Life Care Center Of Merrimack Valley
Billerica, Massachusetts · CCN 225546
19 surveys since 2011, 18 of them producing a finding at harm level or worse.
Data as of , released by CMS on October 8, 2026. Source: CMS Provider Data Catalog.
- Citations on record
- 89
- Surveys
- 19
- Harm or worse
- 18
- Immediate jeopardy
- 5
Findings at the most serious level CMS records.
Older surveys no longer in CMS’s monthly file or on Care Compare. They are shown here.
The facility
- Certified beds
- 124
- Ownership
- For profit - Limited Liability company
- Chain
- LIFE CARE CENTERS OF AMERICA
- County
- Middlesex
- Medicare-certified since
- 1992
CMS ratings
- Overall
- 2
- Health inspection
- 2
- Staffing
- 3
- Quality measures
- 4
CMS’s own Five-Star ratings.
Compared with similar facilities
Since 2021, this facility recorded more weighted findings than most of its peer group.
Weighted by harm level, against 80 for-profit facilities of 100–127 beds in Massachusetts.
Last survey on record
Apr 23, 2026
200 days ago.
Counts surveys with at least one finding. A clean survey leaves no record here, so the real gap may be shorter.
Staffing
| Measure | This facility | Peer median |
|---|---|---|
| Nurse hours per resident day | 4.09 | 3.64 |
| Registered-nurse hours per resident day | 0.71 | — |
| Annual nurse turnover | 38.8% | 40.7% |
As reported by the facility to CMS, beside the peer-group median.
Enforcement
- Fines
- $161,920 across 1 penalty
Federal civil money penalties and remedies as CMS currently publishes them. Amounts may still be under appeal.
Severity of recent findings
| Severity | Isolated | Pattern | Widespread |
|---|---|---|---|
| Immediate jeopardy | J— | K— | L— |
| Actual harm | G13.7% | H311.1% | I— |
| No harm, potential for more than minimal | D1244.4% | E1140.7% | F— |
| No harm, potential for minimal | A— | B— | C— |
Most frequently cited here
In CMS’s current monthly file.
- F7613×
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.
- F6982×
Provide safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services.
- F8422×
Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
- F5501×
Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
- F5521×
Ensure that residents are fully informed and understand their health status, care and treatments.
In the surveyor’s words
From the most serious findings on record at Life Care Center Of Merrimack Valley, in the surveyor’s own words.
- Immediate jeopardy, patternF600Dec 4, 2024
Based on record review, observations and interviews, the facility failed to protect four Residents (#264, #97, #60 and #103), from neglect, out of a total sample of 30 residents. Specifically: 1. For Resident #264, the facility neglected to complete a full weekly skin check as ordered. Failed to acknowledge and respond to initial wound cultures completed on 4/26/24. Failed to notify Medical Doctor of the wound culture results 4/30/24. Failed to initiate Flagyl (antibiotic) treatment as ordered and without dosage, resulting in a worsening stage 4 pressure injury to the coccyx with a major wound infection requiring antibiotics treatment, surgical debridement, hospitalization and resulting in the resident's ultimate death. 2a. […]
- Immediate jeopardy, patternF686Dec 4, 2024
Based on observations, interviews, and record review, the facility failed to provide care and treatment to prevent the development and worsening of pressure injury's (wounds that occur when the skin and tissue are damaged by prolonged pressure, usually on bony areas like the coccyx, hips, heels, or elbows) for six Residents (#264, #103, #97, #60, #63 and #20) out of a total sample of 30 residents. Specifically: 1. For Resident #264, the facility failed to provide care and treatment to prevent the development of pressure ulcers. Specifically, the facility failed to provide care and treatment resulting in a worsening stage 4 pressure injury to the coccyx with a major wound infection requiring antibiotics treatment, surgical debridement, hospitalization and ultimate death. 2. […]
- Immediate jeopardy, patternF726Dec 4, 2024
Based on interviews, record review, staff education review, and Facility Assessment review, the facility failed to ensure the nursing staff were trained and demonstrated the competencies and skill sets necessary to provide the level and types of care and services needed as outlined in the Facility Assessment. Specifically, the facility failed to: 1. Ensure the licensed nursing staff were trained and demonstrated competency to identify, assess, evaluate, intervene, and respond to a significant change in condition of a wound, for four Residents (#264, #97, #60, #103), out of a total sample of 30 Residents. 2. Ensure that 31 out of 36 staff education records reviewed, had completed education and competencies and were completed and documented annually, per the Facility Assessment. […]
- Immediate jeopardy, patternF835Dec 4, 2024
Based on observations, interviews and record review, the facility failed to ensure it was administrated in a manner that enabled the facility to ensure that systems were in place to provide competent clinical care and clinical oversight for the treatment to prevent the development and worsening of pressure injuries. Specifically, the facility administrator failed to: 1. Provide nursing staff education, training and competencies to demonstrate competency in providing safe and effective wound care management. 2. Identify concerns outlined by the Medical Director in the Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) program related to documentation, wound dressings, lab services and wound staging and documentation. 3. […]
- Immediate jeopardy, patternF837Dec 4, 2024
Based on interview, record review and the Facility Assessment, the facility failed to ensure the Governing Body provided oversight and accountability for quality of care related to comprehensive wound care management. Specifically: 1. The Governing Body failed to ensure the facility provided consistent and effective nursing staff education and training to provide competent quality of care and effective wound care management as outlined per the Facility Assessment. 2. The Governing Body failed to ensure the facility had implemented an effective wound care program that is supervised by a physician for pressure ulcer (wounds that occur when the skin and tissue are damaged by prolonged pressure, usually on bony areas like the hips, heels, or elbows) prevention and care. […]
Read 28 findings in full →The most serious and the most recent: 28 of 89 on record.
Every survey on record
FindingsAt actual harm or above
- Apr 23, 2026Complaint1 finding
- Dec 10, 2025Standard4 findings
- Aug 14, 2025Complaint1 finding
- Dec 4, 2024Standard17 findings · 10 harm
- Nov 22, 2023Standard4 findings
- Oct 6, 2022Standard17 findings · 1 harm
- Dec 21, 2020Complaint1 finding · 1 harm
- Jan 27, 2020Standard10 findings
Show the 11 earlier surveys
- Oct 16, 2019Complaint3 findings · 2 harm
- Feb 15, 2019Standard6 findings
- Oct 25, 2017Standard3 findings
- Oct 6, 2016Standard6 findings
- May 10, 2016Complaint1 finding
- May 12, 2015Complaint1 finding · 1 harm
- Jul 3, 2014Standard3 findings · 1 harm
- May 15, 2013—6 findings · 2 harm
- Feb 27, 2013—1 finding
- Mar 19, 2012—3 findings
- Mar 3, 2011—1 finding
Surveys that found no deficiencies are not in CMS’s files and do not appear here.
Comparable facilities
The nearest facilities to this one in the same peer group, by weighted findings.
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