Quabbin Valley Healthcare
821 Daniel Shays Highway, Athol, MA 01331 · (978) 895-0147
For profit - Limited Liability company · 142 certified beds
Quabbin Valley Healthcare has a 2-star overall rating from Medicare, out of 5. Its last standard inspection, in August 2025, found 13 citations (the Massachusetts average is 6.8). It was fined 2 times in the last three years, $62,250 in all.
Medicare ratings
| Overall ratingStarts from the health inspection rating, then goes up or down a star for a 5-star or 1-star staffing or quality rating. | ★★★★★ 2 out of 5 stars · Below average |
| Health inspectionsFrom the two most recent standard inspections and three years of complaint inspections, compared with other homes in the same state. | ★★★★★ 2 out of 5 stars · Below average |
| Quality measuresFrom 15 measures of how residents do, such as falls with major injury, pressure ulcers, hospital stays and getting home after a short stay. | ★★★★★ 2 out of 5 stars · Below average |
| StaffingFrom payroll records of nurse hours per resident, adjusted for how much care residents need, and staff turnover. | ★★★★★ 2 out of 5 stars · Below average |
How to read a nursing home's star ratings
Most recent health inspection
The standard health inspection on August 12, 2025 found 13 citations. What an inspection citation means
- Ensure medication error rates are not 5 percent or greater.August 12, 2025 · F0759 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Some
- Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.August 12, 2025 · F0550 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Develop and implement policies and procedures to prevent abuse, neglect, and theft.August 12, 2025 · F0607 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.August 12, 2025 · F0658 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.August 12, 2025 · F0686 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Provide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.August 12, 2025 · F0690 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.August 12, 2025 · F0695 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Provide safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services.August 12, 2025 · F0698 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- 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.August 12, 2025 · F0761 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.August 12, 2025 · F0880 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Develop and implement policies and procedures for flu and pneumonia vaccinations.August 12, 2025 · F0883 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Assess the resident completely in a timely manner when first admitted, and then periodically, at least every 12 months.August 12, 2025 · F0636 · Level of harm: Potential for minimal harm · Residents affected: Some
- Post nurse staffing information every day.August 12, 2025 · F0732 · Level of harm: Potential for minimal harm · Residents affected: Some
Complaint inspections, last three years
Inspections after complaints found 12 citations.
- Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.February 25, 2026 · F0880 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.December 23, 2025 · F0656 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.December 23, 2025 · F0689 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Provide rooms that are at least 80 square feet per resident in multiple rooms and 100 square feet for single resident rooms.April 9, 2025 · F0912 · Level of harm: Potential for minimal harm · Residents affected: Some
- Provide a bathroom in or located near each resident’s room.April 9, 2025 · F0918 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.September 17, 2024 · F0689 · Level of harm: Actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Ensure that each resident is free from the use of physical restraints, unless needed for medical treatment.August 6, 2024 · F0604 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.May 1, 2024 · F0600 · Level of harm: Actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Develop and implement policies and procedures to prevent abuse, neglect, and theft.May 1, 2024 · F0607 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.May 1, 2024 · F0609 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.March 7, 2024 · F0842 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Develop and implement policies and procedures to prevent abuse, neglect, and theft.February 28, 2024 · F0607 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
Fines and payment denials
- Fine of $9,318September 17, 2024
- Fine of $52,932May 1, 2024
Nurse staffing
Hours of nursing care per resident per day, as the home reports them to Medicare through payroll records.
| Hours per resident per day | This home | Massachusetts average | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total nurse staffing | 3.49 | 3.86 | 3.86 |
| Registered nurses (RN) | 0.54 | 0.65 | 0.69 |
| Licensed practical nurses (LPN) | 0.99 | 0.95 | 0.86 |
| Nurse aides | 1.96 | 2.25 | 2.32 |
| Total nursing staff turnover | Not available | 38.2% | 45.8% |
About this home
| Ownership | For profit - Limited Liability company |
| Certified beds | 142 |
| Average residents per day | 125.8 |
| Inside a hospital | No |
| Continuing care retirement community | No |
Nursing homes nearby
- Life Care Center of Auburn Auburn · ★★★★★ 3 out of 5 stars
- Alliance Health at Baldwinville Baldwinville · ★★★★★ 4 out of 5 stars
- Overlook Masonic Health Center Charlton · ★★★★★ 4 out of 5 stars
- The Highlands Fitchburg · ★★★★★ 3 out of 5 stars
- Fitchburg Healthcare Fitchburg · ★★★★★ 1 out of 5 stars
Comparing nursing homes?
See whether help at home or assisted living fits better. Answer four questions and we'll suggest where to start: a medical alert, help at home, or assisted living.
Free for families. This isn't medical advice.
Who are you looking for help for?
Data from Medicare (CMS), updated October 2026, from Quabbin Valley Healthcare on Medicare's Care Compare and the CMS Provider Data Catalog. ParentNextStep isn't affiliated with Medicare or CMS.