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Nursing homeFAID #5891

Life Care Center of Merrimack Valley

80 BOSTON ROAD, BILLERICA, MA, 01862
(978) 667-2166
lcca.com
124 licensed beds

CMS rates Life Care Center of Merrimack Valley 3 out of 5 overall. Federal inspectors issued 28 citations across 9 inspections in the last three years, with $161,920 in fines. Listing last updated 2026-11-06.

★★★★★3/5CMS Five-Star overall2/5 health inspections4/5 staffing5/5 quality measuresSource: CMS Care Compare

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Photo of LIFE CARE CENTER OF MERRIMACK VALLEY
Photo via Google · Life Care Center of Merrimack Valley

Public record summary

What we can show you for free.
Bed capacity
124
CMS facility ID
225546
Care type
Nursing home
County
Middlesex
Facility name
Life Care Center of Merrimack Valley
Street address
80 BOSTON ROAD
City / state / ZIP
Billerica, MA 01862
Phone
(978) 667-2166
Website
lcca.com

About this facility — Life Care Center of Merrimack Valley

Life Care Center of Merrimack Valley is a Medicare/Medicaid-certified skilled nursing facility in Billerica, Massachusetts. It is licensed for 124 beds — close to the median for skilled nursing facilities in Massachusetts (123 beds).

It is one of 6 senior care facilities in Billerica and 341 skilled nursing facilities across Massachusetts. Families comparing options should weigh inspection history, ownership record, and litigation — not just the tour — before deciding.

It is listed as part of Life Care Centers of America, a group of 194 facilities on this site.

Federal inspectors have cited Life Care Center of Merrimack Valley 28 times across 9 inspections in the last three years, including 2 food-safety citations, and CMS has imposed $161,920 in fines. Every citation is listed, dated, and graded in the inspection record below.

This listing draws on federal CMS Nursing Home Compare records, and was last updated on November 6, 2026. Background reports are compiled from primary sources — state inspection files, federal CMS data, corporate registrations, and court records — at the time of order.

Facility background

What the public record shows.

Ownership & operator

Parent company
Life Care Centers of America
Ownership type
For profit - Limited Liability company

Registered owners & officers

Cross, Cindy
Officer — since 2015
Faustin, Moseline
Governing body · Operational control · Additional disclosable party — since 2023
Finkel, Noah
Operational control · Additional disclosable party — since 2021
Fletcher, Todd
Operational control — since 2021
Henry, Terry
Officer — since 2015
Janiak, Andrea
Governing body · Operational control — since 2022
Lay, Lisa
Operational control — since 2017
Life Care Centers of America, Inc.
Operational control · Additional disclosable party — since 2015
Long, Zofia
Governing body · Operational control — since 1999
Preston, Aubrey
Operational control — since 2024
Preston, Forrest
Indirect owner · Operational control · Additional disclosable party — since 2004
Swanker, Richard
Operational control — since 2022
Thurmond, Joan
Officer — since 2015
Ziegler, James
Operational control — since 2015

Regulatory standing

Federal court records
20 naming its parent company — view the cases (a listed case is not a finding of wrongdoing)
Licensed / certified since
1992-03-15
CMS overall rating
3 of 5 stars
Health deficiencies
5 at the last standard inspection
Federal fines
$161,920 total
Last standard inspection
2025-12-10
Nurse staffing
4.2 hours per resident per day

Cost & payer profile (FY2024 cost report)

Average billed charges
$577 per day (≈ $17,540/month). Private-pay prices typically track billed charges; Medicare and Medicaid pay set rates.
Payer mix (resident days)
72% Medicaid · 11% Medicare · 17% private/other
Occupancy
86% (fiscal year 2024)
Vs. state median
18% above the MA median of $489/day — full state cost breakdown

Services & coverage

Licensed beds
124
Medicare
Accepted
Medicaid
Accepted
Wheelchair accessible
entrance and parking
Visiting hours
Daily Open 24 hours
Compiled from CMS Nursing Home Compare; owners/officers from the CMS Ownership dataset; cost & occupancy from the facility's own CMS cost report; hours/accessibility via Google · last verified 2026-11-06. Facilities can submit a correction.

Inspection record

Every citation, dated and graded.

Kitchen & food safety

Federal surveyors inspect the kitchen at every standard visit. This facility has 2 food-safety citations on its three-year record — flagged below among the inspections.
2026-04-23Health inspectionComplaint-triggered1 citation
F-0580
D · No harm foundFrom a complaint
Immediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
Corrected 2026-05-18
2025-12-10Health inspection4 citations
F-0698
E · No harm found
Provide safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services.
Corrected 2025-12-26
F-0760
E · No harm found
Ensure that residents are free from significant medication errors.
Corrected 2025-12-26
F-0761
D · No harm found
Ensure 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.
Corrected 2025-12-26
F-0808
D · No harm foundFood safety
Ensure 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.
Corrected 2025-12-26
4 earlier / fire-safety inspections (23 citations)
2025-08-14Health inspectionComplaint-triggered1 citation
F-0552
E · No harm foundFrom a complaint
Ensure that residents are fully informed and understand their health status, care and treatments.
Corrected 2025-09-05
2024-12-04Health inspectionComplaint-triggered17 citations
F-0600
H · Actual harmFrom a complaint
Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
Corrected 2025-01-02
F-0655
G · Actual harm
Create and put into place a plan for meeting the resident's most immediate needs within 48 hours of being admitted
Corrected 2025-01-02
F-0656
D · No harm found
Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
Corrected 2025-01-02
F-0686
H · Actual harmFrom a complaint
Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
Corrected 2025-01-02
F-0694
D · No harm found
Provide for the safe, appropriate administration of IV fluids for a resident when needed.
Corrected 2025-01-02
F-0698
D · No harm found
Provide safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services.
Corrected 2025-01-02
F-0726
E · No harm foundFrom a complaint
Ensure that nurses and nurse aides have the appropriate competencies to care for every resident in a way that maximizes each resident's well being.
Corrected 2025-01-02
F-0761
D · No harm found
Ensure 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.
Corrected 2025-01-02
F-0812
E · No harm foundFood safety
Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Corrected 2025-01-02
F-0835
E · No harm foundFrom a complaint
Administer the facility in a manner that enables it to use its resources effectively and efficiently.
Corrected 2025-01-02
F-0837
E · No harm foundFrom a complaint
Establish a governing body that is legally responsible for establishing and implementing policies for managing and operating the facility and appoints a properly licensed administrator responsible for managing the facility.
Corrected 2025-01-02
F-0838
E · No harm foundFrom a complaint
Conduct 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.
Corrected 2025-01-02
F-0840
D · No harm foundFrom a complaint
Employ or obtain outside professional resources to provide services in the nursing home when the facility does not employ a qualified professional to furnish a required service.
Corrected 2025-01-02
F-0841
H · Actual harmFrom a complaint
Designate a physician to serve as medical director responsible for implementation of resident care policies and coordination of medical care in the facility.
Corrected 2025-01-02
F-0842
D · No harm found
Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
Corrected 2025-01-02
F-0865
E · No harm foundFrom a complaint
Have a plan that describes the process for conducting QAPI and QAA activities.
Corrected 2025-01-02
F-0880
E · No harm found
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Corrected 2025-01-02
2023-11-22Health inspection4 citations
F-0550
D · No harm found
Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Corrected 2023-12-12
F-0756
D · No harm found
Ensure a licensed pharmacist perform a monthly drug regimen review, including the medical chart, following irregularity reporting guidelines in developed policies and procedures.
Corrected 2023-12-12
F-0761
E · No harm found
Ensure 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.
Corrected 2023-12-12
F-0842
D · No harm found
Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
Corrected 2023-12-12
2023-11-22Fire-safety inspection1 citation
E-0041
C · No harm found
Implement emergency and standby power systems.
Corrected 2023-12-15

Federal penalties

2024-12-04Fine$161,920
Citations and penalties from the CMS Provider Data Catalog (three-year survey window, refreshed monthly). Severity codes follow the federal scope/severity grid; “Immediate jeopardy” is the most serious grade CMS issues. CCN 225546.

Quality of care & staffing

How it compares in Massachusetts.
Inspection citations, 3 years
28
More than 35% of nursing homes in the state
State median: 36
Federal fines, 3 years
$161,920
More than 93% of nursing homes in the state
State median: $0
Nurse staffing, hours per resident per day
4.2
Higher than 78% of nursing homes in the state
State median: 3.7
Nursing staff turnover, annual
32%
Higher than 32% of nursing homes in the state
State median: 36%

Resident outcomes

On 21 federal quality measures, this facility does better than the Massachusetts average on 15 and worse on 4. Differences within 10% of the average are shown as near average.

Long-stay residentsThis facilityStateUSCompared with state
Need for help with daily activities has increased4.5%15.8%13.5%Better than state
Lose too much weight2.8%5.0%5.1%Better than state
With a catheter inserted and left in their bladder0.0%0.7%0.7%Better than state
With a urinary tract infection0.0%1.7%1.5%Better than state
Have depressive symptoms42.0%17.4%13.5%Worse than state
Were physically restrained0.0%0.1%0.1%Better than state
Experiencing one or more falls with major injury5.1%3.4%3.2%Worse than state
Assessed and appropriately given the pneumococcal vaccine99.2%92.9%93.7%Near state average
Ability to walk independently worsened4.3%13.9%12.7%Better than state
Received an antianxiety or hypnotic medication14.4%19.5%19.5%Better than state
Assessed and appropriately given the seasonal influenza vaccine100.0%93.5%95.3%Near state average
With pressure ulcers5.2%4.2%4.5%Worse than state
With new or worsened bowel or bladder incontinence31.2%20.4%18.3%Worse than state
Received an antipsychotic medication16.0%21.5%15.4%Better than state
Hospitalizations per 1000 long-stay resident days0.691.841.81Better than state
Outpatient emergency department visits per 1000 long-stay resident days1.111.451.69Better than state
Short-stay residentsThis facilityStateUSCompared with state
Assessed and appropriately given the pneumococcal vaccine95.7%78.9%82.3%Better than state
Newly received an antipsychotic medication0.0%1.4%1.5%Better than state
Were assessed and appropriately given the seasonal influenza vaccine96.5%78.1%80.1%Better than state
Were rehospitalized after a nursing home admission20.6%25.7%23.4%Better than state
Had an outpatient emergency department visit5.8%11.8%11.8%Better than state
Source: CMS MDS and Medicare claims quality measures, measure period 2025Q3-2026Q2. Averages are computed from all nursing homes reporting each measure.

Cited more than once

The same rule cited at separate inspections can point to a problem that wasn't fully fixed.

  • F-0761 3 inspections. Ensure 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.
  • F-0698 2 inspections. Provide safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services.
  • F-0842 2 inspections. Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.

Verify & compare

Where to check, and what's nearby.

Who to contact in Massachusetts

  • Licensing: Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Division of Health Care Facility Licensure and Certification
  • File a complaint: 800-462-5540 · Online
  • Long-Term Care Ombudsman: 617-222-7495. A free advocate for residents and families.
  • Adult Protective Services: 800-922-2275. Some states send facility cases to licensing instead. In an emergency, call 911.
  • Eldercare Locator: 800-677-1116, a federal service for local aging help.

Nearest emergency hospitals

  • Lowell General Hospital, about 4.4 miles. CMS rating 2 of 5.
  • Emerson Hospital -, about 11 miles. CMS rating 5 of 5.
  • Merrimack Health Lawrence Hospital, about 11 miles. CMS rating 2 of 5.
Source: CMS Hospital General Information. Straight-line distance.

Nearby facilities with inspection records

Visitor reviews

What people say on Google.
4.4176 ratings on Google
★★★★★Sarah Fallon · 2026-06-28 · via Google

“We moved my mother from her assisted living apt to long term care at LLC of Merrimack Valley. While she has only been there for a few weeks, we are beyond impressed with the staff and care our mother has been receiving thus far! So many activities and the residents look truly happy if they need to be in long term care, to be at LLC of Merrimack Valley!”

★★★★★Kathy Conley · 2025-12-14 · via Google

“This place is incredible! The staff is happy and positive all the time. They keep the residents busy with lots of fun activities. The food is amazing. The care…so kind. Residents are well taken care of. This has been a dream come true for my family. We can breath a sigh of relief knowing my sister is safe, clean, happy and well feed😀”

★★★★★Marilyn Koshivas · 2026-06-25 · via Google

“I went on a tour for placement for my mother, the building was very clean, beautiful dining room patient rooms were neat and bright Staff seemed happy and so did The residents, Rehab gym Looked well equipped. this is a facility that I would definitely consider for my mother.”

Ratings and reviews are from Google and reflect visitor opinions, not our verification. See all reviews on Google

Inside your report

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Ownership & corporate history

Primary tier
Prior operators & transfers
Corporate network & affiliates
,
Owners' other facilities
· · 2 more

Inspection citations — last 5 years

Locked
The 28 citations above are shown free. The report takes each one and explains it in plain English — what the tag requires, how serious the scope/severity grade really is, whether it recurred across surveys — plus the five-year pattern a single inspection can't show.

Civil & criminal lawsuits

Advanced tier only
Active civil suits
#
Federal dockets
CDC infection data
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Original records

Sources we pull for this facility.
Source
CMS Nursing Home Compare
data.cms.gov Provider Data Catalog
Last verified 2026-11-06
Source
Google Business Profile
Photos, reviews & hours
Displayed with attribution · refreshed on re-run
Source
Secretary of State filings
Entity & officer search
Pulled when a report is ordered
Source
PACER federal dockets
pacer.uscourts.gov
Pulled when a report is ordered