Melrose Healthcare
Below-average Medicare ratings — review the inspection history and ask the administrator about recent corrections before visiting.
based on 25 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.
- Low overall rating (1/5 stars)
- Low staffing rating (2/5 stars)
- Above-median deficiencies (27 vs median 7.0)
- High RN turnover (71%)
Bottom 25% in MA · Below recommended RN staffing · Worst in NEXT STEP HEALTHCARE chain · $49,324 in fines
What this means for your family
While recent reviews suggest an improvement in staff engagement and management responsiveness, the facility's older infrastructure and historical reports of hygiene issues remain significant concerns. We recommend scheduling an in-person tour to observe the cleanliness of the environment firsthand and asking specifically how the facility ensures consistent resident supervision during weekends and evenings.
Google Reviews
Google Reviews
25 reviews on Google“Melrose Healthcare receives highly polarized reviews, with some families praising the dedicated, compassionate staff and others describing a neglectful, unpleasant environment. While supporters highlight the facility's community feel and responsive management, critics frequently report poor hygiene, lack of assistance for residents, and an aging physical plant. Prospective families should be aware that experiences appear to vary significantly based on individual needs and staff interactions.”
Quality Themes
Tap a score for detailsStrengths
- Compassionate and dedicated nursing staff
- Responsive management and administration
- Engaging activities and community atmosphere
- Thoughtful outdoor visiting areas
Concerns
- Poor facility hygiene and unpleasant odors (mentioned by 2 reviewers)
- Lack of assistance and neglect of resident needs (mentioned by 4 reviewers)
- Missing personal items and laundry issues (mentioned by 2 reviewers)
Rating Trends
Tap a year to see what changed
Distribution · 27 analyzed
How They Respond to Reviews
Questions for Your Tour
- 1We've heard wonderful things about the compassion of your nursing staff; how do you ensure that level of care remains consistent during shift changes?
- 2What specific steps are being taken to maintain high standards of cleanliness and freshness throughout the resident rooms and common areas?
- 3Could you tell us more about the daily activity calendar and how you keep the community atmosphere engaging for all residents?
- 4How does the facility manage laundry and ensure that residents' personal belongings and clothing are kept safe and organized?
- 5With the recent focus on improvements, what specific changes have been made to the dining experience and the quality of the meals provided?
- 6In the event of a medical emergency after hours, what is the protocol for contacting the family and ensuring immediate care?
Personalized based on this facility's data
Key Review Excerpts
“The Director and administrator are responsive to the needs of the facility, families and staff. The nurses are attentive to residents needs, and appropriately identify concerns requiring attention.”
“The caring Staff and the quiet peaceful atmosphere is what is the most important in my opinion. The residents care about each other. For the most part, they are like a family.”
“The facility emanates of urine when you first enter the building. The nurse assistants provide little assistance. The condition of my legally blind uncle was appalling.”
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
9
measures
8
measures
Residents on antipsychotic medication
Residents whose bladder or bowel control got worse
Residents needing more daily help over time
Residents whose walking got worse
Residents with depression symptoms
Highly dependent on how each facility screens and codes depressive symptoms, so it varies widely between facilities.
Residents on anti-anxiety or sleep medication
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
Inspection History
Medicare Inspection History
3-year lookback · Medicare 2026
Melrose Healthcare has recurring problems with medication management, care planning, and food safety appearing across multiple surveys from 2023-2025, indicating persistent operational challenges. Most concerning are repeated deficiencies in nursing staff competency, medication errors, and infection control that suggest ongoing quality issues. While all violations show correction dates, the pattern of the same problems reoccurring suggests difficulty maintaining improvements, and one complaint was filed by families regarding resident dignity.
Apr 9, 2025Routine33
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
Construction Deficiencies
Use approved construction type or materials.
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
Have an enclosure around a vertical opening shaft.
Miscellaneous Deficiencies
Provide a written emergency evacuation plan.
Miscellaneous Deficiencies
Have simulated fire drills held at unexpected times.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
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.
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 Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
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.
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 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.
Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies
Ensure menus must meet the nutritional needs of residents, be prepared in advance, be followed, be updated, be reviewed by dietician, and meet the needs of the resident.
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.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide care or services that was trauma informed and/or culturally competent.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Ensure that residents are fully informed and understand their health status, care and treatments.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Honor the resident's right to request, refuse, and/or discontinue treatment, to participate in or refuse to participate in experimental research, and to formulate an advance directive.
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 appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
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
Provide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services.
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.
Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies
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.
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.
Apr 3, 2024Routine21
Construction Deficiencies
Use approved construction type or materials.
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
Have an enclosure around a vertical opening shaft.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Ensure residents have reasonable access to and privacy in their use of communication methods.
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.
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.
Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies
Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Ensure that residents are fully informed and understand their health status, care and treatments.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Honor the resident's right to request, refuse, and/or discontinue treatment, to participate in or refuse to participate in experimental research, and to formulate an advance directive.
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.
Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies
Ensure that each resident is free from the use of physical restraints, unless needed for medical treatment.
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 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
Assist a resident in gaining access to vision and hearing services.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services.
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
Implement gradual dose reductions(GDR) and non-pharmacological interventions, unless contraindicated, prior to initiating or instead of continuing psychotropic medication; and PRN orders for psychotropic medications are only used when the medication is necessary and PRN use is limited.
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.
Jul 26, 2023Complaint1
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Honor the resident's right to be treated with respect and dignity and to retain and use personal possessions.
Feb 7, 2023Routine33
Emergency Preparedness Deficiencies
Conduct testing and exercise requirements.
Construction Deficiencies
Use approved construction type or materials.
Egress Deficiencies
Keep aisles, corridors, and exits free of obstruction in case of emergency.
Egress Deficiencies
Have exits that are accessible at all times.
Egress Deficiencies
Install proper backup exit lighting.
Smoke Deficiencies
Have an enclosure around a vertical opening shaft.
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
Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
Smoke Deficiencies
Install corridor and hallway doors that block smoke.
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.
Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies
Have generator or other power source capable of supplying service within 10 seconds.
Emergency Preparedness Deficiencies
Implement emergency and standby power systems.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies
Ensure that each resident is free from the use of physical restraints, unless needed for medical treatment.
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
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.
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.
Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies
Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
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
Ensure that residents are fully informed and understand their health status, care and treatments.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Allow residents to self-administer drugs if determined clinically appropriate.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Assess the resident when there is a significant change in condition
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
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 residents do not lose the ability to perform activities of daily living unless there is a medical reason.
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 appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
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
Provide safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services.
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
Implement gradual dose reductions(GDR) and non-pharmacological interventions, unless contraindicated, prior to initiating or instead of continuing psychotropic medication; and PRN orders for psychotropic medications are only used when the medication is necessary and PRN use is limited.
Pharmacy Service Deficiencies
Ensure medication error rates are not 5 percent or greater.
Federal Penalties
Fine
Apr 9, 2025
$49,324
Ownership & Operations
Who Operates This Facility
Melrose Healthcare
for profit
Chain Affiliation
Next Step Healthcare
14 facilities nationwide
Chain avg rating: 1.9/5 · Rank 13 of 14 (Worst)
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
25 reviews from families & visitors
Medicare data downloads
Original nursing home datasets
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