80 Boston Road, Billerica, MA 01862 (opens Google Maps) · Middlesex County · (978) 667-2166· 124 certified beds · avg 112 residents/day · certified since Mar 15, 1992 · Medicare and Medicaid certified
Certified for both programmes. Certification means the facility can bill Medicaid — it does not mean a Medicaid-funded bed is free right now, so ask directly. Who pays for nursing home care →
Part of chain: LIFE CARE CENTERS OF AMERICA (194 facilities, chain avg rating 3.4★)
New to these records? How to read an inspection report →
Health inspection rating: ★★☆☆☆2/5 · CMS overall rating: 2/5 · 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.
▲ Actual harm, pattern · Dec 4, 2024 · F-0600 · triggered by a complaint
The facility did not protect residents from abuse or neglect. This covers physical, mental, and sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect, by anyone — staff, other residents, or visitors.
Why it matters: Abuse and neglect cause direct physical and emotional harm and are among the most serious failures a nursing home can have.
Severity (H): Actual harm was cited, below immediate jeopardy. The scope was a pattern: more than a limited occurrence, without being widespread. Scope describes the extent of the deficiency, not whether it happened on previous inspections.
Corrected: Jan 2, 2025 (Deficient, Provider has date of correction)
▲ Actual harm, pattern · Dec 4, 2024 · F-0686 · triggered by a complaint
The facility did not provide proper care for pressure ulcers (bedsores) or did not do enough to prevent new ones from forming. Bedsores develop when residents stay in one position too long without help moving.
Why it matters: Bedsores are painful, can become deeply infected, and in serious cases can be life-threatening.
Severity (H): Actual harm was cited, below immediate jeopardy. The scope was a pattern: more than a limited occurrence, without being widespread. Scope describes the extent of the deficiency, not whether it happened on previous inspections.
Corrected: Jan 2, 2025 (Deficient, Provider has date of correction)
▲ Actual harm, pattern · Dec 4, 2024 · F-0841 · triggered by a complaint
The facility did not designate a physician to serve as medical director — the doctor responsible for overseeing resident care policies and coordinating medical care across the facility.
Why it matters: Without a medical director, there is no doctor accountable for the overall quality of medical care.
Severity (H): Actual harm was cited, below immediate jeopardy. The scope was a pattern: more than a limited occurrence, without being widespread. Scope describes the extent of the deficiency, not whether it happened on previous inspections.
Corrected: Jan 2, 2025 (Deficient, Provider has date of correction)
▲ Actual harm, isolated · Dec 4, 2024 · F-0655
The facility did not create and follow a basic care plan covering a new resident's most immediate needs within 48 hours of admission. The first days are when a new resident is most vulnerable.
Why it matters: In the critical first days, staff may not know a new resident's medications, diet, or fall risks.
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: Jan 2, 2025 (Deficient, Provider has date of correction)
Showing the latest 3 of 27 inspection findings. Open the full record below to read every finding.
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
The facility did not provide safe, appropriate care for residents who need dialysis — the treatment that filters the blood when kidneys fail. F-0698
The facility did not keep residents free from significant medication errors — such as giving the wrong drug, the wrong dose, or missing a critical medication. F-0760
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 23, 2026 | D · Potential for more than minimal 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 |
| Dec 10, 2025 | E · Potential for more than minimal harm, pattern | The facility did not provide safe, appropriate care for residents who need dialysis — the treatment that filters the blood when kidneys fail. · F-0698 |
| Dec 10, 2025 | E · Potential for more than minimal harm, pattern | The facility did not keep residents free from significant medication errors — such as giving the wrong drug, the wrong dose, or missing a critical medication. · F-0760 |
| Dec 10, 2025 | D · Potential for more than minimal harm, isolated | 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. · F-0761 |
| Dec 10, 2025 | D · Potential for more than minimal harm, isolated | The facility did not make sure special medical diets — like low-sodium or diabetic diets — were properly ordered by the resident's doctor or managed by a qualified dietitian as state law allows. · F-0808 |
| Aug 14, 2025 | E · Potential for more than minimal harm, pattern | The facility did not make sure residents were fully informed about their own health, care, and treatments in a way they could understand. · from a complaint · F-0552 |
| Dec 4, 2024 | ▲ H · Actual harm, pattern | The facility did not protect residents from abuse or neglect. This covers physical, mental, and sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect, by anyone — staff, other residents, or visitors. · from a complaint · F-0600 |
| Dec 4, 2024 | ▲ H · Actual harm, pattern | The facility did not provide proper care for pressure ulcers (bedsores) or did not do enough to prevent new ones from forming. Bedsores develop when residents stay in one position too long without help moving. · from a complaint · F-0686 |
| Dec 4, 2024 | ▲ H · Actual harm, pattern | The facility did not designate a physician to serve as medical director — the doctor responsible for overseeing resident care policies and coordinating medical care across the facility. · from a complaint · F-0841 |
| Dec 4, 2024 | ▲ G · Actual harm, isolated | The facility did not create and follow a basic care plan covering a new resident's most immediate needs within 48 hours of admission. The first days are when a new resident is most vulnerable. · F-0655 |
| Dec 4, 2024 | E · Potential for more than minimal harm, pattern | The facility did not make sure its nurses and nurse aides had the skills and training needed to properly care for every resident. · from a complaint · F-0726 |
| Dec 4, 2024 | E · Potential for more than minimal harm, pattern | 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. · F-0812 |
| Dec 4, 2024 | E · Potential for more than minimal harm, pattern | The facility was not managed in a way that uses its money, staff, and resources effectively and efficiently to care for residents. · from a complaint · F-0835 |
| Dec 4, 2024 | E · Potential for more than minimal harm, pattern | The facility did not have a proper governing body legally responsible for its policies and operations, or that body failed to appoint a properly licensed administrator to manage the facility. · from a complaint · F-0837 |
| Dec 4, 2024 | E · Potential for more than minimal harm, pattern | The facility did not conduct and document a facility-wide assessment of what staff, supplies, and resources it needs to care for its residents properly — during everyday operations, nights, weekends, and emergencies. · from a complaint · F-0838 |
| Dec 4, 2024 | E · Potential for more than minimal harm, pattern | The facility did not have a written plan describing how it runs its quality improvement program — the ongoing process of finding problems in care and fixing them. · from a complaint · F-0865 |
| Dec 4, 2024 | E · Potential for more than minimal harm, pattern | 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. · F-0880 |
| Dec 4, 2024 | 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. · F-0656 |
| Dec 4, 2024 | D · Potential for more than minimal harm, isolated | The facility did not safely and appropriately administer IV fluids (fluids given through a vein) for residents who needed them. · F-0694 |
| Dec 4, 2024 | D · Potential for more than minimal harm, isolated | The facility did not provide safe, appropriate care for residents who need dialysis — the treatment that filters the blood when kidneys fail. · F-0698 |
| Dec 4, 2024 | D · Potential for more than minimal harm, isolated | 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. · F-0761 |
| Dec 4, 2024 | D · Potential for more than minimal harm, isolated | The facility did not bring in qualified outside professionals to provide a required service when it didn't have a qualified professional on staff. · from a complaint · F-0840 |
| Dec 4, 2024 | 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. · F-0842 |
| Nov 22, 2023 | E · Potential for more than minimal harm, pattern | 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. · F-0761 |
| Nov 22, 2023 | D · Potential for more than minimal harm, isolated | 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. · F-0550 |
| Nov 22, 2023 | D · Potential for more than minimal harm, isolated | 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. · F-0756 |
| Nov 22, 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. · F-0842 |
Citations from standard inspections decreased between the last two inspection cycles (17 → 4).
All bars start at zero. Exact values and supporting details remain below.
| Year | Citations | Serious (G–L) | Worst severity that year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 4 | 0 | E |
| 2024 | 17 | 4 | H ▲ |
| 2025 | 5 | 0 | E |
| 2026 | 1 | 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.
How to file a complaint about care →
1 fine totaling $161,920.
Every penalty CMS publishes for this facility in the 3-year window is listed —none excluded. The count and the dollar total come from two different CMS datasets and agree for this facility. Penalties older than the window are dropped by CMS before publication, not by us.
| Date | Type | Amount / length |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 4, 2024 | Fine | $161,920 |
What these staffing numbers mean →
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) | 3.75 | 3.89 | 3.95 | bottom 49% in Massachusetts; bottom 49% in the U.S. |
| Registered Nurse hours | 0.65 | 0.65 | 0.69 | top 40% in Massachusetts; top 42% in the U.S. |
| Weekend total nurse staffing | 3.29 | 3.51 | 3.50 | bottom 43% in Massachusetts; bottom 47% in the U.S. |
| Weekend RN hours (not acuity-adjusted) | 0.45 | 0.46 | 0.48 | top 39% in Massachusetts; top 40% in the U.S. |
| Total nursing staff turnover (%) | 38.8 | 38.2 | 45.8 | bottom 45% in Massachusetts; top 33% in the U.S. |
| RN turnover (%) | 52.4 | 42.6 | 42.9 | bottom 30% in Massachusetts; bottom 32% 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 4.09, RN 0.71, weekend 3.59.Comparing with Medicare Care Compare? Care Compare shows the raw figure (4.09 here, displayed there as hours and minutes), not the adjusted one above. Both are correct; they answer different questions. Staffing rating: 3/5.
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: 5/5 · short-stay residents: 4/5
Price evidence · separate from quality
No verified facility-specific private-pay price is available in our data for Life Care Center of Merrimack Valley. CMS inspection and staffing records do not tell us what this home will charge you.
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.
Understand who pays for care · How we handle price evidence · Report an incorrect price
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 →
For profit - Limited Liability company
| Owner / manager | Type | Role | Stake | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preston, Forrest | Individual | Indirect Ownership Interest | NOT APPLICABLE | 08/06/2015 |
| Cross, Cindy | Individual | Corporate Officer | NOT APPLICABLE | 08/06/2015 |
| Faustin, Moseline | Individual | Managing Control - Governing Body | NOT APPLICABLE | 05/22/2023 |
| Faustin, Moseline | Individual | Operational/Managerial Control | NOT APPLICABLE | 05/22/2023 |
| Faustin, Moseline | Individual | ADP of the SNF | NOT APPLICABLE | 02/12/2025 |
| Finkel, Noah | Individual | Operational/Managerial Control | NOT APPLICABLE | 11/01/2021 |
| Finkel, Noah | Individual | ADP of the SNF | NOT APPLICABLE | 03/05/2025 |
| Fletcher, Todd | Individual | Operational/Managerial Control | NOT APPLICABLE | 05/01/2021 |
| Henry, Terry | Individual | Corporate Officer | NOT APPLICABLE | 08/06/2015 |
| Janiak, Andrea | Individual | Managing Control - Governing Body | NOT APPLICABLE | 08/24/2022 |
| Janiak, Andrea | Individual | Operational/Managerial Control | NOT APPLICABLE | 08/24/2022 |
| Lay, Lisa | Individual | Operational/Managerial Control | NOT APPLICABLE | 04/24/2017 |
| Life Care Centers of America, INC. | Organization | Operational/Managerial Control | NOT APPLICABLE | 08/06/2015 |
| Life Care Centers of America, INC. | Organization | ADP of the SNF | NOT APPLICABLE | 02/12/2025 |
| Long, Zofia | Individual | Managing Control - Governing Body | NOT APPLICABLE | 07/01/1999 |
| Long, Zofia | Individual | Operational/Managerial Control | NOT APPLICABLE | 07/01/1999 |
| Preston, Aubrey | Individual | Operational/Managerial Control | NOT APPLICABLE | 11/27/2024 |
| Preston, Forrest | Individual | Operational/Managerial Control | NOT APPLICABLE | 08/06/2015 |
| Preston, Forrest | Individual | ADP of the SNF | NOT APPLICABLE | 07/12/2004 |
| Swanker, Richard | Individual | Operational/Managerial Control | NOT APPLICABLE | 01/01/2022 |
Showing 20 of 22 parties CMS has on file for this facility; 2 are not displayed. The full list is in the CMS Ownership dataset.
CMS lists this facility under the chain Life Care Centers of America — 194 facilities in the current records. Chain membership says who operates these homes. It says nothing about how any individual one of them was inspected; each has its own record.
Listed by state, then facility name — not a ranking. Showing 8 of the 193 others, continuing from this facility's own place in that list.
Generated from this facility's actual citation record — bring them to a tour and ask the administrator directly.
| Facility | Distance | City | Overall | Inspection | Flags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New England Pediatric Care | 0.0 mi | North Billerica, MA | ★★★★★ | 5/5 | |
| Sunny Acres Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Ctr | 1.4 mi | Chelmsford, MA | ★★★★☆ | 4/5 | |
| Vantage at Lowell LLC | 2.8 mi | Lowell, MA | ★★☆☆☆ | 2/5 | |
| Blaire House of Tewksbury | 3.1 mi | Tewksbury, MA | ★☆☆☆☆ | 1/5 | SFF |
| Regalcare at Lowell | 3.5 mi | Lowell, MA | ★☆☆☆☆ | 1/5 | |
| Palm Springs Post Acute | 3.8 mi | Chelmsford, MA | ★★☆☆☆ | 2/5 | |
| Care One at Lowell | 4.1 mi | Lowell, MA | ★★★☆☆ | 3/5 | |
| Fairhaven Healthcare Center | 4.4 mi | Lowell, MA | ★★☆☆☆ | 2/5 | |
| D'youville Senior Care | 4.9 mi | Lowell, MA | ★☆☆☆☆ | 1/5 | |
| Northwood Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center | 5.0 mi | Lowell, MA | ★☆☆☆☆ | 1/5 | |
| D'youville Care for Advanced Therapy | 5.2 mi | Lowell, MA | ★★★★★ | 5/5 | |
| Carleton-Willard Village Retirement & Nursing Ctr | 6.7 mi | Bedford, MA | ★★★★★ | 3/5 |
Compare this facility with the 3 closest →
CMS records place this facility in Middlesex, MA — 72 certified facilities there. These are outside the 20-mile list above, or far enough down it not to appear.
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 225546.
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