Gardner Rehabilitation and Nursing Center

Name: Gardner Rehabilitation and Nursing Center
Address: 59 EASTWOOD CIRCLE, Gardner, MA, 01440, US
Telephone: 9786328776

59 Eastwood Circle, Gardner, MA 01440 · Worcester County · 124 certified beds · avg 109 residents/day · certified since May 29, 1970

2/5

Health inspection rating (on-site)

Serious findings on record

Fines, last 3 years

3.86

Nurse hours/resident/day (adjusted)

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

Health inspection rating: ★★☆☆☆2/5 · CMS overall rating: 2/5

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.

All citations in the current public record (32)

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 2, 2026	E · Potential for harm, repeated	The facility provided care that did not meet professional standards of quality — the accepted standards that nurses and other clinicians are expected to follow.
Feb 2, 2026	E · Potential for harm, repeated	The facility did not label drugs according to professional standards or did not store them in locked compartments, with controlled drugs (medications with a high risk of misuse) kept under a separate lock.
Feb 2, 2026	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not allow residents to take their own medications when a clinical review showed they could do so safely. Residents have this right if their care team determines it's appropriate.
Feb 2, 2026	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not honor residents' rights to request, refuse, or stop treatment, to decline participation in medical research, or to make an advance directive — a written statement of their wishes for future medical care.
Feb 2, 2026	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not honor residents' right to voice complaints without discrimination or retaliation, or did not have a working complaint process that resolves issues promptly.
Feb 2, 2026	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not keep the environment free of accident hazards, or did not provide enough supervision to prevent accidents like falls.
Feb 2, 2026	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.
Feb 2, 2026	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not have enough nursing staff each day to meet every resident's needs, or did not have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift. Adequate staffing is one of the strongest predictors of good care.
Feb 2, 2026	B · Minimal risk, repeated	The facility did not coordinate resident assessments with the state's pre-admission screening program for mental illness and intellectual disabilities, or failed to refer residents for the special services they need.
Sep 9, 2025	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
Oct 18, 2024	E · Potential for harm, repeated	The facility did not keep the environment free of accident hazards, or did not provide enough supervision to prevent accidents like falls.
Oct 18, 2024	E · Potential for harm, repeated	The facility did not get its food from approved, safe sources, or did not store, prepare, and serve food according to professional food safety standards.
Oct 18, 2024	E · Potential for harm, repeated	The facility did not have or follow an effective program to prevent and control infections — such as proper hand washing, cleaning, and isolation practices. This is the most commonly cited deficiency nationwide.
Oct 18, 2024	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not treat residents with dignity and respect, or did not honor their rights to make their own decisions and communicate freely. This is one of the most fundamental resident rights.
Oct 18, 2024	D · Potential for 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.
Oct 18, 2024	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not properly complete the required screening (called PASARR) that identifies whether a person entering a nursing home has a mental illness or intellectual disability and needs specialized services.
Oct 18, 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 18, 2024	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.
Oct 18, 2024	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide appropriate treatment and services to residents with a mental health condition, difficulty adjusting emotionally, or a history of trauma or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Oct 18, 2024	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not have a licensed pharmacist review each resident's complete medication regimen and medical chart every month, or did not follow its own rules for reporting medication problems.
Oct 18, 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 18, 2024	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.
Oct 18, 2024	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not properly inform residents or their representatives about arbitration agreements — contracts that give up the right to sue in court — including their right to refuse to sign.
Oct 18, 2024	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 18, 2024	B · Minimal risk, repeated	The facility did not accurately assess a resident's health and needs. Assessments are the foundation for all the care a resident receives.
Aug 1, 2023	E · Potential for harm, repeated	The facility did not get its food from approved, safe sources, or did not store, prepare, and serve food according to professional food safety standards.
Aug 1, 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.
Aug 1, 2023	D · Potential for 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.
Aug 1, 2023	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide appropriate care related to bladder and bowel needs — including care for residents who use catheters and steps to prevent urinary tract infections.
Aug 1, 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 1, 2023	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide safe, appropriate care for residents who need dialysis — the treatment that filters the blood when kidneys fail.
Aug 1, 2023	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not develop and follow policies and procedures for offering residents flu and pneumonia vaccinations.

Inspection trend by year

Citations from standard inspections decreased between the last two inspection cycles (15 → 9).

Year	Citations	Worst severity that year
2023	7	E
2024	15	E
2025	1	D
2026	9	E

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)	3.86	3.89	3.95	top 41% in Massachusetts; top 46% in the U.S.
Registered Nurse hours	0.58	0.65	0.69	bottom 48% in Massachusetts; bottom 49% in the U.S.
Weekend total nurse staffing	3.20	3.51	3.50	bottom 38% in Massachusetts; bottom 42% in the U.S.
Weekend RN hours (not acuity-adjusted)	0.31	0.46	0.48	bottom 29% in Massachusetts; bottom 34% in the U.S.
Total nursing staff turnover (%)	51.2	38.2	45.8	bottom 15% in Massachusetts; bottom 34% in the U.S.
RN turnover (%)	72.2	42.6	42.9	bottom 7% in Massachusetts; bottom 10% 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 4.06, RN 0.61, weekend 3.37. Staffing rating: 2/5.

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: 3/5 · long-stay residents: 3/5 · short-stay residents: 3/5

Who owns this facility

For profit - Limited Liability company

Owner / manager	Type	Role	Stake	Since
Gardner Nursing Home Holding Company LLC	Organization	5% or Greater Direct Ownership Interest	100%	04/20/2021
Jacobowitz, Harry	Individual	5% or Greater Indirect Ownership Interest	14%	12/13/2022
Jacobowitz, Kalman	Individual	5% or Greater Indirect Ownership Interest	12%	12/13/2022
Lipman, Eileen	Individual	5% or Greater Indirect Ownership Interest	12%	12/13/2022
Lipman, Michael	Individual	5% or Greater Indirect Ownership Interest	32%	12/13/2022
Mermelstein, Elisa	Individual	5% or Greater Indirect Ownership Interest	12%	12/13/2022
Mermelstein, Howard	Individual	5% or Greater Indirect Ownership Interest	11%	12/13/2022
Asghar, Irfan	Individual	Operational/Managerial Control	NOT APPLICABLE	12/13/2022
Cambridge, Joshua	Individual	W-2 Managing Employee	NOT APPLICABLE	12/13/2022
Jacobowitz, Kalman	Individual	W-2 Managing Employee	NOT APPLICABLE	12/13/2022
Mermelstein, Howard	Individual	Corporate Officer	NOT APPLICABLE	12/13/2022

Questions to ask on your visit

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

"Can you tell me what this citation involved and what steps you took to bring care back up to standard?"
"Can you show me how medications are stored and secured on the units, including controlled drugs?"
"If my family member is able to manage their own medications, would you allow it, and how is that decided?"
"How do you record and honor each resident's treatment wishes and advance directives, and how do staff know about them?"
"Walk me through what happens when a resident or family files a grievance — who responds and how fast?"
"What is your falls rate, and what specific steps do you take to prevent falls and supervise residents at risk?"
"How many residents here use oxygen or breathing equipment, and who checks that equipment each shift?"
"What is your nurse and aide staffing ratio on each shift, including nights and weekends?"
"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
Wachusett Manor	0.3 mi	Gardner, MA	★★★☆☆	3/5
Alliance Health at Baldwinville	5.1 mi	Baldwinville, MA	★★★★☆	4/5
Highlands, the	8.9 mi	Fitchburg, MA	★★★☆☆	3/5
Fitchburg Healthcare	9.8 mi	Fitchburg, MA	★☆☆☆☆	1/5
Fitchburg Rehabilitation and Nursing Center	9.8 mi	Fitchburg, MA	★☆☆☆☆	1/5
Life Care Center of Leominster	10.6 mi	Leominster, MA	★★★★☆	3/5
Leominster Rehabilitation and Nursing Center	12.0 mi	Leominster, MA	★☆☆☆☆	2/5
River Terrace Rehabilitation and Healthcare Ctr	14.4 mi	Lancaster, MA	★★★★★	5/5
Sterling Village	14.4 mi	Sterling, MA	★★★★☆	4/5
Quabbin Valley Healthcare	14.7 mi	Athol, MA	★★☆☆☆	2/5
Oakdale Rehabilitation & Skilled Nursing Center	15.3 mi	West Boylston, MA	★★★★☆	4/5
Jaffrey Rehabilitation and Nursing Center	16.4 mi	Jaffrey, NH	★☆☆☆☆	1/5

Compare this facility with the 3 closest →

All facilities in Gardner →

Facility data as of CMS processing date 2026-08-01. CCN 225196.

The Care File

Visit checklist — Gardner Rehabilitation and Nursing Center

59 Eastwood Circle, Gardner, MA 01440 · 9786328776

Health inspection rating 2/5 · CMS overall 2/5· Fines (3y): $0

Questions for the administrator:

☐ "Can you tell me what this citation involved and what steps you took to bring care back up to standard?"
☐ "Can you show me how medications are stored and secured on the units, including controlled drugs?"
☐ "If my family member is able to manage their own medications, would you allow it, and how is that decided?"
☐ "How do you record and honor each resident's treatment wishes and advance directives, and how do staff know about them?"
☐ "Walk me through what happens when a resident or family files a grievance — who responds and how fast?"
☐ "What is your falls rate, and what specific steps do you take to prevent falls and supervise residents at risk?"
☐ "How many residents here use oxygen or breathing equipment, and who checks that equipment each shift?"
☐ "What is your nurse and aide staffing ratio on each shift, including nights and weekends?"
☐ "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 225196 · Verify at medicare.gov/care-compare · Printed from The Care File (thecarefile.com)