Billerica, MA

Life Care Center Of Merrimack Valley

2-star overall rating with 2-star inspections with $161,920 in total fines with 5 recent health deficiencies

80 Boston Road, Billerica, MA

(978) 667-2166

Compare this facility

Overall

2 / 5

CMS overall stars

Health inspections

2 / 5

Survey and complaint cycles

Staffing

4 / 5

RN + nurse staffing

Quality measures

4 / 5

Resident outcomes and process measures

Quick facts

Facility snapshot

Beds

124

Certified beds

Average residents

101

Average occupied residents

Ownership

For-Profit

Publicly displayed owner type

Chain

Life Care Centers Of America

Operator or chain grouping

Approved since

1992-03-15

CMS approved date

Coverage

Medicare + Medicaid

Participation flags

Staffing

Hours and turnover

RN hours / resident day

0.67

Registered nurse staffing

LPN hours / resident day

0.92

Licensed practical nurse staffing

Aide hours / resident day

2.55

Nurse aide staffing

Weekend hours

3.64

Weekend nurse staffing

RN turnover

53%

Annual RN turnover

Total nurse turnover

43%

Annual nurse turnover

Quality measures

Resident outcomes and process scores

Measure	Facility	State	National	Note
Number of hospitalizations per 1000 long-stay resident days	1.7	1.9 0.2 pts better	1.9 0.2 pts better	Long Stay · 20240701-20250630
Number of outpatient emergency department visits per 1000 long-stay resident days	1.4	1.5 0.1 pts better	1.8 0.4 pts better	Long Stay · 20240701-20250630
Percentage of long-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the pneumococcal vaccine	99.2%	92.2% 7 pts better	93.4% 5.8 pts better	Long Stay · 2024Q4-2025Q3
Percentage of long-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the seasonal influenza vaccine	100.0%	94.8% 5.2 pts better	95.5% 4.5 pts better	Long Stay · 2024Q3-2025Q2
Percentage of long-stay residents experiencing one or more falls with major injury	3.6%	3.5% 0.1 pts worse	3.3% 0.3 pts worse	Long Stay · 2024Q4-2025Q3
Percentage of long-stay residents who have depressive symptoms	19.5%	12.0% 7.5 pts worse	11.4% 8.1 pts worse	Long Stay · 2024Q4-2025Q3
Percentage of long-stay residents who lose too much weight	2.9%	5.2% 2.3 pts better	5.4% 2.5 pts better	Long Stay · 2024Q4-2025Q3
Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antianxiety or hypnotic medication	17.0%	19.2% 2.2 pts better	19.6% 2.6 pts better	Long Stay · 2024Q4-2025Q3
Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antipsychotic medication	21.0%	22.5% 1.5 pts better	16.7% 4.3 pts worse	Long Stay · 2024Q4-2025Q3
Percentage of long-stay residents who were physically restrained	0.0%	0.1% 0.1 pts better	0.1% 0.1 pts better	Long Stay · 2024Q4-2025Q3
Percentage of long-stay residents whose ability to walk independently worsened	5.0%	17.7% 12.7 pts better	16.3% 11.3 pts better	Long Stay · 2024Q4-2025Q3
Percentage of long-stay residents whose need for help with daily activities has increased	7.6%	17.6% 10 pts better	14.9% 7.3 pts better	Long Stay · 2024Q4-2025Q3
Percentage of long-stay residents with a catheter inserted and left in their bladder	0.0%	1.0% 1 pts better	1.0% 1 pts better	Long Stay · 2024Q4-2025Q3
Percentage of long-stay residents with a urinary tract infection	1.4%	2.0% 0.6 pts better	1.7% 0.3 pts better	Long Stay · 2024Q4-2025Q3
Percentage of long-stay residents with new or worsened bowel or bladder incontinence	23.7%	21.7% 2 pts worse	19.8% 3.9 pts worse	Long Stay · 2024Q4-2025Q3
Percentage of long-stay residents with pressure ulcers	3.0%	4.6% 1.6 pts better	5.1% 2.1 pts better	Long Stay · 2024Q4-2025Q3
Percentage of short-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the pneumococcal vaccine	99.8%	77.1% 22.7 pts better	81.7% 18.1 pts better	Short Stay · 2024Q4-2025Q3
Percentage of short-stay residents who had an outpatient emergency department visit	9.0%	11.8% 2.8 pts better	12.0% 3 pts better	Short Stay · 20240701-20250630
Percentage of short-stay residents who newly received an antipsychotic medication	0.9%	1.3% 0.4 pts better	1.6% 0.7 pts better	Short Stay · 2024Q4-2025Q3
Percentage of short-stay residents who were assessed and appropriately given the seasonal influenza vaccine	100.0%	77.7% 22.3 pts better	79.7% 20.3 pts better	Short Stay · 2024Q3-2025Q2
Percentage of short-stay residents who were rehospitalized after a nursing home admission	30.1%	25.8% 4.3 pts worse	23.9% 6.2 pts worse	Short Stay · 20240701-20250630

Survey summary

Recent inspection cycles

Cycle 1 Health 2025-12-10 · Fire 2025-12-10

5 health deficiencies

Top issue: Pharmacy Service (2 deficiencies)

0 fire-safety deficiencies

No concentrated fire-safety issue counts in this cycle.

Cycle 2 Health 2024-12-04 · Fire 2024-12-04

17 health deficiencies

Top issue: Administration (5 deficiencies)

0 fire-safety deficiencies

No concentrated fire-safety issue counts in this cycle.

Cycle 3 Health 2023-11-22 · Fire 2023-11-22

4 health deficiencies

Top issue: Pharmacy Service (2 deficiencies)

1 fire-safety deficiencies

Top issue: Emergency Preparedness (1 deficiency)

Fire safety

Fire-safety citations

C · Minimal harm 2023-11-22

E41 · Emergency Preparedness Deficiencies

Fire Safety

Implement emergency and standby power systems.

Corrected 2023-12-15

Inspection history

Recent health citations

E · Potential for more than minimal harm 2025-12-10

F698 · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies

Health

Provide safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services.

Corrected 2025-12-26

E · Potential for more than minimal harm 2025-12-10

F760 · Pharmacy Service Deficiencies

Health

Ensure that residents are free from significant medication errors.

Corrected 2025-12-26

D · Potential for more than minimal harm 2025-12-10

F761 · Pharmacy Service Deficiencies

Health

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.

Corrected 2025-12-26

D · Potential for more than minimal harm 2025-12-10

F808 · Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies

Health

Ensure therapeutic diets are prescribed by the attending physician and may be delegated to a registered or licensed dietitian, to the extent allowed by State law.

Corrected 2025-12-26

E · Potential for more than minimal harm 2025-08-14

F552 · Resident Rights Deficiencies

Health

Ensure that residents are fully informed and understand their health status, care and treatments.

Corrected 2025-09-05

H · Actual harm 2024-12-04

F600 · Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies

Health

Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.

Corrected 2025-01-02

H · Actual harm 2024-12-04

F686 · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies

Health

Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.

Corrected 2025-01-02

H · Actual harm 2024-12-04

F841 · Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies

Health

Designate a physician to serve as medical director responsible for implementation of resident care policies and coordination of medical care in the facility.

Corrected 2025-01-02

G · Actual harm 2024-12-04

F655 · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies

Health

Create and put into place a plan for meeting the resident's most immediate needs within 48 hours of being admitted

Corrected 2025-01-02

E · Potential for more than minimal harm 2024-12-04

F726 · Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies

Health

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.

Corrected 2025-01-02

E · Potential for more than minimal harm 2024-12-04

F812 · Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies

Health

Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.

Corrected 2025-01-02

E · Potential for more than minimal harm 2024-12-04

F835 · Administration Deficiencies

Health

Administer the facility in a manner that enables it to use its resources effectively and efficiently.

Corrected 2025-01-02

E · Potential for more than minimal harm 2024-12-04

F837 · Administration Deficiencies

Health

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.

Corrected 2025-01-02

E · Potential for more than minimal harm 2024-12-04

F838 · Administration Deficiencies

Health

Conduct and document a facility-wide assessment to determine what resources are necessary to care for residents competently during both day-to-day operations (including nights and weekends) and emergencies.

Corrected 2025-01-02

E · Potential for more than minimal harm 2024-12-04

F865 · Administration Deficiencies

Health

Have a plan that describes the process for conducting QAPI and QAA activities.

Corrected 2025-01-02

E · Potential for more than minimal harm 2024-12-04

F880 · Infection Control Deficiencies

Health

Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.

Corrected 2025-01-02

D · Potential for more than minimal harm 2024-12-04

F656 · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies

Health

Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.

Corrected 2025-01-02

D · Potential for more than minimal harm 2024-12-04

F694 · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies

Health

Provide for the safe, appropriate administration of IV fluids for a resident when needed.

Corrected 2025-01-02

D · Potential for more than minimal harm 2024-12-04

F698 · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies

Health

Provide safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services.

Corrected 2025-01-02

D · Potential for more than minimal harm 2024-12-04

F761 · Pharmacy Service Deficiencies

Health

Corrected 2025-01-02

D · Potential for more than minimal harm 2024-12-04

F840 · Administration Deficiencies

Health

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.

Corrected 2025-01-02

D · Potential for more than minimal harm 2024-12-04

F842 · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies

Health

Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.

Corrected 2025-01-02

E · Potential for more than minimal harm 2023-11-22

F761 · Pharmacy Service Deficiencies

Health

Corrected 2023-12-12

D · Potential for more than minimal harm 2023-11-22

F550 · Resident Rights Deficiencies

Health

Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.

Corrected 2023-12-12

D · Potential for more than minimal harm 2023-11-22

F756 · Pharmacy Service Deficiencies

Health

Ensure a licensed pharmacist perform a monthly drug regimen review, including the medical chart, following irregularity reporting guidelines in developed policies and procedures.

Corrected 2023-12-12

D · Potential for more than minimal harm 2023-11-22

F842 · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies

Health

Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.

Corrected 2023-12-12

Penalties and ownership

What sits behind the stars

$161,920 2024-12-04

Fine

Fine · fine $161,920

Fine

Ownership

Life Care Centers Of America, Inc.

5% Or Greater Direct Ownership Interest · Organization

100% 194 facilities 2015-08-06

Preston, Forrest

5% Or Greater Indirect Ownership Interest · Individual

100% 188 facilities 2015-08-06

Cross, Cindy

Corporate Officer · Individual

0% 181 facilities 2015-08-06

Faustin, Moseline