All states › Massachusetts › Billerica › Life Care Center of Merrimack Valley
80 Boston Road Billerica, MA 01862 · Middlesex County
CMS certification number 225546 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is Life Care Center of Merrimack Valley 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 Life Care Center of Merrimack Valley as of October 2026.
CMS rates it 3 out of 5 stars overall, about the same as 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 4.18 hours per resident per day at Life Care Center of Merrimack Valley, above the Massachusetts median of 3.72 (US median: 3.72). About 0.68 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 3.71 hours, 11% below its all-week average. 31.7% of nursing staff left within a year (Massachusetts median 36.1%).
About this nursing home
Paying for care at Life Care Center of Merrimack Valley: Medicare and Medicaid
Life Care Center of Merrimack Valley 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 December 10, 2025 and found 4 deficiencies, plus 1 from complaint inspections in the same period. In total, inspectors issued 27 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 27 citations at Life Care Center of Merrimack Valley across 5 inspection dates, 11 of them from complaint investigations. 4 were at the actual-harm level (G–I), most recently on December 4, 2024. The most common areas cited were administration (5) and pharmacy service (5). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody" (tag F0600, level H, December 4, 2024). 1 citation was under CMS's abuse, neglect and exploitation rules.
April 23, 2026 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DImmediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
December 10, 2025 · 4 citations
EProvide safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services.
EEnsure that residents are free from significant medication errors.
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.
DEnsure 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.
August 14, 2025 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
EEnsure that residents are fully informed and understand their health status, care and treatments.
December 4, 2024 · 17 citations, includes actual harm · includes complaint inspection
HProtect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
HProvide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
HDesignate a physician to serve as medical director responsible for implementation of resident care policies and coordination of medical care in the facility.
GCreate and put into place a plan for meeting the resident's most immediate needs within 48 hours of being admitted
EEnsure that nurses and nurse aides have the appropriate competencies to care for every resident in a way that maximizes each resident's well being.
EProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
EAdminister the facility in a manner that enables it to use its resources effectively and efficiently.
EEstablish a governing body that is legally responsible for establishing and implementing policies for managing and operating the facility and appoints a properly licensed administrator responsible for managing the facility.
EConduct and document a facility-wide assessment to determine what resources are necessary to care for residents competently during both day-to-day operations (including nights and weekends) and emergencies.
EHave a plan that describes the process for conducting QAPI and QAA activities.
EProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
DDevelop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
DProvide for the safe, appropriate administration of IV fluids 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.
DEmploy or obtain outside professional resources to provide services in the nursing home when the facility does not employ a qualified professional to furnish a required service.
DSafeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
November 22, 2023 · 4 citations
EEnsure 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.
DHonor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
DEnsure a licensed pharmacist perform a monthly drug regimen review, including the medical chart, following irregularity reporting guidelines in developed policies and procedures.
DSafeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
Questions to ask on a tour of Life Care Center of Merrimack Valley
- Inspectors cited the home at the actual-harm level on December 4, 2024 under the rule on freedom from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. What changed afterwards, and can I see the plan of correction?
- CMS cited the home under its abuse and neglect rules on December 4, 2024. How are staff trained, and how are concerns reported?
- 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
1 penalty in the last three years, including $161,920 in fines.
| Date | Type | Amount or length |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 4, 2024 | Fine | $161,920 |
Rating history
| CMS month | Overall | Inspection | Staffing | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | 3/5 | 2/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| August 2026 | 2/5 | 2/5 | 3/5 | 4/5 |
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Location
Hospitals near Life Care Center of Merrimack Valley
The Medicare-certified hospitals closest to this nursing home, with their CMS data. Ask the home which hospital it usually sends residents to.
- 4.1 mi
-
4.4 mi
Lowell General Hospital LowellEmergency room ★★☆☆☆ Medicare overall 2 of 5Median ER visit 4h 27m for patients treated and sent home
- 6.3 mi
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 Life Care Center of Merrimack Valley › All nursing homes in Billerica ›
Compare Life Care Center of Merrimack Valley with the 3 closest homes side by side ›
Higher-rated nursing homes within 10 miles
- New England Pediatric Care · North Billerica · 5 stars · 0.0 mi
- D'Youville Care for Advanced Therapy · Lowell · 5 stars · 5.1 mi
- Care One at Wilmington · Wilmington · 5 stars · 8.5 mi
- Sunny Acres Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation · Chelmsford · 4 stars · 1.5 mi
Other Life Care Centers of America nursing homes in Massachusetts
- Life Care Center of Attleboro · Attleboro · 5 stars
- Life Care Center of Plymouth · Plymouth · 5 stars
- Life Care Center of the North Shore · Lynn · 5 stars
- Life Care Center of West Bridgewater · West Bridgewater · 5 stars
- Life Care Center of Nashoba Valley · Littleton · 4 stars
- Life Care Center of Stoneham · Stoneham · 4 stars
Affiliation comes from CMS's affiliated-entity data, October 2026. All 194 Life Care Centers of America 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.