979 Varnum Ave, Lowell, MA 01854
Independent LivingActive Adult Living
Affordable senior housingIndependent livingAge 62+ community
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Medicare-certifiedSkilled Nursing
Northwood Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center
Lowell, MassachusettsMedicare inspection record
About Northwood Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center
Northwood Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center brings skilled nursing and rehabilitation services to Lowell, Massachusetts with compassionate medical care and personalized recovery support. Our team focuses on helping patients regain independence through evidence-based therapy and round-the-clock nursing attention.
Community at a glance
Capacity
123 residents
Location
Lowell, MA
Status
Listed in a public registry
Care & services offered
Skilled Nursing
Contact & location
1010 VARNUM AVENUE, Lowell, Massachusetts 01854
Medicare inspection record
From CMS Care Compare, the federal record every Medicare-certified nursing home is held to. Data as of September 1, 2026. Check it on Medicare.gov
At its most recent standard inspection, on August 15, 2025, state inspectors cited 22 health deficiencies (the Massachusetts average is 6.8).
Nurses and nurse aides spend 2 hours 50 minutes with each resident a day, below the Massachusetts average of 3 hours 52 minutes.
Medicare fined Northwood Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center once in the last three years, $85,178 in total.
Staffing
| Measure | This home |
|---|---|
| Nurse and aide time per resident, per day | 2 hours 50 minutesBelow the Massachusetts average |
| Registered nurse time per resident, per day | 23 minutesBelow the Massachusetts average |
| Nursing staff who left in the past year | 24%Below the Massachusetts average |
Inspections
41 health citations in the last three years. Each one is a federal standard inspectors found the home was not meeting.
August 15, 2025 · Standard inspection · 22 citations
Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a pattern (level E)Quality of Life and CareCorrected Sep 11, 2025Reasonably accommodate the needs and preferences of each resident.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a pattern (level E)Resident RightsCorrected Sep 11, 2025Ensure that each resident is free from the use of physical restraints, unless needed for medical treatment.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and ExploitationCorrected Sep 11, 2025Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Resident Assessment and Care PlanningCorrected Sep 11, 2025Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Quality of Life and CareCorrected Sep 11, 2025Ensure that the resident and his/her doctor meet face-to-face at all required visits.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Nursing and Physician ServicesCorrected Sep 11, 2025Observe each nurse aide's job performance and give regular training.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Nursing and Physician ServicesCorrected Sep 11, 2025Immediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Resident RightsCorrected Sep 11, 2025Ensure each resident must receive and the facility must provide necessary behavioral health care and services.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Quality of Life and CareCorrected Sep 11, 2025Provide for the safe, appropriate administration of IV fluids for a resident when needed.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Quality of Life and CareCorrected Sep 11, 2025Provide activities to meet all resident's needs.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Quality of Life and CareCorrected Sep 11, 2025Provide safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Quality of Life and CareCorrected Sep 11, 2025Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and ExploitationCorrected Sep 11, 2025Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Resident Assessment and Care PlanningCorrected Sep 11, 2025Help the resident make transportation arrangements to and from radiology services.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)AdministrationCorrected Sep 11, 2025Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Resident Assessment and Care PlanningCorrected Sep 11, 2025Provide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Quality of Life and CareCorrected Sep 12, 2025Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Quality of Life and CareCorrected Sep 11, 2025Ensure 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.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Pharmacy ServiceCorrected Sep 11, 2025Provide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Quality of Life and CareCorrected Sep 11, 2025Develop and implement policies and procedures to prevent abuse, neglect, and theft.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and ExploitationCorrected Sep 11, 2025Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
Minimal harm or risk, a pattern (level B)Resident Assessment and Care PlanningCorrected Sep 11, 2025
August 29, 2024 · Standard inspection · 18 citations
Ensure each resident must receive and the facility must provide necessary behavioral health care and services.
Residents were harmed, a few residents (level G)Quality of Life and CareCorrected Sep 27, 2024Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
Residents were harmed, a few residents (level G)Quality of Life and CareCorrected Sep 27, 2024Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a pattern (level E)Nursing and Physician ServicesCorrected Sep 27, 2024Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a pattern (level E)Resident Assessment and Care PlanningCorrected Sep 27, 2024Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Quality of Life and CareCorrected Sep 27, 2024Provide care or services that was trauma informed and/or culturally competent.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Quality of Life and CareCorrected Sep 27, 2024Immediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Resident RightsCorrected Sep 27, 2024Ensure that residents are fully informed and understand their health status, care and treatments.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Resident RightsCorrected Sep 27, 2024Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Quality of Life and CareCorrected Sep 27, 2024Provide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Quality of Life and CareCorrected Sep 27, 2024Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Resident Assessment and Care PlanningCorrected Oct 4, 2024Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Infection ControlCorrected Sep 27, 2024Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Quality of Life and CareCorrected Sep 27, 2024Ensure medication error rates are not 5 percent or greater.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Pharmacy ServiceCorrected Oct 4, 2024Keep residents' personal and medical records private and confidential.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Resident RightsCorrected Sep 27, 2024Ensure 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.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Pharmacy ServiceCorrected Oct 4, 2024Provide safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Quality of Life and CareCorrected Sep 27, 2024Honor 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.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Resident RightsCorrected Sep 27, 2024
June 5, 2024 · Complaint investigation · 1 citation+
Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Resident Assessment and Care PlanningFrom a complaintCorrected Jun 28, 2024
Fines and payment denials
1 fine totaling $85,178 in the last three years.
- August 29, 2024Fine: $85,178
About the home, per Medicare
- Ownership
- For profit - Partnership
- Legal business name
- Northwood Ma SNF LLC
- Medicare-certified beds
- 123
- Average residents per day
- 115
- Accepts
- Medicare and Medicaid
- First certified
- February 17, 1987
- Part of a chain
- Athena Healthcare Systems, 19 homes
- Inside a hospital
- No
- Continuing care retirement community
- No
- Resident or family council
- Resident
- Sprinklers in all required areas
- Yes
- CMS Certification Number
- 225298
Location
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1010 VARNUM AVENUELowell, MA 01854
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Questions about Northwood Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center
How did Northwood Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center do on its last inspection?+
State inspectors visited on August 15, 2025 and cited 22 health deficiencies. The Massachusetts average is 6.8.
How much nursing care does each resident get at Northwood Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center?+
Nurses and aides spend 2 hours 50 minutes with each resident per day, including 23 minutes from registered nurses. 24% of nursing staff left over the past year.
Has Northwood Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center been fined by Medicare?+
Yes. Medicare fined Northwood Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center once in the last three years, totaling $85,178.
Does Medicare cover skilled nursing?+
Medicare covers up to 100 days of skilled nursing per benefit period after a qualifying 3-day hospital stay — fully for the first 20 days, then with a daily copay. Long-term custodial stays are generally not covered.
How much does a nursing home cost?+
A semi-private room averages about $7,900 per month nationally; private rooms cost more. Medicaid is the largest payer for long-term nursing home care.
What is the CMS star rating?+
Medicare rates nursing homes 1 to 5 stars on its Care Compare site. We don't repeat those stars here. Each nursing home page shows Medicare's underlying record instead: inspections, staffing and fines, with a link to check it on Medicare.gov.