Federal inspection record · CMS data as of October 1, 2026
Northwood Rehabilitation & Health Care Center
1010 Varnum Avenue, Lowell, MA · (978) 458-8773
- Certified beds
- 123
- Residents per day
- 114
- Ownership
- For-Profit
- Chain
- Athena Healthcare Systems
- Medicare / Medicaid
- Medicare + Medicaid
- Certified since
- February 17, 1987
1
How this home got 1 star
The overall rating isn't an average. CMS starts from the inspection rating and nudges it at most two steps. Here is the arithmetic for this home, using CMS's own rules.
-
Health inspections
★★★★★starting point
Everything starts from what state inspectors found on site. This is a ranking against other homes in Massachusetts.
-
Staffing
★★★★★no change
Only a 5-star staffing rating adds a star, and only a 1-star rating removes one. Ratings of 2 to 4 change nothing.
-
Quality measures
★★★★★no change
Same rule: 5 stars adds one, 1 star takes one away. These measures are mostly reported by the home itself.
-
Overall
★★★★★1 of 5
Matches the rating CMS publishes on Care Compare.
2
Where it sits among Massachusetts homes
Northwood Rehabilitation & Health Care Center carries 112.5 inspection points. That is fewer than 7% of Massachusetts's 339 rated homes.
Inspectors' citations earn points by how serious and how widespread they were (the grid below). CMS then ranks every home in Massachusetts: the 10% with the fewest points get 5 stars, the 20% with the most get 1 star, and the middle 70% split evenly into 2, 3 and 4.
- 5★ 0–6 pts
- 4★ 6–24 pts
- 3★ 24–41 pts
- 2★ 41–76 pts
- 1★ over 76 pts
Bars show every rated home in Massachusetts by its weighted inspection score. CMS recalibrates the cut points monthly but holds a home's rating until its own score changes, so a home can sit just outside today's band.
3
What inspectors found
55 health citations on record since 2023. Each one gets a letter: the row says how badly residents were affected, the column how many.
Immediate jeopardyResidents at risk of serious injury or death
Actual harmA resident was hurt
Potential for harmNo one was hurt, but could have been
Minimal harmPaperwork-level problems
Read the rows, not the total. Most citations nationwide are a D: one problem, nobody hurt. Rows G–I mean a resident was harmed; J–L mean inspectors found residents in immediate danger of serious injury or death.
Small numbers in each cell are the inspection points CMS assigns per citation. Those points are what the state curve above ranks.
Harm and immediate-jeopardy citations (3)
-
G
Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
-
G
Ensure each resident must receive and the facility must provide necessary behavioral health care and services.
-
G
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Everything else, by area of care
Quality of Life and Care20E
- E
Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
- D
Provide activities to meet all resident's needs.
- D
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
- D
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
- D
Provide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.
- D
Provide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health.
- D
Provide for the safe, appropriate administration of IV fluids for a resident when needed.
- D
Provide safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services.
- D
Ensure each resident must receive and the facility must provide necessary behavioral health care and services.
- D
Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
- D
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
- D
Provide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health.
- D
Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
- D
Provide safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services.
- D
Provide care or services that was trauma informed and/or culturally competent.
- E
Provide or obtain dental services for each resident.
- D
Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
- D
Provide activities to meet all resident's needs.
- D
Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
- D
Provide care or services that was trauma informed and/or culturally competent.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning9E
- D
Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
- D
Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
- D
Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
- B
Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
- E
Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
- D
Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
- D
Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
- E
Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
- D
Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
Resident Rights6E
- E
Reasonably accommodate the needs and preferences of each resident.
- D
Immediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
- D
Ensure that residents are fully informed and understand their health status, care and treatments.
- D
Immediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
- D
Keep residents' personal and medical records private and confidential.
- D
Honor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely.
Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation5D
- D
Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
- D
Ensure that each resident is free from the use of physical restraints, unless needed for medical treatment.
- D
Develop and implement policies and procedures to prevent abuse, neglect, and theft.
- D
Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
- D
Respond appropriately to all alleged violations.
Pharmacy Service5E
- D
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.
- D
Ensure medication error rates are not 5 percent or greater.
- D
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.
- E
Implement gradual dose reductions(GDR) and non-pharmacological interventions, unless contraindicated, prior to initiating or instead of continuing psychotropic medication; and PRN orders for psychotropic medications are only used when the medication is necessary and PRN use is limited.
- D
Ensure medication error rates are not 5 percent or greater.
Nursing and Physician Services4E
- D
Ensure that the resident and his/her doctor meet face-to-face at all required visits.
- D
Observe each nurse aide's job performance and give regular training.
- E
Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
- D
Ensure that the resident and his/her doctor meet face-to-face at all required visits.
Administration1D
- D
Help the resident make transportation arrangements to and from radiology services.
Infection Control1D
- D
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Nutrition and Dietary1D
- D
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.
Inspection history
2025-08-15
22 health deficiencies · 14 fire-safety deficiencies
Top issue: Quality of Life and Care (9 deficiencies)
2024-08-29
18 health deficiencies · 6 fire-safety deficiencies
Top issue: Quality of Life and Care (8 deficiencies)
2023-08-10
15 health deficiencies · 4 fire-safety deficiencies
Top issue: Quality of Life and Care (6 deficiencies)
4
Nursing time per resident, per day
Each resident here gets about 2 h 50 min of nursing staff time a day, 26 min of it from a registered nurse.
This home
2 h 50 min
Massachusetts average
3 h 56 min
U.S. average
3 h 54 min
- Registered nurse
- Licensed practical nurse
- Nurse aide
Turnover: 26% of nursing staff and 39% of registered nurses left in the past year.
Reported hours from payroll data the home submits to CMS, divided by its daily resident count. Not adjusted for how sick residents are.
5
Fines and payment denials
$85,178 in federal fines on record over the past three years.
| Date | Penalty | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-08-29 | Fine | $85,178 |
6
Resident outcomes
Quality measures compared with state and national averages. Most come from assessments the home itself reports.
| Measure | This home | State | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of hospitalizations per 1000 long-stay resident days0.4 pts worse | 2.2 | 1.8 | 1.8 |
| Number of outpatient emergency department visits per 1000 long-stay resident days1.1 pts worse | 2.5 | 1.4 | 1.7 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the pneumococcal vaccine12.8 pts worse | 80.1% | 92.9% | 93.7% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the seasonal influenza vaccine10.3 pts worse | 83.2% | 93.5% | 95.3% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents experiencing one or more falls with major injury0.4 pts better | 3.0% | 3.4% | 3.2% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who have depressive symptoms2.3 pts better | 15.1% | 17.4% | 13.5% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who lose too much weight1.2 pts better | 3.8% | 5.0% | 5.1% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antianxiety or hypnotic medication15.9 pts worse | 35.4% | 19.5% | 19.5% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antipsychotic medication21.3 pts worse | 42.8% | 21.5% | 15.4% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who were physically restrained0.1 pts better | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents whose ability to walk independently worsened3.9 pts better | 10.0% | 13.9% | 12.7% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents whose need for help with daily activities has increased4.2 pts better | 11.6% | 15.8% | 13.5% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with a catheter inserted and left in their bladder1.2 pts worse | 1.9% | 0.7% | 0.7% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with a urinary tract infection0.2 pts worse | 1.9% | 1.7% | 1.5% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with new or worsened bowel or bladder incontinence2.6 pts worse | 23.0% | 20.4% | 18.3% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with pressure ulcers3.2 pts better | 1.0% | 4.2% | 4.5% |
| Percentage of short-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the pneumococcal vaccine28 pts worse | 50.9% | 78.9% | 82.3% |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who had an outpatient emergency department visit3.1 pts worse | 14.9% | 11.8% | 11.8% |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who newly received an antipsychotic medication1.2 pts worse | 2.6% | 1.4% | 1.5% |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who were assessed and appropriately given the seasonal influenza vaccine31.5 pts worse | 46.6% | 78.1% | 80.1% |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who were rehospitalized after a nursing home admission0.6 pts worse | 26.3% | 25.7% | 23.4% |
·
Who owns and runs it
9 owners and managers reported to CMS. The last column counts how many nursing homes each one is tied to.
Show ownership list
| Name | Role | Share | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Athena Health Care Systems Ma R LLC | 5% Or Greater Direct Ownership Interest · Organization | 100% | 6 facilities |
| Santilli, Lawrence | 5% Or Greater Indirect Ownership Interest · Individual | 74% | 16 facilities |
| Mosier, Michael | 5% Or Greater Indirect Ownership Interest · Individual | 6% | 16 facilities |
| Chakalos-Santilli, Valerie | 5% Or Greater Indirect Ownership Interest · Individual | 5% | 8 facilities |
| Athena Health Care Associates, Inc. | Operational/Managerial Control · Organization | 0% | 16 facilities |
| Curtis, Diane | 5% Or Greater Indirect Ownership Interest · Individual | 0% | 8 facilities |
| Mosier, Michael | W-2 Managing Employee · Individual | 0% | 16 facilities |
| Rezendes, Lorrie | 5% Or Greater Indirect Ownership Interest · Individual | 0% | 9 facilities |
| Santilli, Lawrence | Corporate Officer · Individual | 0% | 16 facilities |
·
Fire safety
24 life-safety citations (sprinklers, exits, alarms). These don't count toward the star rating.
Smoke9F
- F
Have an enclosure around a vertical opening shaft.
- F
Provide properly protected cooking facilities.
- F
Have approved installation, maintenance and testing program for fire alarm systems.
- F
Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
- F
Properly select, install, inspect, or maintain portable fire extinguishes.
- E
Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
- D
Provide properly protected cooking facilities.
- F
Ensure that special areas are constructed so that walls can resist fire for one hour or have an approved fire extinguishing system.
- F
Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
Emergency Preparedness5F
- F
Establish staff and initial training requirements.
- F
Implement emergency and standby power systems.
- E
Implement emergency and standby power systems.
- D
Conduct testing and exercise requirements.
- F
Implement emergency and standby power systems.
Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems4F
- F
Ensure receptacles at patient bed locations and where general anesthesia is administered, are tested after initial installation, replacement or servicing.
- F
Have generator or other power source capable of supplying service within 10 seconds.
- E
Have generator or other power source capable of supplying service within 10 seconds.
- F
Have generator or other power source capable of supplying service within 10 seconds.
Miscellaneous3F
- F
Have simulated fire drills held at unexpected times.
- F
To conduct inspection, testing and maintenance of fire doors by qualified individuals.
- E
Have simulated fire drills held at unexpected times.
Egress2F
- F
Add doors in an exit area that do not require the use of a key from the exit side unless in case of special locking arrangements.
- E
Keep aisles, corridors, and exits free of obstruction in case of emergency.
Services1F
- F
Ensure heating and ventilation systems that have been properly installed according to the manufacturer's instructions.
·
Other homes nearby
-
D'Youville Senior Care
Lowell, MA
★★★★★- Worst citation, 3 yrs
- E
- Nursing / resident / day
- 3 h 46 min
- Fines
- $0
-
D'youville Care For Advanced Therapy
Lowell, MA · Carmelite Sisters For The Aged And Infirmed
★★★★★- Worst citation, 3 yrs
- D
- Nursing / resident / day
- 5 h 31 min
- Fines
- $0
-
Fairhaven Healthcare Center
Lowell, MA · Lme Family Holdings
★★★★★- Worst citation, 3 yrs
- G
- Nursing / resident / day
- 3 h 27 min
- Fines
- $15,030