Groton Community Health Care Ctr Res Care Fac
Below-average Medicare ratings — review the inspection history and ask the administrator about recent corrections before visiting.
based on 59 Google reviews
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Quality Concerns Identified
Medicare inspection and quality data reveal areas that families should carefully evaluate before choosing this facility.
- Special Focus Facility (under heightened CMS scrutiny)
- Low overall rating (1/5 stars)
- Low staffing rating (1/5 stars)
- Above-median deficiencies (16 vs median 6.0)
- High staff turnover (57%)
Bottom 25% in NY · $132,948 in fines · Special Focus Facility (CMS)
What this means for your family
While many families report a loving, family-like environment, there are serious, recurring allegations of neglect and poor communication from management. If you are considering this facility, we strongly recommend conducting unannounced visits, especially on weekends, and asking direct questions about their protocols for wound care and medication management.
Google Reviews
Google Reviews
59 reviews on Google“Reviews for Groton Community Health Care Center are polarized, with many families praising the staff for being caring and attentive, while others report severe concerns regarding neglect and poor communication. While some visitors highlight a clean environment and friendly atmosphere, there are alarming reports of unprofessional management and failures in basic patient care, particularly during weekends or end-of-life situations.”
Quality Themes
Tap a score for detailsStrengths
- Friendly and nurturing nursing staff
- Clean and well-maintained facility
- Strong rehab and comfort care services
- Low staff turnover noted by some
Concerns
- Negligent patient care and lack of hygiene (mentioned by 3 reviewers)
- Poor communication and responsiveness from management (mentioned by 2 reviewers)
- Inadequate staffing or care during weekends (mentioned by 2 reviewers)
Rating Trends
Tap a year to see what changed
Distribution · 59 analyzed
How They Respond to Reviews
This facility rarely responds to reviews.
Questions for Your Tour
- 1Given the recent focus on facility improvements, what specific steps is management taking to enhance communication and responsiveness with families?
- 2How does your team ensure consistent hygiene and personal care standards, particularly during weekend shifts when staffing levels can sometimes fluctuate?
- 3With the current CMS ratings for staffing and health inspections, what protocols are in place to ensure that resident care remains personalized and attentive?
- 4Could you walk me through your current medication management process to help me understand how you ensure accuracy and safety for residents?
- 5What does a typical day look like for residents here, and how do you encourage social engagement among the 80 residents in the community?
- 6How do you handle medical emergencies or urgent health changes during the evening and weekend hours to ensure residents receive immediate attention?
Personalized based on this facility's data
Key Review Excerpts
“Friendly, caring, nurturing staff who care about their residents as family”
“The staff is her family and the care and compassion they give her on a daily basis is wonderful.”
“The management does not like working with the families of their residents. The management will not communicate with the families and it is a lesson in futility to work with them.”
Staffing
Staffing Hours
per resident/day · Medicare 2026Both RN and total nursing hours are below national benchmarks. This can mean less clinical attention per resident, so ask about their staffing plan.
Quality Measures
Quality Measures
Resident outcomes compared with national, state, and local averages · 17 measures
1
measures
14
measures
2
measures
Residents with depression symptoms
Highly dependent on how each facility screens and codes depressive symptoms, so it varies widely between facilities.
Residents on antipsychotic medication
Residents vaccinated for pneumonia
Residents who lost too much weight
Residents whose walking got worse
Residents needing more daily help over time
Short-stay residents vaccinated for pneumonia
Short-stay residents newly given antipsychotics
Short-stay residents vaccinated for the flu
US average from Medicare published data
Inspection History
Medicare Inspection History
3-year lookback · Medicare 2026
This facility has significant recurring problems across multiple surveys, with families filing complaint reports about resident dignity, wound care, and living conditions. The most persistent issues involve fire safety violations (appearing in all three surveys), facility cleanliness and environment, and emergency preparedness failures. While the provider reports correcting each deficiency, the pattern of repeated fire safety and environmental problems across 2020, 2023, and 2024 suggests ongoing challenges with maintaining basic safety standards.
Feb 6, 2026Routine25
Smoke Deficiencies
Have approved installation, maintenance and testing program for fire alarm systems.
Smoke Deficiencies
Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
Services Deficiencies
Have properly installed electrical wiring and gas equipment.
Services Deficiencies
Have elevators that firefighters can control in the event of a fire.
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.
Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies
Have proper medical gas storage and administration areas.
Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies
Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Assure that each resident’s assessment is updated at least once every 3 months.
Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies
Ensure food and drink is palatable, attractive, and at a safe and appetizing temperature.
Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies
Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Egress Deficiencies
Install proper backup exit lighting.
Smoke Deficiencies
Ensure that special areas are constructed so that walls can resist fire for one hour or have an approved fire extinguishing system.
Smoke Deficiencies
Provide properly protected cooking facilities.
Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies
Meet requirements for the installation and maintenance of electrical systems.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Give residents notice of Medicaid/Medicare coverage and potential liability for services not covered.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
Construction Deficiencies
Install a two-hour-resistant firewall separation.
Egress Deficiencies
Keep aisles, corridors, and exits free of obstruction in case of emergency.
Egress Deficiencies
Provide exit doors that are held open by devices that will automatically close on the activation of a fire alarm or smoke detector.
Egress Deficiencies
Install emergency lighting that can last at least 1 1/2 hours.
Smoke Deficiencies
Have an enclosure around a vertical opening shaft.
Smoke Deficiencies
Install an approved automatic sprinkler system.
Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies
Ensure proper usage of power strips and extension cords.
Dec 4, 2024Routine34
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Try different approaches before using a bed rail. If a bed rail is needed, the facility must (1) assess a resident for safety risk; (2) review these risks and benefits with the resident/representative; (3) get informed consent; and (4) Correctly install and maintain the bed rail.
Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies
Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Smoke Deficiencies
Have approved installation, maintenance and testing program for fire alarm systems.
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.
Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies
Ensure that testing and maintenance of electrical equipment is performed.
Pharmacy Service Deficiencies
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.
Administration Deficiencies
Develop, implement, and/or maintain an effective training program for all new and existing staff members.
Emergency Preparedness Deficiencies
Address subsistence needs for staff and patients.
Smoke Deficiencies
Ensure that special areas are constructed so that walls can resist fire for one hour or have an approved fire extinguishing system.
Smoke Deficiencies
Provide properly protected cooking facilities.
Smoke Deficiencies
Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
Smoke Deficiencies
Ensure smoke barriers are constructed to a 1 hour fire resistance rating.
Miscellaneous Deficiencies
Have simulated fire drills held at unexpected times.
Miscellaneous Deficiencies
Have restrictions on the use of portable space heaters.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Honor the resident's right to organize and participate in resident/family groups in the facility.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Give residents notice of Medicaid/Medicare coverage and potential liability for services not covered.
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 activities to meet all resident's needs.
Environmental Deficiencies
Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
Construction Deficiencies
Install a two-hour-resistant firewall separation.
Egress Deficiencies
Keep aisles, corridors, and exits free of obstruction in case of emergency.
Egress Deficiencies
Add doors in an exit area that do not require the use of a key from the exit side unless in case of special locking arrangements.
Egress Deficiencies
Have stairways and smokeproof enclosures used as exits that meet safety requirements.
Egress Deficiencies
Install emergency lighting that can last at least 1 1/2 hours.
Egress Deficiencies
Have properly located and lighted "Exit" signs.
Smoke Deficiencies
Have a fire alarm with audible and visual signals that transmits the alarm automatically to notify emergency forces in event of fire.
Smoke Deficiencies
Install corridor and hallway doors that block smoke.
Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies
Ensure proper usage of power strips and extension cords.
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.
Emergency Preparedness Deficiencies
Develop and maintain an Emergency Preparedness Program (EP).
Emergency Preparedness Deficiencies
Establish policies and procedures for volunteers.
Emergency Preparedness Deficiencies
Establish staff and initial training requirements.
Dec 4, 2024Complaint5
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Honor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely.
Administration Deficiencies
Administer the facility in a manner that enables it to use its resources effectively and efficiently.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Feb 24, 2023Routine16
Smoke Deficiencies
Properly select, install, inspect, or maintain portable fire extinguishes.
Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies
Have generator or other power source capable of supplying service within 10 seconds.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Assure that each resident’s assessment is updated at least once every 3 months.
Egress Deficiencies
Keep aisles, corridors, and exits free of obstruction in case of emergency.
Egress Deficiencies
Have exits that are accessible at all times.
Smoke Deficiencies
Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
Miscellaneous Deficiencies
Have simulated fire drills held at unexpected times.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Allow residents to easily view the nursing home's survey results and communicate with advocate agencies.
Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies
Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Smoke Deficiencies
Ensure that special areas are constructed so that walls can resist fire for one hour or have an approved fire extinguishing system.
Smoke Deficiencies
Provide properly protected cooking facilities.
Smoke Deficiencies
Have approved installation, maintenance and testing program for fire alarm systems.
Smoke Deficiencies
Install an approved automatic sprinkler system.
Smoke Deficiencies
Install corridor and hallway doors that block smoke.
Services Deficiencies
Have elevators that firefighters can control in the event of a fire.
Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies
Ensure proper usage of power strips and extension cords.
Federal Penalties
Fine
Dec 4, 2024
$132,948
Ownership & Operations
Who Operates This Facility
Groton Community Health Care Ctr Res Care Fac
nonprofit
Ownership & Management
Key personnel
Contact
Get in Touch
Contact this facility directly and verify the details that matter most to your family.
References & Resources
Medicare Care Compare
Official Medicare quality ratings, inspections & staffing data
Google Maps
Photos, directions & neighborhood info
Google Reviews
59 reviews from families & visitors
Official Website
Visit grotonhealth.org
Medicare data downloads
Original nursing home datasets
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