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Below-average Medicare ratings — review the inspection history and ask the administrator about recent corrections before visiting.
based on 72 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.
Staff turnover reported at 24%
This facility has areas of concern that warrant careful consideration. Registered Nurse hours are 50% of the EveryPlace reference benchmark; ask how RN coverage is allocated across shifts. The latest standard survey recorded 22 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.
Northwood Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center presents a starkly divided experience for families. While many reviewers, particularly those connected to the 'Ambassador' program, praise specific staff members for their kindness and communication, a significant number of recent reports describe severe neglect, including unhygienic conditions like pest infestations and delayed responses to basic patient needs. Families should be aware of these conflicting accounts, as the facility appears to struggle with consistent care standards and facility maintenance.
Quality Themes
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Distribution · 60 analyzed
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Personalized based on this facility's data
Key Review Excerpts
“Call lights take almost an hour to be answered to request meds then another hour to get the meds. Not to mention the mice and cockroaches. The food is inedible”
“The building is infested with mice and cockroaches, while sitting with my father this past weekend, mouse after mouse after mouse ran across the floor and into the radiator and the wall.”
“I attribute this to the outstanding physical therapy staff. My dad has stayed at different senior care facilities in Lowell for short stints after hospital stays and says that Northwood, by far, is the best.”
Both RN and total nursing hours are below the EveryPlace reference benchmarks. Ask the facility how it staffs each shift for current resident needs.
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
8
measures
9
measures
Residents on antipsychotic medication
Residents on anti-anxiety or sleep medication
Residents vaccinated for pneumonia
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 with pressure sores (bedsores)
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
Northwood Rehabilitation has 79 deficiencies across four surveys, with recurring issues in emergency preparedness, medication management, and care planning. Families filed at least one complaint regarding medical record handling. While the facility shows a pattern of persistent problems across multiple areas including fire safety systems, nursing staffing, and resident protection from abuse, all deficiencies have reported correction dates.
Emergency Preparedness Deficiencies
Establish staff and initial training requirements.
Emergency Preparedness Deficiencies
Implement emergency and standby power systems.
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.
Smoke Deficiencies
Have an enclosure around a vertical opening shaft.
Smoke Deficiencies
Provide properly protected cooking facilities.
Smoke Deficiencies
Have approved installation, maintenance and testing program for fire alarm systems.
Smoke Deficiencies
Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
Smoke Deficiencies
Properly select, install, inspect, or maintain portable fire extinguishes.
Services Deficiencies
Ensure heating and ventilation systems that have been properly installed according to the manufacturer's instructions.
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
Ensure receptacles at patient bed locations and where general anesthesia is administered, are tested after initial installation, replacement or servicing.
Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies
Have generator or other power source capable of supplying service within 10 seconds.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Reasonably accommodate the needs and preferences of each resident.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
Egress Deficiencies
Keep aisles, corridors, and exits free of obstruction in case of emergency.
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.
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.
Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies
Develop and implement policies and procedures to prevent abuse, neglect, and theft.
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 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.
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 appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health.
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 safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services.
Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies
Ensure that the resident and his/her doctor meet face-to-face at all required visits.
Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies
Observe each nurse aide's job performance and give regular training.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Ensure each resident must receive and the facility must provide necessary behavioral health care and services.
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
Help the resident make transportation arrangements to and from radiology services.
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.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Ensure each resident must receive and the facility must provide necessary behavioral health care and services.
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.
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.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Ensure that residents are fully informed and understand their health status, care and treatments.
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
Keep residents' personal and medical records private and confidential.
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.
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
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.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide care or services that was trauma informed and/or culturally competent.
Pharmacy Service Deficiencies
Ensure medication error rates are not 5 percent or greater.
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.
Infection Control Deficiencies
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Emergency Preparedness Deficiencies
Conduct testing and exercise requirements.
Smoke Deficiencies
Provide properly protected cooking facilities.
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.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Emergency Preparedness Deficiencies
Implement emergency and standby power systems.
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.
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
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
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.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide or obtain dental services for each resident.
Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies
Respond appropriately to all alleged violations.
Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies
Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
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 safe and appropriate respiratory care 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 the resident and his/her doctor meet face-to-face at all required visits.
Pharmacy Service Deficiencies
Ensure medication error rates are not 5 percent or greater.
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.
Federal Penalties
Fine
Aug 29, 2024
$85,178
Fine
Aug 10, 2023
$80,602
Northwood Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center
for profit
Athena Healthcare Systems
24 facilities nationwide
Chain avg rating: 1.7/5 · Rank 21 of 24 (Lowest rating)
Owners
Athena Health Care Systems Ma R LLC
Owner · Organization
Chakalos-Santilli, Valerie
Owner (parent company)
Curtis, Diane
Owner (parent company)
Mosier, Michael
Owner (parent company)
Rezendes, Lorrie
Owner (parent company)
Santilli, Lawrence
Owner (parent company)
Key personnel
Contact this facility directly and verify the details that matter most to your family.
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Google Reviews
72 reviews from families & visitors
Official Website
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