All states › Massachusetts › Gardner › Gardner Rehabilitation and Nursing Center
59 Eastwood Circle Gardner, MA 01440 · Worcester County
All 2 nursing homes in Gardner, MA (2 take Medicaid)
CMS certification number 225196 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is Gardner Rehabilitation and Nursing Center 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 Gardner Rehabilitation and Nursing Center 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 4.13 hours per resident per day at Gardner Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, above the Massachusetts median of 3.72 (US median: 3.72). About 0.62 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 3.40 hours, 18% below its all-week average. Ask how weekends are staffed. 50.4% of nursing staff left within a year (Massachusetts median 36.1%). High turnover can mean residents see unfamiliar caregivers; ask how long the nurses on the unit have worked there.
About this nursing home
Paying for care at Gardner Rehabilitation and Nursing Center: Medicare and Medicaid
Gardner Rehabilitation and Nursing Center 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 February 2, 2026 and found 9 deficiencies. In total, inspectors issued 32 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 32 citations at Gardner Rehabilitation and Nursing Center across 4 inspection dates, 1 of them from complaint investigations. None were at the actual-harm or immediate-jeopardy levels; 30 were "potential for more than minimal harm" (D–F) and 2 were minimal (A–C). The most common areas cited were quality of life and care (9) and resident assessment and care planning (8). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality" (tag F0658, level E, February 2, 2026).
February 2, 2026 · 9 citations
EEnsure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
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.
DAllow residents to self-administer drugs if determined clinically appropriate.
DHonor 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.
DHonor the resident's right to voice grievances without discrimination or reprisal and the facility must establish a grievance policy and make prompt efforts to resolve grievances.
DEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
DProvide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
DProvide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
BCoordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed.
September 9, 2025 · 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.
October 18, 2024 · 15 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.
EProvide 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.
DImmediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
DPASARR screening for Mental disorders or Intellectual Disabilities
DEnsure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
DProvide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
DProvide the appropriate treatment and services to a resident who displays or is diagnosed with mental disorder or psychosocial adjustment difficulty, or who has a history of trauma and/or post-traumatic stress disorder.
DEnsure a licensed pharmacist perform a monthly drug regimen review, including the medical chart, following irregularity reporting guidelines in developed policies and procedures.
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.
DSafeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
DInform resident or representatives choice to enter into binding arbitration agreement and right to refuse.
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.
BEnsure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
August 1, 2023 · 7 citations
EProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
DDevelop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
DProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
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.
DDevelop and implement policies and procedures for flu and pneumonia vaccinations.
Questions to ask on a tour of Gardner Rehabilitation and Nursing Center
- Weekend staffing is 18% below the all-week average. Who is on duty on Saturday nights?
- Nursing staff turnover was 50.4% a year. How many of the staff come from agencies?
- 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
CMS reports no fines or payment denials for this home in the last three years.
Rating history
| CMS month | Overall | Inspection | Staffing | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | 2/5 | 2/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| August 2026 | 2/5 | 2/5 | 2/5 | 3/5 |
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Location
Hospitals near Gardner Rehabilitation and Nursing Center
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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1.3 mi
Heywood Hospital GardnerEmergency room ★★☆☆☆ Medicare overall 2 of 5Median ER visit 3h 12m for patients treated and sent home
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11.2 mi
Healthalliance Hospitals, INC LeominsterEmergency room ★★★☆☆ Medicare overall 3 of 5Median ER visit 4h 13m for patients treated and sent home
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11.7 mi
Athol Memorial Hospital AtholEmergency room ★★☆☆☆ Medicare overall 2 of 5Median ER visit 2h 54m 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 Gardner Rehabilitation and Nursing Center › All nursing homes in Gardner ›
Compare Gardner Rehabilitation and Nursing Center with the 3 closest homes side by side ›
Higher-rated nursing homes within 10 miles
- Wachusett Manor · Gardner · 4 stars · 0.3 mi
- Alliance Health at Baldwinville · Baldwinville · 4 stars · 5.1 mi
- The Highlands · Fitchburg · 3 stars · 8.9 mi
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.