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Below-average Medicare ratings — review the inspection history and ask the administrator about recent corrections before visiting.
based on 58 Google reviews
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These current public-data fields deserve follow-up with the facility and the official Medicare record. They are not a clinical risk score or a substitute for an in-person assessment.
This facility has areas of concern that warrant careful consideration. The latest standard survey recorded 19 findings, above the MA average of 8.9. We recommend asking the administrator directly: "How are you addressing recent staffing shortfalls?" These are not reasons to panic, but they are reasons to ask tough questions and visit in person.
Ayer Valley Rehab and Nursing (also known as Apple Valley Center) receives polarized feedback, with many families praising the dedicated, compassionate staff and effective rehab services. However, significant concerns persist regarding chronic understaffing, poor food quality, and inconsistent communication from administrative departments. Prospective families should be aware that while many report high-quality clinical care, others have experienced issues with facility cleanliness and responsiveness.
Quality Themes
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Rating Trends
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Distribution · 62 analyzed
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Key Review Excerpts
“The staff are not only professional and attentive, but genuinely kind and compassionate. They treat residents with dignity and respect, and it's clear they really care for their well being.”
“Although staffing is always an issue ( I have worked in LTC) I feel that your staff always goes above and beyond with the little extras that make a positive difference.”
“The food is not the best, orange and cranberry juice is watered down losing its nutrients. Food selections are often repeated, fish or chicken.”
Total nursing hours are below the EveryPlace reference benchmark, though RN coverage meets its reference level. Ask how aides are staffed for daily tasks such as bathing and mobility.
Reference benchmarks (0.75 RN and 4.1 total nursing hours per resident/day) are comparison targets, not current federal minimum requirements.
Resident outcomes compared with national, state, and local averages · 17 measures
9
measures
6
measures
2
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Residents with depression symptoms
Highly dependent on how each facility screens and codes depressive symptoms, so it varies widely between facilities.
Residents whose bladder or bowel control got worse
Residents whose walking got worse
Residents on antipsychotic medication
Residents on anti-anxiety or sleep medication
Residents vaccinated for pneumonia
Short-stay residents vaccinated for the flu
Short-stay residents vaccinated for pneumonia
Short-stay residents newly given antipsychotics
US average from Medicare published data
Detailed Medicare record · up to 3-year lookback
This facility has a concerning pattern of repeat issues with families frequently filing complaints that triggered 26 deficiencies. The most recurring problems involve inadequate nursing staffing, poor communication with families about resident changes, and infection control failures. These same core issues - particularly staffing shortages and family notification failures - persist across multiple surveys from 2022 through 2025, suggesting ongoing systemic problems that haven't been effectively resolved despite repeated corrections.
Administration Deficiencies
Hire a qualified full-time social worker in a facility with more than 120 beds.
Emergency Preparedness Deficiencies
Address subsistence needs for staff and patients.
Emergency Preparedness Deficiencies
Establish staff and initial training requirements.
Smoke Deficiencies
Have an enclosure around a vertical opening shaft.
Smoke Deficiencies
Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
Services Deficiencies
Ensure heating and ventilation systems that have been properly installed according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Miscellaneous Deficiencies
Provide a written emergency evacuation plan.
Miscellaneous Deficiencies
Have simulated fire drills held at unexpected times.
Miscellaneous Deficiencies
To conduct inspection, testing and maintenance of fire doors by qualified individuals.
Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies
Have generator or other power source capable of supplying service within 10 seconds.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies
Ensure that the resident and his/her doctor meet face-to-face at all required visits.
Pharmacy Service Deficiencies
Ensure a licensed pharmacist perform a monthly drug regimen review, including the medical chart, following irregularity reporting guidelines in developed policies and procedures.
Egress Deficiencies
Keep aisles, corridors, and exits free of obstruction in case of emergency.
Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies
Meet requirements for the installation and maintenance of electrical systems.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Immediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Honor the resident's right to voice grievances without discrimination or reprisal and the facility must establish a grievance policy and make prompt efforts to resolve grievances.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide for the safe, appropriate administration of IV fluids for a resident when needed.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide care or services that was trauma informed and/or culturally competent.
Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies
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.
Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies
Observe each nurse aide's job performance and give regular training.
Pharmacy Service Deficiencies
Ensure that residents are free from significant medication errors.
Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies
Ensure food and drink is palatable, attractive, and at a safe and appetizing temperature.
Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies
Ensure each resident receives and the facility provides food prepared in a form designed to meet individual needs.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide or get specialized rehabilitative services as required for a resident.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
Infection Control Deficiencies
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Infection Control Deficiencies
Develop and implement policies and procedures for flu and pneumonia vaccinations.
Infection Control Deficiencies
Educate residents and staff on COVID-19 vaccination, offer the COVID-19 vaccine to eligible residents and staff after education, and properly document each resident and staff member's vaccination status.
Smoke Deficiencies
Provide properly protected cooking facilities.
Smoke Deficiencies
Have approved installation, maintenance and testing program for fire alarm systems.
Administration Deficiencies
Have an agreement with at least one or more hospitals certified by Medicare or Medicaid to make sure residents can be moved quickly to the hospital when they need medical care.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Immediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health.
Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies
Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
Administration Deficiencies
Set up an ongoing quality assessment and assurance group to review quality deficiencies and develop corrective plans of action.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Immediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies
Have a registered nurse on duty 8 hours a day; and select a registered nurse to be the director of nurses on a full time basis.
Infection Control Deficiencies
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Assure that each resident’s assessment is updated at least once every 3 months.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies
Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies
Ensure food and drink is palatable, attractive, and at a safe and appetizing temperature.
Administration Deficiencies
Have the Quality Assessment and Assurance group have the required members and meet at least quarterly
Emergency Preparedness Deficiencies
Implement emergency and standby power systems.
Smoke Deficiencies
Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
Miscellaneous Deficiencies
Have simulated fire drills held at unexpected times.
Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies
Have generator or other power source capable of supplying service within 10 seconds.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Honor the resident's right to be treated with respect and dignity and to retain and use personal possessions.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Provide timely notification to the resident, and if applicable to the resident representative and ombudsman, before transfer or discharge, including appeal rights.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Coordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Plan the resident's discharge to meet the resident's goals and needs.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide care or services that was trauma informed and/or culturally competent.
Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies
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.
Pharmacy Service Deficiencies
Ensure a licensed pharmacist perform a monthly drug regimen review, including the medical chart, following irregularity reporting guidelines in developed policies and procedures.
Pharmacy Service Deficiencies
Ensure each resident’s drug regimen must be free from unnecessary drugs.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide or obtain dental services for each resident.
Emergency Preparedness Deficiencies
Develop and maintain an Emergency Preparedness Program (EP).
Emergency Preparedness Deficiencies
Develop Emergency Preparedness policies and procedures.
Emergency Preparedness Deficiencies
Develop a communication plan.
Emergency Preparedness Deficiencies
Establish emergency prep training and testing.
Miscellaneous Deficiencies
To conduct inspection, testing and maintenance of fire doors by qualified individuals.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Notify the resident or the resident’s representative in writing how long the nursing home will hold the resident’s bed in cases of transfer to a hospital or therapeutic leave.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Honor the resident's right to be treated with respect and dignity and to retain and use personal possessions.
Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies
Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
Infection Control Deficiencies
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Reasonably accommodate the needs and preferences of each resident.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide activities to meet all resident's needs.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies
Ensure food and drink is palatable, attractive, and at a safe and appetizing temperature.
Administration Deficiencies
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.
Environmental Deficiencies
Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
Environmental Deficiencies
Make sure there is a pest control program to prevent/deal with mice, insects, or other pests.
Federal Penalties
Fine
Mar 5, 2024
$53,264
Fine
Sep 27, 2023
$9,770
Ayer Valley Rehab and Nursing
for profit
Stern Consultants
22 facilities nationwide
Chain avg rating: 2.6/5 · Rank 20 of 22 (Lowest rating)
Owners
Friedman, Shana
Owner
Beatty, Brittany
Owner
Friedman, Benjamin
Owner
Com Family Trust
Owner (parent company) · Organization
Millman, Chaim
Owner (parent company)
Newhouse, Eric
Owner (parent company)
Key personnel
Contact this facility directly and verify the details that matter most to your family.
Medicare Care Compare
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Google Reviews
58 reviews from families & visitors
Official Website
Visit ayervalley.com
Medicare data downloads
Original nursing home datasets
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