All states › Massachusetts › Gardner › Wachusett Manor
32 Hospital Hill Road Gardner, MA 01440 · Worcester County
All 2 nursing homes in Gardner, MA (2 take Medicaid)
CMS certification number 225533 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is Wachusett Manor 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 Wachusett Manor as of October 2026.
CMS rates it 4 out of 5 stars overall, above 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 3.34 hours per resident per day at Wachusett Manor, below the Massachusetts median of 3.72 (US median: 3.72). About 0.55 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 2.94 hours, 12% below its all-week average. 46.2% 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 Wachusett Manor: Medicare and Medicaid
Wachusett Manor 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 September 26, 2025 and found 5 deficiencies. 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 Wachusett Manor across 4 inspection dates, 2 of them from complaint investigations. 3 were at the immediate-jeopardy level (J–L), CMS's most serious category, most recently on May 16, 2023. The most common areas cited were quality of life and care (11) and resident assessment and care planning (11). 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 J, May 16, 2023).
September 26, 2025 · 5 citations
EProvide the required documentation or notification related to the resident's needs, appeal rights, or bed-hold policies.
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 voice grievances without discrimination or reprisal and the facility must establish a grievance policy and make prompt efforts to resolve grievances.
DDevelop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
June 24, 2025 · 2 citations · 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.
DEnsure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
August 13, 2024 · 9 citations
EProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
EMake sure there is a pest control program to prevent/deal with mice, insects, or other pests.
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 services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
DProvide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
DProvide care or services that was trauma informed and/or culturally competent.
DProvide or obtain dental services for each resident.
DMake sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
CEnsure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
May 16, 2023 · 26 citations, includes immediate jeopardy
JEnsure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
JProvide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
JEnsure that nurses and nurse aides have the appropriate competencies to care for every resident in a way that maximizes each resident's well being.
FConduct 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.
FProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
FEnsure staff are vaccinated for COVID-19
EEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
EHave the Quality Assessment and Assurance group have the required members and meet at least quarterly
EEducate 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.
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.
DAssess the resident when there is a significant change in condition
DEncode each resident’s assessment data and transmit these data to the State within 7 days of assessment.
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.
DDevelop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
DProvide activities to meet all resident's needs.
DAssist a resident in gaining access to vision and hearing services.
DProvide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health.
DProvide for the safe, appropriate administration of IV fluids for a resident when needed.
DProvide safe, appropriate pain management for a resident who requires such services.
DTry different approaches before using a bed rail. If a bed rail is needed, the facility must (1) assess a resident for safety risk; (2) review these risks and benefits with the resident/representative; (3) get informed consent; and (4) Correctly install and maintain the bed rail.
DEnsure that the resident and his/her doctor meet face-to-face at all required visits.
DSafeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
DDevelop and implement policies and procedures for flu and pneumonia vaccinations.
DRegularly inspect all bed frames, mattresses, and bed rails (if any) for safety; and all bed rails and mattresses must attach safely to the bed frame.
Questions to ask on a tour of Wachusett Manor
- Inspectors cited the home at the immediate-jeopardy level on May 16, 2023 under the rule on resident assessment and care planning. What changed afterwards, and can I see the plan of correction?
- CMS rates staffing 2 out of 5. How many residents does each nurse aide care for on day, evening and night shifts?
- Nursing staff turnover was 46.2% 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 | 4/5 | 3/5 | 2/5 | 5/5 |
| August 2026 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 2/5 | 4/5 |
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Location
Hospitals near Wachusett Manor
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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1.2 mi
Heywood Hospital GardnerEmergency room ★★☆☆☆ Medicare overall 2 of 5Median ER visit 3h 12m for patients treated and sent home
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11.1 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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11.9 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 Wachusett Manor › All nursing homes in Gardner ›
Compare Wachusett Manor with the 3 closest homes side by side ›
Other Ephram Lahasky nursing homes in Massachusetts
- Brookside Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center · Webster · 2 stars
- Poet's Seat Healthcare Center · Greenfield · 2 stars
- Leominster Rehabilitation and Nursing Center · Leominster · 1 stars
- Watertown Rehabilitation and Nursing Center · Watertown · 1 stars
- Fitchburg Rehabilitation and Nursing Center · Fitchburg · 1 stars
Affiliation comes from CMS's affiliated-entity data, October 2026. All 22 Ephram Lahasky 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.