facebook tracking Merry Wood Lodge, Elmore AL: CMS Ratings & Inspections
Skip to content
Nursing homes near meNear me

Merry Wood Lodge

All states › Alabama › Elmore › Merry Wood Lodge

280 Mt Hebron Road Elmore, AL 36025 · Elmore County

(334) 567-8484

Cited for abuseSFF candidate Accepts Medicare Accepts Medicaid 124 certified beds For profit

CMS certification number 015019 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare

CMS abuse icon CMS marks this nursing home with its abuse icon. CMS shows the icon for homes with abuse citations in recent inspections: an abuse citation where residents were harmed (scope and severity G or higher) within the past year, or abuse citations at D or higher (potential for harm) in each of the last two years. Shown as of October 2026. Details on Care Compare.
Special Focus Facility candidate CMS lists this nursing home as a candidate for its Special Focus Facility program, which means it qualifies to be selected for the program based on its inspection record. Shown as of October 2026. About the program (CMS).

Ratings come from CMS and are updated monthly; these are from October 2026. Check the latest inspection report and visit in person before you decide.

Is Merry Wood Lodge a good nursing home? Reviews, ratings and inspection record

There are no official resident reviews of nursing homes: Medicare's Care Compare publishes inspections, staffing and quality data instead. Here is what that record shows for Merry Wood Lodge as of October 2026.

CMS rates it 1 out of 5 stars overall, below the Alabama average of 3.0. Inspectors issued 17 citations in the last three years. CMS imposed 2 penalties, including $182,968 in fines, in that time. For short-term rehab patients CMS rates quality 1 out of 5; for long-term residents, 5 out of 5. Those results differ a lot, so ask about the unit your family member would be on. CMS currently shows its abuse icon for this home (see above). CMS lists it as a Special Focus Facility candidate.

Online reviews from families and residents are on Google Maps and other sites; they reflect individual experiences and aren't checked by CMS. The full inspection reports, including what inspectors observed, are on Medicare Care Compare.

Next steps

Compare with the 3 closest homes

Staffing

Nursing staff spend about 3.40 hours per resident per day at Merry Wood Lodge, below the Alabama median of 3.90 (US median: 3.72). About 0.80 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 3.03 hours, 11% below its all-week average. 54.5% of nursing staff left within a year (Alabama median 46.2%).

Nursing care per resident per day 3.40 hours
Below the Alabama median of 3.90 Registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and aides combined, from payroll records.
Registered nurse hours 0.80 per resident a day RNs handle assessments, medications and changes in condition.
Weekend nursing care 3.03 hours Per resident a day. A big drop from weekdays can mean thin weekend staffing.
Nursing staff turnover 54.5% a year Share of nursing staff who left over a year. Lower usually means steadier care.
Registered nurse turnover 57.7% a year Share of registered nurses who left over a year.
Administrators who left 1 in the past year Frequent leadership changes are worth asking about on a visit.

About this nursing home

Certified beds124
Residents per day 101 About 81% of beds filled, on average
OwnershipFor profit - Limited Liability company
Payment acceptedMedicare and Medicaid
Certified sinceJanuary 1974
Part of a chainGenesis Healthcare
Legal business nameSUNBRIDGE HEALTHCARE LLC

Paying for care at Merry Wood Lodge: Medicare and Medicaid

Merry Wood Lodge is certified for both Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare Part A can cover a short skilled-nursing or rehab stay here after a qualifying hospital stay of at least three inpatient days (observation days don't count), for up to 100 days per benefit period. Medicaid can pay for long-term care for residents who meet Alabama's income and asset rules. Being certified doesn't guarantee a Medicaid bed is open, so ask whether the home accepts residents whose Medicaid application is still pending.

In 2026 Medicare covers days 1–20 in full after the Part A deductible ($1,736 per benefit period); for days 21–100 you pay $217 a day; after day 100 you pay all costs. Medicare doesn't pay for long-term custodial care. Medicare's coverage rules.

Health inspections

The most recent standard inspection was on September 1, 2024 and found 0 deficiencies, plus 8 from complaint inspections in the same period. CMS notes that this home's most recent inspection was more than two years ago. In total, inspectors issued 17 citations in the last three years.

Each citation has a scope and severity letter from A to L. A–C: potential for minimal harm. D–F: potential for more than minimal harm. G–I: actual harm. J–L: immediate jeopardy to resident health or safety.

What the inspections found

Over the last three years, inspectors issued 17 citations at Merry Wood Lodge across 4 inspection dates, 9 of them from complaint investigations. 5 were at the immediate-jeopardy level (J–L), CMS's most serious category, most recently on September 1, 2024 (complaint inspection). The most common areas cited were freedom from abuse, neglect, and exploitation (4) and administration (3). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "administer the facility in a manner that enables it to use its resources effectively and efficiently" (tag F0835, level L, September 1, 2024). 4 citations were under CMS's abuse, neglect and exploitation rules.

October 17, 2024 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection

GProtect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.

Actual harm · Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies · Tag F0600 · Complaint inspection · Deficient, Provider has plan of correction (Nov 12, 2024)

September 1, 2024 · 8 citations, includes immediate jeopardy · includes complaint inspection

LAdminister the facility in a manner that enables it to use its resources effectively and efficiently.

Immediate jeopardy · Administration Deficiencies · Tag F0835 · Complaint inspection · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Sep 26, 2024)

LSet up an ongoing quality assessment and assurance group to review quality deficiencies and develop corrective plans of action.

Immediate jeopardy · Administration Deficiencies · Tag F0867 · Complaint inspection · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Sep 26, 2024)

JProtect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.

Immediate jeopardy · Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies · Tag F0600 · Complaint inspection · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Nov 12, 2024)

JDevelop and implement policies and procedures to prevent abuse, neglect, and theft.

Immediate jeopardy · Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies · Tag F0607 · Complaint inspection · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Sep 26, 2024)

JRespond appropriately to all alleged violations.

Immediate jeopardy · Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies · Tag F0610 · Complaint inspection · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Sep 26, 2024)

FProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies · Tag F0812 · Complaint inspection · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Sep 26, 2024)

FDispose of garbage and refuse properly.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies · Tag F0814 · Complaint inspection · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Sep 26, 2024)

CElectronically submit to CMS complete and accurate direct care staffing information, based on payroll and other verifiable and auditable data.

Potential for minimal harm · Administration Deficiencies · Tag F0851 · Complaint inspection · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Sep 26, 2024)

March 3, 2020 · 6 citations

FProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies · Tag F0812 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Apr 1, 2020)

DImmediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Rights Deficiencies · Tag F0580 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Apr 1, 2020)

DEnsure a licensed pharmacist perform a monthly drug regimen review, including the medical chart, following irregularity reporting guidelines in developed policies and procedures.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Pharmacy Service Deficiencies · Tag F0756 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Apr 1, 2020)

DImplement 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.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Pharmacy Service Deficiencies · Tag F0758 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Apr 1, 2020)

DSafeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies · Tag F0842 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Apr 1, 2020)

CPost nurse staffing information every day.

Potential for minimal harm · Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies · Tag F0732 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Apr 1, 2020)

December 13, 2018 · 2 citations

EEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F0689 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jan 17, 2019)

DDevelop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies · Tag F0656 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jan 17, 2019)

Questions to ask on a tour of Merry Wood Lodge

  1. Inspectors cited the home at the immediate-jeopardy level on September 1, 2024 under the rule on administration. What changed afterwards, and can I see the plan of correction?
  2. CMS cited the home under its abuse and neglect rules on October 17, 2024. How are staff trained, and how are concerns reported?
  3. CMS rates short-stay quality 1 out of 5. How often do rehab patients go back to the hospital, and how many therapy sessions a week are typical?
  4. The last standard inspection was more than two years ago. Can I see any recent complaint inspection results?
  5. Do you have a Medicaid bed open now, and will you admit someone whose Medicaid application is still pending?
  6. When is the first care-plan meeting, and can family attend?

Questions come from this home's CMS data: its inspections, staffing and ownership record.

Fines and payment denials

2 penalties in the last three years, including $182,968 in fines.

DateTypeAmount or length
Sep 1, 2024 Fine $182,968
Sep 1, 2024 Payment Denial 42 days of payments denied

Rating history

CMS monthOverallInspectionStaffingQuality
October 2026 1/5 1/5 3/5 4/5
August 2026 1/5 1/5 3/5 4/5
Add this rating badge to your websiteFree. Shows Merry Wood Lodge's Medicare star rating and updates itself.

Size and colour

Preview

Merry Wood Lodge Medicare star rating badge

Paste it where the badge should appear: in WordPress, a Custom HTML block or a footer widget; on other sites, any spot that accepts HTML. The badge updates itself when CMS publishes new ratings.

Examples, sizes and help on the badge page ›

Location

Hospitals near Merry Wood Lodge

The Medicare-certified hospitals closest to this nursing home, with their CMS data. Ask the home which hospital it usually sends residents to.

Hospital ratings, ER visit times and more at Hospitals In Each State
Source: CMS Care Compare. Distances are approximate.

Nearby nursing homes

Wetumpka Health and Rehabilitation Wetumpka · 5.9 mi away ★☆☆☆☆ Inspection 1/5 · Staffing 3/5 121 beds · Medicaid
Charlton Place Rehab and Healthcare Center Deatsville · 6.6 mi away ★★★★★ Inspection 5/5 · Staffing 3/5 65 beds · Medicaid
Prattville Health and Rehabilitation Prattville · 8.2 mi away ★☆☆☆☆ Inspection 1/5 · Staffing 4/5 162 beds · Medicaid
Montgomery Children's Specialty Center Montgomery · 9.5 mi away ★★★☆☆ Inspection 2/5 · Staffing 2/5 54 beds · Medicaid
Crowne Health Care of Montgomery Montgomery · 12.1 mi away ★★★★☆ Inspection 4/5 · Staffing 4/5 185 beds · Medicaid

More nursing homes near Merry Wood Lodge ›   All nursing homes in Elmore ›

Compare Merry Wood Lodge with the 3 closest homes side by side ›

Higher-rated nursing homes within 10 miles

Other Genesis Healthcare nursing homes in Alabama

Affiliation comes from CMS's affiliated-entity data, October 2026. All 183 Genesis Healthcare nursing homes ›

Source: CMS Provider Data Catalog (provider information, health deficiencies, penalties), October 2026. Inspection citations and penalties cover the last three years. Nursing Homes In Each State is independent and not affiliated with CMS or Medicare. About the data · Report a problem with this listing. Is this your nursing home? Feature it here.

Compare

https://www.nursinghomesineachstate.com/alabama/elmore/merry-wood-lodge/ · Data: CMS, October 2026 · Nursing Homes In Each State, not affiliated with CMS or Medicare.