Life Care Center Of Merrimack Valley
80 Boston Road, Billerica, MA 01862 · (978) 667-2166
For profit - Limited Liability company · 124 certified beds
Life Care Center Of Merrimack Valley has a 2-star overall rating from Medicare, out of 5. Its last standard inspection, in December 2025, found 4 citations (the Massachusetts average is 6.8). It was fined 1 time in the last three years, $161,920 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. | ★★★★★ 4 out of 5 stars · Above average |
| StaffingFrom payroll records of nurse hours per resident, adjusted for how much care residents need, and staff turnover. | ★★★★★ 3 out of 5 stars · Average |
How to read a nursing home's star ratings
Most recent health inspection
The standard health inspection on December 10, 2025 found 4 citations. What an inspection citation means
- Provide safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services.December 10, 2025 · F0698 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Some
- Ensure that residents are free from significant medication errors.December 10, 2025 · F0760 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Some
- 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.December 10, 2025 · F0761 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Ensure therapeutic diets are prescribed by the attending physician and may be delegated to a registered or licensed dietitian, to the extent allowed by State law.December 10, 2025 · F0808 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
Complaint inspections, last three years
Inspections after complaints found 11 citations.
- Immediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.April 23, 2026 · F0580 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Ensure that residents are fully informed and understand their health status, care and treatments.August 14, 2025 · F0552 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Some
- Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.December 4, 2024 · F0600 · Level of harm: Actual harm · Residents affected: Some
- Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.December 4, 2024 · F0686 · Level of harm: Actual harm · Residents affected: Some
- Ensure that nurses and nurse aides have the appropriate competencies to care for every resident in a way that maximizes each resident's well being.December 4, 2024 · F0726 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Some
- Administer the facility in a manner that enables it to use its resources effectively and efficiently.December 4, 2024 · F0835 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Some
- Establish a governing body that is legally responsible for establishing and implementing policies for managing and operating the facility and appoints a properly licensed administrator responsible for managing the facility.December 4, 2024 · F0837 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Some
- Conduct and document a facility-wide assessment to determine what resources are necessary to care for residents competently during both day-to-day operations (including nights and weekends) and emergencies.December 4, 2024 · F0838 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Some
- Employ or obtain outside professional resources to provide services in the nursing home when the facility does not employ a qualified professional to furnish a required service.December 4, 2024 · F0840 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Designate a physician to serve as medical director responsible for implementation of resident care policies and coordination of medical care in the facility.December 4, 2024 · F0841 · Level of harm: Actual harm · Residents affected: Some
- Have a plan that describes the process for conducting QAPI and QAA activities.December 4, 2024 · F0865 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Some
Fines and payment denials
- Fine of $161,920December 4, 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 | 4.09 | 3.86 | 3.86 |
| Registered nurses (RN) | 0.71 | 0.65 | 0.69 |
| Licensed practical nurses (LPN) | 1.00 | 0.95 | 0.86 |
| Nurse aides | 2.39 | 2.25 | 2.32 |
| Total nursing staff turnover | 38.8% | 38.2% | 45.8% |
About this home
| Ownership | For profit - Limited Liability company |
| Certified beds | 124 |
| Average residents per day | 111.6 |
| Inside a hospital | No |
| Continuing care retirement community | No |
Nursing homes nearby
- Life Care Center of Acton Acton · ★★★★★ 4 out of 5 stars
- Park Avenue Health Center Arlington · ★★★★★ 1 out of 5 stars
- Waterview Lodge Llc, Rehabilitation & Healthcare Ashland · ★★★★★ 3 out of 5 stars
- Ayer Valley Rehab and Nursing Ayer · ★★★★★ 1 out of 5 stars
- Carleton-Willard Village Retirement & Nursing Ctr Bedford · ★★★★★ 5 out of 5 stars
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Data from Medicare (CMS), updated October 2026, from Life Care Center Of Merrimack Valley on Medicare's Care Compare and the CMS Provider Data Catalog. ParentNextStep isn't affiliated with Medicare or CMS.