Waterville Center for Health and Rehab
On Medicare Special Focus status, a serious quality warning. Visit in person and ask tough questions before deciding.
based on 68 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)
- Above-median deficiencies (15 vs median 12.0)
- High staff turnover (57%)
- High RN turnover (56%)
Bottom 25% in ME · Meets national RN staffing standard · Above recommended total nurse staffing · $83,038 in fines · Special Focus Facility (CMS)
What this means for your family
This facility has seen significant efforts toward improvement, but families should remain vigilant. While recent reviews highlight a cleaner environment and compassionate individual staff, the recurring reports of understaffing and medication management issues are critical. We recommend scheduling an unannounced visit and asking specifically about current nurse-to-patient ratios and how the facility handles medication administration oversight.
Google Reviews
Google Reviews
68 reviews on Google“Waterville Center for Health and Rehab, formerly known as Mount St. Joseph, receives highly polarized feedback from families. While some praise the facility for its cleanliness and compassionate staff, a significant number of reviewers report severe concerns regarding chronic understaffing, neglect, and poor medication management. Families considering this facility should be aware of the stark contrast between reports of dedicated care and accounts of residents being left unassisted or suffering from hygiene issues.”
Quality Themes
Tap a score for detailsStrengths
- Clean, well-maintained facility
- Some highly compassionate and dedicated staff members
- Active efforts by management to improve care standards
- Welcoming environment for visitors
Concerns
- Chronic understaffing leading to neglect (mentioned by 12 reviewers)
- Medication errors and mismanagement (mentioned by 3 reviewers)
- Poor hygiene and lack of assistance with basic needs (mentioned by 5 reviewers)
- Inadequate communication with family members (mentioned by 3 reviewers)
Rating Trends
Tap a year to see what changed
Distribution · 71 analyzed
How They Respond to Reviews
This facility responds to some reviews.
Questions for Your Tour
- 1I noticed management has been working hard to improve care standards; what specific changes have been implemented recently to support the nursing staff?
- 2With the high staffing rating you have, how do you ensure that residents always receive timely assistance with their daily personal hygiene and basic needs?
- 3Can you walk me through your specific protocols for medication administration and how you double-check for accuracy?
- 4How does the facility handle communication with family members to ensure we are always kept in the loop regarding our loved one's health updates?
- 5What does the daily dining experience look like, and are there ways to provide input on the meal menus?
- 6In the event of a medical emergency during the night, what is the immediate process for notifying both the medical team and the family?
Personalized based on this facility's data
Key Review Excerpts
“My mother has been there twice in the last month for rehab after a stroke and when my Dad came into visit had to call the ambulance because no one had even been in to see her.”
“My brother is in a wheelchair, and they do everything they can to accommodate his disabilities while taking GREAT care of him. They go above and beyond to make him happy.”
“Loving, caring providers in an understaffed, challenging environment in Maine, where there are too few long-term care beds and not enough staff, do their very best in often thankless professions.”
Staffing
Staffing Hours
per resident/day · Medicare 2026This facility meets the national staffing benchmarks. Higher staffing is linked to fewer falls and better day-to-day care.
Quality Measures
Quality Measures
Resident outcomes compared with national, state, and local averages · 17 measures
4
measures
11
measures
2
measures
Residents on anti-anxiety or sleep medication
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 whose bladder or bowel control got worse
Residents vaccinated for the flu
Short-stay residents vaccinated for pneumonia
Short-stay residents vaccinated for the flu
Short-stay residents newly given antipsychotics
US average from Medicare published data
Inspection History
Medicare Inspection History
3-year lookback · Medicare 2026
Families filed numerous reports triggering 34 deficiencies at this facility, with recurring issues in medication management, abuse/neglect prevention, and resident rights. Recent complaints in 2024 involved serious concerns including physical restraint misuse, failure to report suspected abuse, inadequate nursing staffing, and medication errors. While all deficiencies show correction dates, the persistent pattern of complaint-triggered violations across multiple care areas warrants careful consideration.
Jan 12, 2026Complaint1
Egress Deficiencies
Keep aisles, corridors, and exits free of obstruction in case of emergency.
Aug 28, 2025Routine14
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.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
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
Dispose of garbage and refuse properly.
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
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
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 appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
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.
Infection Control Deficiencies
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Construction Deficiencies
Use approved construction type or materials.
Services Deficiencies
Have properly installed electrical wiring and gas equipment.
Services Deficiencies
Install properly constructed and protected linen or trash chutes.
Aug 28, 2025Complaint4
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 Rights Deficiencies
Ensure the transfer/discharge meets the resident's needs/preferences and that the resident is prepared for a safe transfer/discharge.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
PASARR screening for Mental disorders or Intellectual Disabilities
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.
Feb 11, 2025Complaint1
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.
Sep 17, 2024Complaint28
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
Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies
Respond appropriately to all alleged violations.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Honor each resident's preferences, choices, values and beliefs.
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 a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
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.
Pharmacy Service Deficiencies
Provide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.
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 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.
Administration Deficiencies
Administer the facility in a manner that enables it to use its resources effectively and efficiently.
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.
Environmental Deficiencies
Keep all essential equipment working safely.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Honor the resident's right to manage his or her financial affairs.
Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies
Develop and implement policies and procedures to prevent abuse, neglect, and theft.
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 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 Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
PASARR screening for Mental disorders or Intellectual Disabilities
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies
Observe each nurse aide's job performance and give regular training.
Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies
Provide special eating equipment and utensils for residents who need them and appropriate assistance.
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 Rights Deficiencies
Ensure that staff members are educated on resident rights and facility responsibilities to properly care for its residents.
Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies
Give their staff education on dementia care, and what abuse, neglect, and exploitation are; and how to report abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
Administration Deficiencies
Conduct mandatory training, for all staff, on the facility’s Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement Program.
Sep 17, 2024Routine18
Construction Deficiencies
Install a two-hour-resistant firewall separation.
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.
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
Install a fire alarm system that can be heard throughout the facility.
Smoke Deficiencies
Install an approved automatic sprinkler system.
Miscellaneous Deficiencies
To conduct inspection, testing and maintenance of fire doors by qualified individuals.
Egress Deficiencies
Keep aisles, corridors, and exits free of obstruction in case of emergency.
Egress Deficiencies
Meet other general requirements.
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 exits that are accessible at all times.
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
Provide properly protected cooking facilities.
Smoke Deficiencies
Have properly installed hallway dispensers for alcohol-based hand rub.
Smoke Deficiencies
Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
Miscellaneous Deficiencies
Provide properly sized and located linen or trash receptacles.
Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies
Ensure proper usage of power strips and extension cords.
Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies
Have proper medical gas storage and administration areas.
Federal Penalties
Fine
Sep 17, 2024
$83,038
Ownership & Operations
Who Operates This Facility
Waterville Center for Health and Rehab
for profit
Ownership & Management
Owners
Bsd Me 26 LLC
Owner · Organization
Ike Akiko
Owner · Organization
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
68 reviews from families & visitors
Official Website
Visit mountjosephwaterville.com
Medicare data downloads
Original nursing home datasets
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Safer Alternatives Nearby
Based on current clinical data, we identified 2 nearby facilities within 10 miles that may offer a stronger care environment. We encourage families to compare options carefully.