Worcester Senior AdvisorWachusett Manor is a 96-bed Medicare- and Medicaid-certified nursing home at 32 Hospital Hill Road in Gardner, Massachusetts. CMS gives Wachusett Manor an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars, based on CMS data as of October 1, 2026.
What star ratings does CMS give Wachusett Manor in Gardner?
CMS gives Wachusett Manor an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars; its health inspection rating is 3, staffing 2 and quality measures 5, each out of 5.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Overall rating (CMS) | 4 of 5 |
| Health inspection rating (CMS) | 3 of 5 |
| Staffing rating (CMS) | 2 of 5 |
| Quality measures rating (CMS) | 5 of 5 |
| Certified beds | 96 |
| Ownership type (CMS) | For profit - Limited Liability company |
| Operator chain (CMS) | Ephram Lahasky (22 facilities) |
| Legal business name | Wachusett Rehabilitation And Nursing Center Llc |
| First certified for Medicare/Medicaid | January 8, 1991 |
| CMS certification number | 225533 |
What did recent health inspections find at Wachusett Manor?
CMS's most recent standard health inspection of Wachusett Manor is dated September 26, 2025 and recorded 5 health deficiencies.
The previous standard survey was on August 13, 2024. The Worcester County median for the latest cycle is 6, so Wachusett Manor sits at or below the local middle. In Massachusetts the Department of Public Health conducts these surveys for CMS.
CMS reports no fines and 0 payment denials in its three-year window.
What do staffing and turnover look like at Wachusett Manor?
CMS's staffing data credits Wachusett Manor with 3.34 nurse hours per resident day, lower than the Worcester County median of 3.72; RN time is 0.55 hours, higher than the Worcester County median of 0.50.
Total nursing-staff turnover is 46.2% (higher than the Worcester County median of 39.0%), and 0 administrators have left in the CMS measurement period. For context, MassHealth's payment rules use a standard of 3.58 nursing hours per resident per day; CMS's payroll-based figure of 3.34 is measured differently, so treat the comparison as a prompt for questions rather than a verdict.
Does Wachusett Manor usually have open beds?
CMS reports an average of 92 residents a day in Wachusett Manor's 96 certified beds, about 96% full against a county median of 87%.
A home running near capacity may have a waiting list for long-term beds even when short-stay rehab beds open up; a home with many empty beds may be easier to enter but deserves questions about why. Ask which units have openings and whether long-term and rehab residents share a floor.
How does Wachusett Manor compare with nearby nursing homes?
With 96 certified beds it is smaller than the county median of 124; the closest other certified home is Gardner Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Gardner, in the same ZIP code, rated 2 of 5 by CMS.
| Residence / provider | Miles away | CMS overall rating | Certified beds | Nurse hours / resident / day | Deficiencies cited |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gardner Rehabilitation and Nursing Center 59 Eastwood Circle, 01440 | 0.0 | 2 of 5 | 124 | 4.13 | 9 |
| Alliance Health at Baldwinville 51 Hospital Road, 01436 | 5.2 | 4 of 5 | 94 | 3.85 | 6 |
| Fitchburg Healthcare 1199 John Fitch Hwy, 01420 | 8.6 | 1 of 5 | 160 | 3.47 | 13 |
| Fitchburg Rehabilitation and Nursing Center 94 Summer Street, 01420 | 8.6 | 1 of 5 | 87 | 3.28 | 11 |
| Highlands, the 335 Nichols Road, 01420 | 8.6 | 3 of 5 | 168 | 3.98 | 7 |
Which hospitals are near Wachusett Manor?
Wachusett Manor sits in Gardner; the nearest hospital with an emergency department in CMS's data is Heywood Hospital, in the same ZIP code, and the local Aging Services Access Point is Aging Services of North Central Massachusetts at (978) 537-7411.
The next closest hospital is UMass Memorial HealthAlliance Hospitals at about 12.3 miles; distances are straight lines, not drive times.
What should we ask on a tour of Wachusett Manor?
Start with the questions its own record raises: ask how Wachusett Manor kept its latest inspection at 5 deficiencies, and request the full statement of deficiencies anyway.
- Nursing turnover of 46.2% is above the county median; ask how many aides on each shift come from staffing agencies.
- CMS records a resident council here; ask when it meets and whether families can attend.
- If MassHealth may pay later, confirm Wachusett Manor keeps residents who convert from private pay to MassHealth, and how the $72.80 monthly personal needs allowance is handled.
