All states › Massachusetts › Athol › Quabbin Valley Healthcare
821 Daniel Shays Highway Athol, MA 01331 · Worcester County
CMS certification number 225296 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is Quabbin Valley Healthcare 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 Quabbin Valley Healthcare as of October 2026.
CMS rates it 2 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 3.61 hours per resident per day at Quabbin Valley Healthcare, below the Massachusetts median of 3.72 (US median: 3.72). About 0.43 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 3.12 hours, 14% below its all-week average.
About this nursing home
Paying for care at Quabbin Valley Healthcare: Medicare and Medicaid
Quabbin Valley Healthcare 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 August 12, 2025 and found 13 deficiencies, plus 3 from complaint inspections in the same period. In total, inspectors issued 42 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 42 citations at Quabbin Valley Healthcare across 11 inspection dates, 12 of them from complaint investigations. 2 were at the actual-harm level (G–I), most recently on September 17, 2024. The most common areas cited were quality of life and care (12) and resident assessment and care planning (7). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents" (tag F0689, level G, September 17, 2024). 6 citations were under CMS's abuse, neglect and exploitation rules.
February 25, 2026 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
December 23, 2025 · 2 citations · includes complaint inspection
DDevelop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
DEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
August 12, 2025 · 13 citations
EEnsure medication error rates are not 5 percent or greater.
DHonor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
DDevelop and implement policies and procedures to prevent abuse, neglect, and theft.
DEnsure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
DProvide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
DProvide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.
DProvide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
DProvide safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services.
DEnsure 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.
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
DDevelop and implement policies and procedures for flu and pneumonia vaccinations.
BAssess the resident completely in a timely manner when first admitted, and then periodically, at least every 12 months.
BPost nurse staffing information every day.
April 9, 2025 · 2 citations · includes complaint inspection
DProvide a bathroom in or located near each resident’s room.
BProvide rooms that are at least 80 square feet per resident in multiple rooms and 100 square feet for single resident rooms.
September 17, 2024 · 1 citation, includes actual harm · includes complaint inspection
GEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
August 6, 2024 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DEnsure that each resident is free from the use of physical restraints, unless needed for medical treatment.
June 17, 2024 · 7 citations
EProvide or obtain laboratory tests/services when ordered and promptly tell the ordering practitioner of the results.
DNot transfer or discharge a resident without an adequate reason; and must provide documentation and convey specific information when a resident is transferred or discharged.
DProvide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
DSafeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
DDevelop and implement policies and procedures for flu and pneumonia vaccinations.
BProvide rooms that are at least 80 square feet per resident in multiple rooms and 100 square feet for single resident rooms.
May 1, 2024 · 3 citations, includes actual harm · includes complaint inspection
GProtect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
DDevelop and implement policies and procedures to prevent abuse, neglect, and theft.
DTimely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
March 7, 2024 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DSafeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
February 28, 2024 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DDevelop and implement policies and procedures to prevent abuse, neglect, and theft.
March 28, 2023 · 10 citations
EEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
EProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
DEnsure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
DDevelop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
DProvide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
DProvide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.
DProvide safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services.
DProvide the appropriate treatment and services to a resident who displays or is diagnosed with dementia.
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
BProvide rooms that are at least 80 square feet per resident in multiple rooms and 100 square feet for single resident rooms.
Questions to ask on a tour of Quabbin Valley Healthcare
- Inspectors cited the home at the actual-harm level on September 17, 2024 under the rule on quality of life and care. What changed afterwards, and can I see the plan of correction?
- CMS cited the home under its abuse and neglect rules on August 12, 2025. How are staff trained, and how are concerns reported?
- 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 $62,250 in fines.
| Date | Type | Amount or length |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 17, 2024 | Fine | $9,318 |
| May 1, 2024 | Fine | $52,932 |
Rating history
| CMS month | Overall | Inspection | Staffing | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | 2/5 | 2/5 | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| August 2026 | 2/5 | 2/5 | 2/5 | 2/5 |
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Location
Hospitals near Quabbin Valley Healthcare
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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3.1 mi
Athol Memorial Hospital AtholEmergency room ★★☆☆☆ Medicare overall 2 of 5Median ER visit 2h 54m for patients treated and sent home
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14.3 mi
Heywood Hospital GardnerEmergency room ★★☆☆☆ Medicare overall 2 of 5Median ER visit 3h 12m for patients treated and sent home
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16.6 mi
Baystate Franklin Medical Center GreenfieldEmergency room ★★★☆☆ Medicare overall 3 of 5Median ER visit 3h 14m 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
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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.