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Berkshire Place
290 South Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201 (opens Google Maps) · Berkshire County · (413) 445-4056· 54 certified beds · avg 51 residents/day · certified since Oct 29, 2001 · Medicare only — not Medicaid certified
Certified for Medicare only. Medicare pays for short rehabilitation stays, not for long-term care — and this facility cannot bill Medicaid, which is what most families rely on for a long stay. Ask what a long-term stay here would cost and how it would be paid for. Who pays for nursing home care →
4/5
Health inspection rating (on-site)
inspected Feb 12, 2026
2
Serious findings on record
most recent Aug 17, 2023
$0
Fines, last 3 years
5.94
Nurse hours/resident/day (adjusted)
Every record stays on this page.
What health inspectors found (on-site government inspections — the most independent evidence available)
New to these records? How to read an inspection report →
Health inspection rating: ★★★★☆4/5 · CMS overall rating: 4/5 · how star ratings work →
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 quality measures from resident assessments and claims.
Most serious findings (actual harm or immediate jeopardy)
▲ Actual harm, isolated · 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.
▲ Actual harm, isolated · 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): Actual harm was cited, below immediate jeopardy. The scope was isolated: limited residents, staff, or locations were affected. Scope describes the extent of the deficiency, not whether it happened on previous inspections.
Corrected: Sep 15, 2023 (Deficient, Provider has date of correction)
▲ Actual harm, isolated · 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.
▲ Actual harm, isolated · 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): Actual harm was cited, below immediate jeopardy. The scope was isolated: limited residents, staff, or locations were affected. Scope describes the extent of the deficiency, not whether it happened on previous inspections.
Corrected: Sep 15, 2023 (Deficient, Provider has date of correction)
Inspection findings in the public record
Showing the latest 3 of 11 inspection findings. Open the full record below to read every finding.
The facility did not develop and follow policies and procedures for offering residents flu and pneumonia vaccinations. F-0883
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. F-0887
The facility provided care that did not meet professional standards of quality — the accepted standards that nurses and other clinicians are expected to follow. F-0658
View all 11 inspection findingsShow only the latest 3 findings
CMS publishes roughly the last three inspection cycles plus recent complaint investigations. Older surveys drop out of the record as new ones are completed — that window is CMS's, not ours. Within it, every citation CMS publishes for this facility is listed here: none excluded.
| Date | Severity | What the facility was cited for |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 12, 2026 | D · Potential for more than minimal harm, isolated | The facility did not develop and follow policies and procedures for offering residents flu and pneumonia vaccinations. · F-0883 |
| Feb 12, 2026 | D · Potential for more than minimal harm, isolated | 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. · F-0887 |
| Oct 28, 2024 | D · Potential for more than minimal harm, isolated | The facility provided care that did not meet professional standards of quality — the accepted standards that nurses and other clinicians are expected to follow. · F-0658 |
| Oct 28, 2024 | D · Potential for more than minimal harm, isolated | 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. · F-0758 |
| Oct 28, 2024 | D · Potential for more than minimal harm, isolated | 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. · F-0773 |
| Aug 17, 2023 | ▲ G · Actual harm, isolated | 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 · F-0580 |
| Aug 17, 2023 | ▲ G · Actual harm, isolated | 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 · F-0684 |
| Aug 17, 2023 | D · Potential for more than minimal harm, isolated | 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. · F-0637 |
| Aug 17, 2023 | D · Potential for more than minimal harm, isolated | 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 · F-0656 |
| Aug 17, 2023 | D · Potential for more than minimal harm, isolated | 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. · F-0695 |
| Aug 17, 2023 | D · Potential for more than minimal harm, isolated | The facility did not protect residents' personal information or did not keep complete, accurate medical records that meet professional standards. · from a complaint · F-0842 |
Inspection trend by year
Citations from standard inspections decreased between the last two inspection cycles (3 → 2).
All citationsSerious citations (G–L)
2023
All citations: 6
Serious citations (G–L): 2
2024
All citations: 3
Serious citations (G–L): 0
2026
All citations: 2
Serious citations (G–L): 0
All bars start at zero. Exact values and supporting details remain below.
| 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)
Nurse staffing (from payroll records, adjusted for how much care residents need)
What these staffing numbers mean →
This facilityMassachusetts averageU.S. average
Total nurse staffing (hours per resident per day)
This facility: 5.94
Massachusetts average: 3.89
U.S. average: 3.95
Registered Nurse hours
This facility: 0.75
Massachusetts average: 0.65
U.S. average: 0.69
Weekend total nurse staffing
This facility: 5.37
Massachusetts average: 3.51
U.S. average: 3.50
All bars start at zero. Exact values and supporting details remain below.
| 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 for the most recent quarter of payroll data in this CMS release (2026-08-01) — the same quarter for every facility — 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.Comparing with Medicare Care Compare? Care Compare shows the raw figure (5.02 here, displayed there as hours and minutes), not the adjusted one above. Both are correct; they answer different questions. Staffing rating: 4/5.
Quality measures: assessments & claims
Note: CMS combines facility-reported resident assessments (MDS) with claims-based measures. These are different sources from on-site inspection findings. Read the measures alongside inspection and staffing records; a high QM rating does not establish that a home is safe.
Quality measures rating: 4/5 · long-stay residents: 4/5 · short-stay residents: 4/5
Costs & payment
Price evidence · separate from quality
No verified facility-specific private-pay price is available in our data for Berkshire Place. CMS inspection and staffing records do not tell us what this home will charge you.
Calculate a stay from a quote you receive
Use a written private-pay quote. This worksheet adds only the amounts you enter; it does not calculate Medicare, Medicaid or insurance benefits.
Formula: (room rate + daily extras) × days + one-time charges. A 30-day scenario is not a calendar-month quote. Refundable deposits, rate changes and charges you omit are not automatically included. Entries are not saved or sent to our server.
Before you compare prices
- Request the room type, effective date and itemized daily rate in writing.
- Ask about therapy, medicines, supplies, care-level charges, deposits, refunds and annual increases.
- Confirm insurance or Medicaid eligibility and bed availability directly; certification alone does not guarantee either.
Understand who pays for care · How we handle price evidence · Report an incorrect price
Who owns this facility
How to read ownership records →
Ownership records as published by CMS on 2026-08-01. CMS records when an owner joined but not when they left. Listed here and no longer involved? Tell us →
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 |
All 14 owning or managing parties CMS has on file are shown — none excluded.
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?"
Also worth asking anywhere
- "What is your current ratio of nursing staff to residents on day, evening, and weekend shifts?"
- "Can I see the plan of correction for the findings in your most recent state inspection?"
- "CMS reports 68% total nursing staff turnover here — who on the care team has been with you longest?"
- "The ownership record on file lists 14 owning or managing parties — who makes the decisions about staffing levels?"
- "Can I visit again unannounced, at a mealtime or on a weekend?"
Nearby facilities (within 20 miles)
| Facility | Distance | City | Overall | Inspection | Flags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 →
Other facilities in the same county
CMS records place this facility in Berkshire, MA — 13 certified facilities there. These are outside the 20-mile list above, or far enough down it not to appear.
- Berkshire Rehabilitation & Skilled Care Center — Sandisfield, MA · overall 2/5abuse
Listed by facility name — not a ranking. Homes already in the table above are not repeated here.
Facility data as of CMS processing date 2026-08-01. CCN 225762.