Merced Behavioral Center
Strong Medicare quality ratings; families often praise compassionate and understanding staff. Still worth an in-person visit.
based on 9 Google reviews
Watch Merced Behavioral Center
Get an email when new inspections, ratings, or penalties are published for this facility.
We’ll only email you about this — no spam, unsubscribe anytime.
What this means for your family
While some local community members speak highly of the staff's compassion, there are extremely serious, recurring allegations regarding staff exploiting patients and a lack of professional boundaries. If you choose this facility, you must implement rigorous oversight and verify that specific psychiatric and therapeutic care plans are being strictly followed.
Google Reviews
Google Reviews
9 reviews on Google“Reviewers are deeply divided, with some praising the compassionate nature of the staff while others report severe issues regarding patient safety and lack of professional boundaries. While some find the facility helpful, there are serious allegations of staff taking advantage of vulnerable patients and a lack of necessary psychiatric counseling.”
Quality Themes
Tap a score for detailsStrengths
- Compassionate and understanding staff
- Helpful for certain individuals
Concerns
- Staff taking advantage of vulnerable patients (mentioned by 2 reviewers)
- Lack of adequate psychiatric counseling
- Unsafe environment/presence of disruptive individuals
Rating Trends
Tap a year to see what changed
Distribution · 10 analyzed
How They Respond to Reviews
Questions for Your Tour
- 1With your impressive 5-star CMS rating for staffing, how do you ensure that the compassion and understanding mentioned by some of your visitors are consistently felt by every resident?
- 2How does the facility manage the balance between social interaction and ensuring a safe, calm environment for residents who might be sensitive to disruptions?
- 3What specific protocols are in place to monitor resident well-being and ensure that all staff members are always acting in the best interest of the patients?
- 4Could you tell us more about the availability of psychiatric counseling and how you support residents with specific mental health needs?
- 5What does a typical day look like for residents in terms of daily activities and social engagement?
- 6How are medical emergencies handled after hours, and how quickly can specialized care be accessed if a resident's condition changes?
Personalized based on this facility's data
Key Review Excerpts
“Wonderful staff I work down the street and here stories about how many people they help I love how understanding and compassionate these wonderful people are thank you it’s not a easy job”
“The staff was really kind to me but my goodness, they basically take advantage of the patients! I did not want to go there but I had no choice and after I arrived I was put in a room with another problematic person, then on the 2nd day they put me in a bigger facility where I had to share my room with a lunatic, shower in the weirdest bathroom in history, and never received ANY psychiatric counseling!”
“Watch out with staff having other intentions than to help the clients to have a full recovery from drug and alcohol treatment. My wife fully took advantage of my physical illness and mental syndrome with the help of my counselor and they only kept me caught up there even longer”
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 · 14 measures
10
measures
1
measures
3
measures
Residents on anti-anxiety or sleep medication
Residents whose bladder or bowel control got worse
Residents whose walking got worse
Residents needing more daily help over time
Residents with depression symptoms
Highly dependent on how each facility screens and codes depressive symptoms, so it varies widely between facilities.
Residents vaccinated for pneumonia
Short-stay residents vaccinated for pneumonia
US average from Medicare published data
Inspection History
Medicare Inspection History
3-year lookback · Medicare 2026
Merced Behavioral Center shows concerning patterns with 41 deficiencies across recent surveys, including two complaint-triggered issues involving care planning and abuse reporting protocols where families filed reports. The facility has recurring problems with fire safety systems, electrical equipment, and food service operations that persist across multiple inspections from 2019 to 2025, suggesting ongoing compliance challenges despite reported corrections.
Feb 26, 2025Routine9
Smoke Deficiencies
Have approved installation, maintenance and testing program for fire alarm systems.
Miscellaneous Deficiencies
Have simulated fire drills held at unexpected times.
Emergency Preparedness Deficiencies
Conduct testing and exercise requirements.
Smoke Deficiencies
Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
Egress Deficiencies
Have properly located and lighted "Exit" signs.
Smoke Deficiencies
Properly select, install, inspect, or maintain portable fire extinguishes.
Smoke Deficiencies
Install corridor and hallway doors that block smoke.
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 proper usage of power strips and extension cords.
Jun 5, 2023Routine23
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health.
Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies
Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies
Provide sufficient support personnel to safely and effectively carry out the functions of the food and nutrition service.
Environmental Deficiencies
Make sure there is a pest control program to prevent/deal with mice, insects, or other pests.
Smoke Deficiencies
Have approved installation, maintenance and testing program for fire alarm systems.
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 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.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
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
Observe each nurse aide's job performance and give regular training.
Pharmacy Service Deficiencies
Provide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide or obtain dental services for each resident.
Infection Control Deficiencies
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Smoke Deficiencies
Properly provide smoke detection systems in areas open to corridors.
Smoke Deficiencies
Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
Smoke Deficiencies
Properly select, install, inspect, or maintain portable fire extinguishes.
Smoke Deficiencies
Install corridor and hallway doors that block smoke.
Services Deficiencies
Meet other general requirements that are deficient.
Services Deficiencies
Ensure heating and ventilation systems that have been properly installed according to the manufacturer's instructions.
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
Meet requirements for the use of electrical equipment.
Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies
Ensure proper usage of power strips and extension cords.
Jun 5, 2023Complaint1
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.
Nov 15, 2019Routine7
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.
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
Provide properly protected cooking facilities.
Smoke Deficiencies
Have approved installation, maintenance and testing program for fire alarm systems.
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
Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies
Meet requirements for the installation and maintenance of electrical systems.
Ownership & Operations
Who Operates This Facility
Merced Behavioral Center
for profit
Ownership & Management
Owners
Undisclosed
Ownership Data Not Available · Organization
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
9 reviews from families & visitors
Official Website
Visit mercedbehavioral.com
Medicare data downloads
Original nursing home datasets
EveryPlace is a research directory. Facility information is compiled from public sources — Medicare.gov, state licensing portals, Google Places, and publicly available street-level imagery. Listings do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or advertisement, and we do not accept payment for placement. Families should verify all details directly with the facility and the original sources linked above before making any care decisions. See our Research Policy for our editorial standards, correction process, and image-removal policy.
Nearby Alternatives
La Sierra Care Center
1.4 miNursing Home · Merced, CA
Merced Nursing & Rehabilitation Ctr
1.4 miNursing Home · Merced, CA
Park Merced
1.9 miAssisted Living · Merced, CA
Golden Merced Care Center
2.1 miNursing Home · Merced, CA
Franciscan Post-Acute Care Center
2.1 miNursing Home · Merced, CA
Pacifica Senior Living Merced
2.8 miAssisted Living · Merced, CA