Berkshire Place

Name: Berkshire Place
Address: 290 SOUTH STREET, Pittsfield, MA, 01201, US
Telephone: 4134454056

290 South Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201 · Berkshire County · 54 certified beds · avg 51 residents/day · certified since Oct 29, 2001

4/5

Health inspection rating (on-site)

Serious findings on record

Fines, last 3 years

5.94

Nurse hours/resident/day (adjusted)

What health inspectors found (on-site government inspections — the most independent evidence available)

Health inspection rating: ★★★★☆4/5 · CMS overall rating: 4/5

The health inspection star above is graded on a curve within each state — a set share of each state's facilities gets each star level — so a facility can have few citations and still rate 2–3 stars if others in its state did even better. The overall rating combines that inspection score with staffing and self-reported quality measures.

Most serious findings (actual harm or immediate jeopardy)

▲ Actual harm, one-off · Aug 17, 2023 · F-0580 · triggered by a complaint

The facility did not immediately notify the resident, their doctor, and a family member when something significant happened — such as an injury, a decline in health, or a room change. Families and doctors are entitled to know right away.

Why it matters: A family could learn about a serious injury or decline days later, after the chance to act has passed.

Severity (G): One or a few residents were actually harmed — physically or emotionally — though not put in immediate danger of serious injury or death.

Corrected: Sep 15, 2023 (Deficient, Provider has date of correction)

▲ Actual harm, one-off · Aug 17, 2023 · F-0684 · triggered by a complaint

The facility did not provide treatment and care that follows the doctor's orders and matches the resident's own preferences and goals.

Why it matters: Care that strays from doctor's orders or ignores the resident's wishes can lead to declining health and avoidable harm.

Severity (G): One or a few residents were actually harmed — physically or emotionally — though not put in immediate danger of serious injury or death.

Corrected: Sep 15, 2023 (Deficient, Provider has date of correction)

All citations in the current public record (11)

CMS publishes roughly the last three inspection cycles plus recent complaint investigations. Older surveys drop out of the record as new ones are completed.

Date	Severity	What the facility was cited for
Feb 12, 2026	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not develop and follow policies and procedures for offering residents flu and pneumonia vaccinations.
Feb 12, 2026	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not educate residents and staff about COVID-19 vaccination, offer the vaccine to those eligible after that education, or properly document everyone's vaccination status.
Oct 28, 2024	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility provided care that did not meet professional standards of quality — the accepted standards that nurses and other clinicians are expected to follow.
Oct 28, 2024	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not try to gradually reduce doses of mood- and mind-altering medications or use non-drug approaches first, as required, or used 'as needed' psychiatric drugs without proper limits.
Oct 28, 2024	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide or obtain laboratory tests when a doctor ordered them, or did not promptly report the results back to the doctor who ordered them.
Aug 17, 2023	▲ G · Actual harm, one-off	The facility did not immediately notify the resident, their doctor, and a family member when something significant happened — such as an injury, a decline in health, or a room change. Families and doctors are entitled to know right away. · from a complaint
Aug 17, 2023	▲ G · Actual harm, one-off	The facility did not provide treatment and care that follows the doctor's orders and matches the resident's own preferences and goals. · from a complaint
Aug 17, 2023	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not reassess a resident after a significant change in their condition, such as a sudden decline in health. A full new assessment is required when a resident's condition changes in a major way.
Aug 17, 2023	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not develop or follow a complete care plan for each resident — the written roadmap covering all of a resident's needs, with measurable goals and timelines. · from a complaint
Aug 17, 2023	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide safe and appropriate respiratory care — such as oxygen, breathing treatments, or care for residents on breathing equipment — for residents who needed it.
Aug 17, 2023	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not protect residents' personal information or did not keep complete, accurate medical records that meet professional standards. · from a complaint

Inspection trend by year

Citations from standard inspections decreased between the last two inspection cycles (3 → 2).

Year	Citations	Serious (G–L)	Worst severity that year
2023	6	2	G ▲
2024	3	0	D
2026	2	0	D

Counts reflect the current CMS public record (~3 inspection cycles plus complaint investigations); years with no surveys show no row. Inspection frequency varies, so compare severity as well as counts.

Fines and enforcement (last 3 years)

No fines or payment denials in the published 3-year window.

Nurse staffing (from payroll records, adjusted for how much care residents need)

Measure	This facility	Massachusetts avg	U.S. avg	Where it stands
Total nurse staffing (hours per resident per day)	5.94	3.89	3.95	top 2% in Massachusetts; top 4% in the U.S.
Registered Nurse hours	0.75	0.65	0.69	top 24% in Massachusetts; top 32% in the U.S.
Weekend total nurse staffing	5.37	3.51	3.50	top 3% in Massachusetts; top 4% in the U.S.
Weekend RN hours (not acuity-adjusted)	0.20	0.46	0.48	bottom 9% in Massachusetts; bottom 12% in the U.S.
Total nursing staff turnover (%)	68.4	38.2	45.8	bottom 3% in Massachusetts; bottom 7% in the U.S.
RN turnover (%)	50.0	42.6	42.9	bottom 37% in Massachusetts; bottom 39% in the U.S.

Hours are per resident per day, case-mix adjusted by CMS so facilities caring for sicker residents can be compared fairly (same basis as the CMS staffing star). "Top X%" means better than most facilities: more staffing hours, or lower turnover. Raw (unadjusted) reported hours: total 5.02, RN 0.63, weekend 4.54. Staffing rating: 4/5.

Self-reported quality measures

Note: these ratings are based on data the facility reports about itself to CMS. They are not independently verified by inspectors, and can look better than inspection findings. Give more weight to the inspection results above.

Quality measures rating: 4/5 · long-stay residents: 4/5 · short-stay residents: 4/5

Who owns this facility

Non profit - Corporation

Owner / manager	Type	Role	Stake	Since
Berkshire Retirement Home INC	Organization	5% or Greater Direct Ownership Interest	100%	06/25/1986
Forfa, Edward	Individual	W-2 Managing Employee	NOT APPLICABLE	01/01/1986
Forfa, Edward	Individual	Corporate Director	NOT APPLICABLE	02/12/2003
Furlano, Nelson	Individual	Corporate Director	NOT APPLICABLE	10/01/2013
Gilligan, Mark	Individual	Corporate Director	NOT APPLICABLE	10/18/2018
Guyette, Shelley	Individual	Corporate Director	NOT APPLICABLE	10/01/2012
Herrick, Richard	Individual	Corporate Director	NOT APPLICABLE	10/24/2007
Kahn, Craig	Individual	Corporate Director	NOT APPLICABLE	10/24/2021
Kirby, Elizabeth	Individual	Corporate Director	NOT APPLICABLE	03/09/2006
Mara, Dorothy	Individual	Corporate Director	NOT APPLICABLE	03/09/2006
Marinaro, Vincent	Individual	Corporate Director	NOT APPLICABLE	10/20/2011
McKenna, Mark	Individual	Corporate Director	NOT APPLICABLE	06/12/2024
McNinch, Jacqueline	Individual	Corporate Director	NOT APPLICABLE	10/24/2021
Murphy, John	Individual	Corporate Director	NOT APPLICABLE	01/01/2018

Questions to ask on your visit

Generated from this facility's actual citation record — bring them to a tour and ask the administrator directly.

"If my family member falls or their condition changes, exactly when and how will I be notified?"
"How do you make sure each resident's care follows the doctor's orders, and what changed after this citation?"
"What percentage of your residents and staff are vaccinated against flu and pneumonia, and how do you offer the vaccines?"
"How do you handle COVID-19 vaccination for residents and staff, and what happens during an outbreak?"
"Can you tell me what this citation involved and what steps you took to bring care back up to standard?"
"What is your approach to psychiatric medications — how do you try non-drug options first and work to reduce doses over time?"
"When a doctor orders lab work, how quickly is it done and how are results communicated back?"
"If my family member's health suddenly changes, how quickly do you reassess them and update their care?"
"What is your current ratio of nursing staff to residents on day, evening, and weekend shifts?"
"Can I see the results and plan of correction from your most recent state inspection?"

Nearby facilities (within 20 miles)

Facility	Distance	City	Overall	Inspection
Hillcrest Commons Nursing & Rehabilitation Center	1.6 mi	Pittsfield, MA	★☆☆☆☆	1/5
Mt Greylock Extended Care Facility	2.0 mi	Pittsfield, MA	★★★★★	5/5
Springside Rehabilitation and Skilled Care Center	2.5 mi	Pittsfield, MA	★★★★☆	4/5
Mount Carmel Care Center	3.2 mi	Lenox, MA	★★★☆☆	3/5
Craneville Rehabilitation and Skilled Care Center	4.6 mi	Dalton, MA	★★★★☆	4/5
Kimball Farms Nursing Care Center	5.9 mi	Lenox, MA	★★★★☆	4/5
Lee Healthcare	8.0 mi	Lee, MA	★☆☆☆☆	2/5
Fairview Commons Nursing & Rehabilitation Center	16.7 mi	Great Barrington, MA	★☆☆☆☆	1/5
Williamstown Commons Nursing & Rehab	18.4 mi	Williamstown, MA	★★★☆☆	3/5
Timberlyn Heights Nursing and Rehabilitation	18.9 mi	Great Barrington, MA	★★★★☆	4/5

Compare this facility with the 3 closest →

All facilities in Pittsfield →

Facility data as of CMS processing date 2026-08-01. CCN 225762.

The Care File

Visit checklist — Berkshire Place

290 South Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201 · 4134454056

Health inspection rating 4/5 · CMS overall 4/5· Fines (3y): $0

Most serious findings on record:

▲ Aug 17, 2023 (F-0580, Actual harm, one-off): The facility did not immediately notify the resident, their doctor, and a family member when something significant happened — such as an injury, a decline in health, or a room change. Families and doctors are entitled to know right away.
▲ Aug 17, 2023 (F-0684, Actual harm, one-off): The facility did not provide treatment and care that follows the doctor's orders and matches the resident's own preferences and goals.

Questions for the administrator:

☐ "If my family member falls or their condition changes, exactly when and how will I be notified?"
☐ "How do you make sure each resident's care follows the doctor's orders, and what changed after this citation?"
☐ "What percentage of your residents and staff are vaccinated against flu and pneumonia, and how do you offer the vaccines?"
☐ "How do you handle COVID-19 vaccination for residents and staff, and what happens during an outbreak?"
☐ "Can you tell me what this citation involved and what steps you took to bring care back up to standard?"
☐ "What is your approach to psychiatric medications — how do you try non-drug options first and work to reduce doses over time?"
☐ "When a doctor orders lab work, how quickly is it done and how are results communicated back?"
☐ "If my family member's health suddenly changes, how quickly do you reassess them and update their care?"
☐ "What is your current ratio of nursing staff to residents on day, evening, and weekend shifts?"
☐ "Can I see the results and plan of correction from your most recent state inspection?"

While you're there, notice:

☐ Smell and cleanliness in hallways, not just the lobby
☐ How staff speak to residents; call lights answered promptly
☐ Residents up, dressed, and engaged (visit mealtimes and a weekend if you can)

Data: CMS Provider Data Catalog, version 2026-08-01 · CCN 225762 · Verify at medicare.gov/care-compare · Printed from The Care File (thecarefile.com)