All states › Massachusetts › Amherst › Center for Extended Care at Amherst
150 University Drive Amherst, MA 01002 · Hampshire County
CMS certification number 225420 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is Center for Extended Care at Amherst 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 Center for Extended Care at Amherst as of October 2026.
CMS rates it 1 out of 5 stars overall, below the Massachusetts average of 3.1.
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.
Staffing
Nursing staff spend about 3.30 hours per resident per day at Center for Extended Care at Amherst, below the Massachusetts median of 3.72 (US median: 3.72). About 0.33 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 3.13 hours, 5% below its all-week average. 41.6% of nursing staff left within a year (Massachusetts median 36.1%).
About this nursing home
Paying for care at Center for Extended Care at Amherst: Medicare and Medicaid
Center for Extended Care at Amherst 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 Massachusetts'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 June 4, 2025 and found 4 deficiencies, plus 2 from complaint inspections in the same period. In total, inspectors issued 34 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 34 citations at Center for Extended Care at Amherst across 9 inspection dates, 7 of them from complaint investigations. 2 were at the immediate-jeopardy level (J–L), CMS's most serious category, most recently on June 10, 2025 (complaint inspection). The most common areas cited were resident assessment and care planning (11) and resident rights (5). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured" (tag F0656, level J, June 10, 2025). 2 citations were under CMS's abuse, neglect and exploitation rules.
April 7, 2026 · 2 citations · includes complaint inspection
GDevelop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
GEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
June 10, 2025 · 2 citations, includes immediate jeopardy · includes complaint inspection
JDevelop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
JEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
June 4, 2025 · 4 citations, includes actual harm
GProvide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
EEnsure meals and snacks are served at times in accordance with resident’s needs, preferences, and requests. Suitable and nourishing alternative meals and snacks must be provided for residents who want to eat at non-traditional times or outside of scheduled meal times.
EProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
DEnsure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
April 15, 2025 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DDevelop and implement policies and procedures to prevent abuse, neglect, and theft.
November 7, 2024 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DHonor the resident's right to be treated with respect and dignity and to retain and use personal possessions.
April 24, 2024 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
EDevelop and implement policies and procedures to prevent abuse, neglect, and theft.
April 10, 2024 · 11 citations
FProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
EProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
DHonor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
DImmediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
DHonor 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.
DEnsure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
DProvide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.
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.
DSet up an ongoing quality assessment and assurance group to review quality deficiencies and develop corrective plans of action.
DHave the Quality Assessment and Assurance group have the required members and meet at least quarterly
BAssess the resident completely in a timely manner when first admitted, and then periodically, at least every 12 months.
November 13, 2023 · 2 citations
DDevelop and implement policies and procedures for flu and pneumonia vaccinations.
DEducate residents and staff on COVID-19 vaccination, offer the COVID-19 vaccine to eligible residents and staff after education, and properly document each resident and staff member's vaccination status.
March 15, 2023 · 10 citations
FProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
FProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
DHonor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
DProvide doctor's orders for the resident's immediate care at the time the resident was admitted.
DCreate and put into place a plan for meeting the resident's most immediate needs within 48 hours of being admitted
DEnsure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
DProvide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
DSafeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
CEnsure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
BAssess the resident when there is a significant change in condition
Questions to ask on a tour of Center for Extended Care at Amherst
- Inspectors cited the home at the immediate-jeopardy level on June 10, 2025 under the rule on resident assessment and care planning. What changed afterwards, and can I see the plan of correction?
- CMS cited the home under its abuse and neglect rules on April 15, 2025. How are staff trained, and how are concerns reported?
- There were 2 infection-control citations. Who leads infection prevention, and what is the current outbreak policy?
- CMS rates staffing 2 out of 5. How many residents does each nurse aide care for on day, evening and night shifts?
- 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?
- Do you have a Medicaid bed open now, and will you admit someone whose Medicaid application is still pending?
- 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 $48,550 in fines.
| Date | Type | Amount or length |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 7, 2026 | Fine | $19,635 |
| Jun 4, 2025 | Fine | $28,915 |
Rating history
| CMS month | Overall | Inspection | Staffing | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | 1/5 | 1/5 | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| August 2026 | 1/5 | 1/5 | 2/5 | 2/5 |
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Location
Hospitals near Center for Extended Care at Amherst
The Medicare-certified hospitals closest to this nursing home, with their CMS data. Ask the home which hospital it usually sends residents to.
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6.7 mi
Cooley Dickinson Hospital Inc,The NorthamptonEmergency room ★★☆☆☆ Medicare overall 2 of 5Median ER visit 4h 21m for patients treated and sent home
- 7.9 mi
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12.6 mi
Holyoke Medical Center HolyokeEmergency room ★★★★☆ Medicare overall 4 of 5Median ER visit 4h 13m for patients treated and sent home
Hospital ratings, ER visit times and more at Hospitals In Each State
Source: CMS Care Compare. Distances are approximate.
Nearby nursing homes
More nursing homes near Center for Extended Care at Amherst › All nursing homes in Amherst ›
Compare Center for Extended Care at Amherst with the 3 closest homes side by side ›
Higher-rated nursing homes within 10 miles
- Care One at Northampton · Northampton · 4 stars · 6.9 mi
- Linda Manor Extended Care Facility · Leeds · 3 stars · 8.2 mi
Other Shimon Lefkowitz nursing homes in Massachusetts
- Medway Country Manor Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation · Medway · not rated
Affiliation comes from CMS's affiliated-entity data, October 2026. All 5 Shimon Lefkowitz 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.