facebook tracking Palmer Healthcare Center, Palmer MA: CMS Ratings
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Palmer Healthcare Center

All states › Massachusetts › Palmer › Palmer Healthcare Center

250 Shearer Street Palmer, MA 01069 · Hampden County

(413) 289-9887

Accepts Medicare Accepts Medicaid 61 certified beds For profit

CMS certification number 225763 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare

Ratings come from CMS and are updated monthly; these are from October 2026. Check the latest inspection report and visit in person before you decide.

Is Palmer 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 Palmer Healthcare Center as of October 2026.

CMS rates it 4 out of 5 stars overall, above the Massachusetts average of 3.1. Inspectors issued 14 citations in the last three years. CMS reports no fines or payment denials in that time.

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 3.62 hours per resident per day at Palmer Healthcare Center, below the Massachusetts median of 3.72 (US median: 3.72). About 0.54 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 3.30 hours, 9% below its all-week average. 58% 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.

Nursing care per resident per day 3.62 hours
Below the Massachusetts median of 3.72 Registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and aides combined, from payroll records.
Registered nurse hours 0.54 per resident a day RNs handle assessments, medications and changes in condition.
Weekend nursing care 3.30 hours Per resident a day. A big drop from weekdays can mean thin weekend staffing.
Nursing staff turnover 58% a year Share of nursing staff who left over a year. Lower usually means steadier care.
Registered nurse turnover 50% a year Share of registered nurses who left over a year.
Administrators who left 0 in the past year Frequent leadership changes are worth asking about on a visit.

About this nursing home

Certified beds61
Residents per day 49 About 80% of beds filled, on average
OwnershipFor profit - Corporation
Payment acceptedMedicare and Medicaid
Certified sinceFebruary 2002
Legal business nameWELLMAN HEALTHCARE GROUP INC

Paying for care at Palmer Healthcare Center: Medicare and Medicaid

Palmer 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 January 6, 2026 and found 2 deficiencies, plus 2 from complaint inspections in the same period. In total, inspectors issued 14 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 14 citations at Palmer Healthcare Center across 5 inspection dates, 3 of them from complaint investigations. None were at the actual-harm or immediate-jeopardy levels; 14 were "potential for more than minimal harm" (D–F) and 0 were minimal (A–C). The most common areas cited were resident rights (4) and nutrition and dietary (3). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards" (tag F0812, level F, September 26, 2024). 2 citations were under CMS's abuse, neglect and exploitation rules.

January 6, 2026 · 2 citations

DGive the resident's representative the ability to exercise the resident's rights.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Rights Deficiencies · Tag F0551 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jan 26, 2026)

DEnsure each resident receives an accurate assessment.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies · Tag F0641 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jan 26, 2026)

December 16, 2025 · 2 citations · includes complaint inspection

DHonor the resident's right to be treated with respect and dignity and to retain and use personal possessions.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Rights Deficiencies · Tag F0557 · Complaint inspection · Past Non-Compliance (Dec 10, 2025)

DDevelop and implement policies and procedures to prevent abuse, neglect, and theft.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies · Tag F0607 · Complaint inspection · Past Non-Compliance (Dec 10, 2025)

September 2, 2025 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection

DDevelop and implement policies and procedures to prevent abuse, neglect, and theft.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies · Tag F0607 · Complaint inspection · Past Non-Compliance (Jul 8, 2025)

September 26, 2024 · 7 citations

FProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies · Tag F0812 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Nov 1, 2024)

DHonor the resident's right to be treated with respect and dignity and to retain and use personal possessions.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Rights Deficiencies · Tag F0557 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Nov 1, 2024)

DReasonably accommodate the needs and preferences of each resident.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Rights Deficiencies · Tag F0558 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Nov 1, 2024)

DProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F0684 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Nov 1, 2024)

DEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F0689 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Nov 1, 2024)

DEnsure each resident receives and the facility provides food prepared in a form designed to meet individual needs.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies · Tag F0805 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Nov 1, 2024)

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.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Environmental Deficiencies · Tag F0909 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Nov 1, 2024)

August 10, 2023 · 2 citations

FEmploy sufficient staff with the appropriate competencies and skills sets to carry out the functions of the food and nutrition service, including a qualified dietician.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies · Tag F0801 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Aug 25, 2023)

DPlan the resident's discharge to meet the resident's goals and needs.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies · Tag F0660 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Aug 25, 2023)

Questions to ask on a tour of Palmer Healthcare Center

  1. CMS cited the home under its abuse and neglect rules on December 16, 2025. How are staff trained, and how are concerns reported?
  2. Nursing staff turnover was 58% a year. How many of the staff come from agencies?
  3. Do you have a Medicaid bed open now, and will you admit someone whose Medicaid application is still pending?
  4. 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 monthOverallInspectionStaffingQuality
October 2026 4/5 4/5 3/5 2/5
August 2026 3/5 4/5 3/5 1/5
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Location

Hospitals near Palmer 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.

Hospital ratings, ER visit times and more at Hospitals In Each State
Source: CMS Care Compare. Distances are approximate.

Nearby nursing homes

Hampden Post Acute Wilbraham · 4.8 mi away ★★★☆☆ Inspection 4/5 · Staffing 1/5 135 beds · Medicaid
Life Care Center of Wilbraham Wilbraham · 6.1 mi away ★★★☆☆ Inspection 2/5 · Staffing 4/5 123 beds · Medicaid
Vantage at Hampden Hampden · 9.4 mi away ★★★☆☆ Inspection 4/5 · Staffing 3/5 100 beds · Medicaid
Sixteen Acres Health and Rehabilitation Center Springfield · 10.3 mi away ★★★★☆ Inspection 4/5 · Staffing 3/5 120 beds · Medicaid
Chicopee Rehabilitation and Nursing Chicopee · 10.8 mi away ★★★★☆ Inspection 3/5 · Staffing 3/5 68 beds · Medicaid

More nursing homes near Palmer Healthcare Center ›   All nursing homes in Palmer ›

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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.

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https://www.nursinghomesineachstate.com/massachusetts/palmer/palmer-healthcare-center/ · Data: CMS, October 2026 · Nursing Homes In Each State, not affiliated with CMS or Medicare.