
    Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiency — F0655
    Failure to: Create and put into place a plan for meeting the resident's most immediate needs within 48 hours of being admitted
    Severity
    Actual harm that is not immediate jeopardy
    Scope
    Few people affected
    Seriousness
    G
    Administration Deficiency — F0840
    Failure to: Employ or obtain outside professional resources to provide services in the nursing home when the facility does not employ a qualified professional to furnish a required service.
    Severity
    Actual harm that is not immediate jeopardy
    Scope
    Few people affected
    Seriousness
    G
    Nutrition and Dietary Deficiency — F0812
    Failure to: Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
    Severity
    No actual harm, with a potential for more than minimal harm
    Scope
    Some people affected
    Seriousness
    E
    Infection Control Deficiency — F0880
    Failure to: Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
    Severity
    No actual harm, with a potential for more than minimal harm
    Scope
    Some people affected
    Seriousness
    E
    Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiency — F0656
    Failure to: Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
    Severity
    No actual harm, with a potential for more than minimal harm
    Scope
    Few people affected
    Seriousness
    D
    Quality of Life and Care Deficiency — F0694
    Failure to: Provide for the safe, appropriate administration of IV fluids for a resident when needed.
    Severity
    No actual harm, with a potential for more than minimal harm
    Scope
    Few people affected
    Seriousness
    D
    Quality of Life and Care Deficiency — F0698
    Failure to: Provide safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services.
    Severity
    No actual harm, with a potential for more than minimal harm
    Scope
    Few people affected
    Seriousness
    D
    Pharmacy Service Deficiency — F0761
    Failure to: Ensure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs.
    Severity
    No actual harm, with a potential for more than minimal harm
    Scope
    Few people affected
    Seriousness
    D
    Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiency — F0842
    Failure to: Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
    Severity
    No actual harm, with a potential for more than minimal harm
    Scope
    Few people affected
    Seriousness
    D
    Nov 22, 2023
    Standard report
    4 deficiencies
    D

     to E
    E
    Full report
    Pharmacy Service Deficiency — F0761
    Failure to: Ensure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs.
    Severity
    No actual harm, with a potential for more than minimal harm
    Scope
    Some people affected
    Seriousness
    E
    Resident Rights Deficiency — F0550
    Failure to: Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
    Severity
    No actual harm, with a potential for more than minimal harm
    Scope
    Few people affected
    Seriousness
    D
    Pharmacy Service Deficiency — F0756
    Failure to: Ensure a licensed pharmacist perform a monthly drug regimen review, including the medical chart, following irregularity reporting guidelines in developed policies and procedures.
    Severity
    No actual harm, with a potential for more than minimal harm
    Scope
    Few people affected
    Seriousness
    D
    Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiency — F0842
    Failure to: Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
    Severity
    No actual harm, with a potential for more than minimal harm
    Scope
    Few people affected
    Seriousness
    D
    Oct 6, 2022
    Standard report
    16 deficiencies
    (1 infection)

    This report includes a citation for violating federal standards protecting residents from the spread of infections.
    $5,161 Fine
    C

     to E
    E
    Full report
    Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiency — F0636
    Failure to: Assess the resident completely in a timely manner when first admitted, and then periodically, at least every 12 months.
    Severity
    No actual harm, with a potential for more than minimal harm
    Scope
    Some people affected
    Seriousness
    E
    Administration Deficiency — F0850
    Failure to: Hire a qualified full-time social worker in a facility with more than 120 beds.
    Severity
    No actual harm, with a potential for more than minimal harm
    Scope
    Some people affected
    Seriousness
    E
    Environmental Deficiency — F0909
    Failure to: Regularly inspect all bed frames, mattresses, and bed rails (if any) for safety; and all bed rails and mattresses must attach safely to the bed frame.
    Severity
    No actual harm, with a potential for more than minimal harm
    Scope
    Some people affected
    Seriousness
    E
    Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiency — F0610
    Failure to: Respond appropriately to all alleged violations.
    Severity
    No actual harm, with a potential for more than minimal harm
    Scope
    Few people affected
    Seriousness
    D
    Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiency — F0656
    Failure to: Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
    Severity
    No actual harm, with a potential for more than minimal harm
    Scope
    Few people affected
    Seriousness
    D
    Quality of Life and Care Deficiency — F0689
    Failure to: Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
    Severity
    No actual harm, with a potential for more than minimal harm
    Scope
    Few people affected
    Seriousness
    D
    Quality of Life and Care Deficiency — F0690
    Failure to: Provide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.
    Severity
    No actual harm, with a potential for more than minimal harm
    Scope
    Few people affected
    Seriousness
    D
    Quality of Life and Care Deficiency — F0695
    Failure to: Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
    Severity
    No actual harm, with a potential for more than minimal harm
    Scope
    Few people affected
    Seriousness
    D
    Quality of Life and Care Deficiency — F0740
    Failure to: Ensure each resident must receive and the facility must provide necessary behavioral health care and services.
    Severity
    No actual harm, with a potential for more than minimal harm
    Scope
    Few people affected
    Seriousness
    D
    Pharmacy Service Deficiency — F0761
    Failure to: Ensure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs.
    Severity
    No actual harm, with a potential for more than minimal harm
    Scope
    Few people affected
    Seriousness
    D
    Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiency — F0842
    Failure to: Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
    Severity
    No actual harm, with a potential for more than minimal harm
    Scope
    Few people affected
    Seriousness
    D
    Infection Control Deficiency — F0880
    Failure to: Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
    Severity
    No actual harm, with a potential for more than minimal harm
    Scope
    Few people affected
    Seriousness
    D
    Resident Rights Deficiency — F0550
    Failure to: Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
    Severity
    No actual harm, with a potential for more than minimal harm
    Scope
    Few people affected
    Seriousness
    D
    Resident Rights Deficiency — F0554
    Failure to: Allow residents to self-administer drugs if determined clinically appropriate.
    Severity
    No actual harm, with a potential for more than minimal harm
    Scope
    Few people affected
    Seriousness
    D
    Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiency — F0609
    Failure to: Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
    Severity
    No actual harm, with a potential for more than minimal harm
    Scope
    Few people affected
    Seriousness
    D
    Nursing and Physician Services Deficiency — F0732
    Failure to: Post nurse staffing information every day.
    Severity
    No actual harm, with potential for minimal harm
    Scope
    Many people affected
    Seriousness
    C

    Penalties

    $5,161

    total fines

    A nursing home receives a penalty, either a fine or payment suspensions, when it has a serious health citation or fails to fix a citation. Fines may be imposed once per citation or regularly until the nursing home corrects the citation. Fines not associated with inspection reports can include fines for not reporting COVID-19 data or not complying with infection-control requirements. Payment suspensions are when the government stops payments to the nursing home until an issue is fixed. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services releases the last three years of penalty information.
    Oct 6, 2022
    $5,161 fine