All states › Massachusetts › Lowell › Fairhaven Healthcare Center
476 Varnum Avenue Lowell, MA 01854 · Middlesex County
All 7 nursing homes in Lowell, MA (6 take Medicaid)
CMS certification number 225458 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is Fairhaven Healthcare 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 Fairhaven Healthcare 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 3.46 hours per resident per day at Fairhaven Healthcare Center, below the Massachusetts median of 3.72 (US median: 3.72). About 0.37 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 3.09 hours, 11% below its all-week average. 50.5% 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 Fairhaven Healthcare Center: Medicare and Medicaid
Fairhaven Healthcare 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 September 26, 2025 and found 12 deficiencies, plus 2 from complaint inspections in the same period. In total, inspectors issued 44 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 44 citations at Fairhaven Healthcare Center across 7 inspection dates, 4 of them from complaint investigations. 1 was at the actual-harm level (G–I), most recently on November 15, 2023. The most common areas cited were quality of life and care (17) and resident assessment and care planning (9). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "provide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health" (tag F0692, level G, November 15, 2023). 2 citations were under CMS's abuse, neglect and exploitation rules.
June 15, 2026 · 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.
January 12, 2026 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DEnsure that residents are free from significant medication errors.
September 26, 2025 · 12 citations
EEnsure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
DHonor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
DPrevent the use of unnecessary psychotropic medications or use medications that may restrain a resident's ability to function.
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 care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
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.
DEnsure each resident’s drug regimen must be free from unnecessary drugs.
DEnsure medication error rates are not 5 percent or greater.
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.
DProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
October 23, 2024 · 15 citations
EEnsure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
EProvide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
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.
DDevelop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
DProvide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
DProvide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
DEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
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 enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health.
DProvide safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services.
DEnsure medication error rates are not 5 percent or greater.
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.
DSafeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
March 28, 2024 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
EHonor the resident's right to and the facility must promote and facilitate resident self-determination through support of resident choice.
December 19, 2023 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
November 15, 2023 · 13 citations, includes actual harm
GProvide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health.
EEnsure medication error rates are not 5 percent or greater.
ESafeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
DAllow residents to self-administer drugs if determined clinically appropriate.
DImmediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
DEnsure that each resident is free from the use of physical restraints, unless needed for medical treatment.
DDevelop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
DProvide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
DEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
DEnsure that feeding tubes are not used unless there is a medical reason and the resident agrees; and provide appropriate care for a resident with a feeding tube.
DProvide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
DProvide safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services.
CPost nurse staffing information every day.
Questions to ask on a tour of Fairhaven Healthcare Center
- Inspectors cited the home at the actual-harm level on November 15, 2023 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 September 26, 2025. How are staff trained, and how are concerns reported?
- Nursing staff turnover was 50.5% 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
1 penalty in the last three years, including $15,030 in fines.
| Date | Type | Amount or length |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 15, 2023 | Fine | $15,030 |
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 | 2/5 |
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Location
Hospitals near Fairhaven Healthcare Center
The Medicare-certified hospitals closest to this nursing home, with their CMS data. Ask the home which hospital it usually sends residents to.
-
0.3 mi
Lowell General Hospital LowellEmergency room ★★☆☆☆ Medicare overall 2 of 5Median ER visit 4h 27m for patients treated and sent home
- 7.1 mi
-
9.7 mi
Southern Nh Medical Center NashuaEmergency room ★★☆☆☆ Medicare overall 2 of 5Median ER visit 3h 38m 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 Fairhaven Healthcare Center › All nursing homes in Lowell ›
Compare Fairhaven Healthcare Center with the 3 closest homes side by side ›
Higher-rated nursing homes within 10 miles
- D'Youville Care for Advanced Therapy · Lowell · 5 stars · 1.1 mi
- New England Pediatric Care · North Billerica · 5 stars · 4.4 mi
- Care One at Lowell · Lowell · 4 stars · 2.4 mi
- Sunny Acres Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation · Chelmsford · 4 stars · 3.5 mi
Other Lme Family Holdings nursing homes in Massachusetts
- Lafayette Rehabilitation & Skilled Nursing · Marblehead · 5 stars
Affiliation comes from CMS's affiliated-entity data, October 2026. All 15 Lme Family Holdings 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.