Elmore County, Alabama · Nursing home
Merry Wood Lodge
1 of 5 overall from CMS
280 Mt Hebron Road, Elmore, AL 36025
At a glance
- Overall rating 1 of 5 Below the state average of 3.0
- Nurse time per resident, per day 3.24 hours Below the state average of 3.88
- Nursing staff who left in a year 51.9% Above the state average of 46.9%
- Health citations, last 3 inspection cycles 17 6 at the harm level or above
- Fines in 3 years $182,968 1 fine
- Certified beds in use 79.5% of 124 beds, on an average day
Arrows only show whether a figure is above or below the state average. They are not a judgment of the home.
Merry Wood Lodge is a 124-bed nursing home in Elmore, Alabama (Elmore County). CMS rates it 1 of 5 stars overall as of Sep 2026. It reports 3.24 nurse staffing hours per resident per day, below the Alabama average of 3.88. CMS lists 1 fine totaling $182,968 in the past three years.
- Certified beds
- 124
- Residents per day (average)
- 98.6
- Certified since
- 1974 (52 yrs)
For profit - Limited Liability company Participates in Medicare and MedicaidPart of Genesis Healthcare (184 homes)CMS Special Focus: SFF CandidateCMS abuse citation icon: Yes
Bed use is this site's calculation: average residents per day divided by certified beds. It is an average, so it does not show today's openings.
- Special Focus candidate. CMS lists this home as a candidate for its Special Focus Facility program: its inspection record qualifies it for the program, but it has not been selected. What a Special Focus Facility is
- Abuse citation icon. CMS assigns this icon when a home was cited for abuse where residents were found to be harmed, on its most recent standard inspection or on a complaint or infection-control inspection in the past 12 months, or was cited for abuse with potential harm in that period and again in the period before. Signs of abuse and how to report it
These labels are shown as CMS publishes them. They describe the inspection record, not what has changed since.
Terms used on this page
- CMS
- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the federal agency that publishes the ratings, staffing figures, inspection results and penalties shown here.
- Certified beds
- The number of federally certified beds CMS lists for the home.
- Deficiency or citation
- A federal requirement that inspectors found the home did not meet. Each one gets a letter from A to L for how serious it was and how many residents were affected. What the letters mean
- Actual harm
- Letters G, H and I: actual harm to a resident that is not immediate jeopardy.
- Immediate jeopardy
- Letters J, K and L: the problem caused, or was likely to cause, serious injury, harm, impairment or death to a resident.
- Inspection cycle
- A standard inspection plus the complaint and infection-control citations CMS assigns to it. This page shows the three most recent cycles.
- Special Focus Facility (SFF)
- A home CMS has placed under closer oversight because of its inspection record. More about the program
Questions to ask Merry Wood Lodge
Chosen from this home's public data.
- CMS lists this home as a candidate for its Special Focus Facility program, which means it qualifies but has not been selected. What has changed since the inspections behind that listing?Special Focus status in CMS data
- CMS lists 1 fine totaling $182,968 in the past three years. What changed after the most recent one?Penalties in CMS data
- CMS counts 8 health deficiencies in the latest inspection cycle (the standard inspection on Sep 1, 2024 plus complaint and infection-control inspections); the Alabama average is 4.0. Which have been corrected?Inspection results in CMS data
More in what to ask on a nursing home tour.
CMS star ratings
- Overall 1 of 5 Alabama average 3.0
- Health inspections 1 of 5 Alabama average 2.8
- Staffing 3 of 5 Alabama average 3.6
- Quality measures 4 of 5 Alabama average 3.2
The vertical line marks the Alabama average. Ratings run from 1 to 5. How to read CMS star ratings
Nurse staffing
Hours of care per resident per day, as the home reported to CMS.
What these roles do
Nurse aides give most hands-on daily care, such as help with bathing, dressing and meals. Licensed practical nurses give medications and routine nursing care. Registered nurses assess residents and direct their care.
- All nursing staff 3.24 h Alabama average 3.88
- Nurse aides 1.91 h Alabama average 2.44
- Licensed practical nurses 0.55 h Alabama average 0.79
- Registered nurses 0.78 h Alabama average 0.65
- All staff, weekends 2.89 h Alabama average 3.26
How much nurse staffing is enough? All bars share one scale, 0 to 6 hours. The vertical line marks the Alabama average; the national average for all nursing staff is 3.86 hours.
- Nursing staff turnover51.9%
- Alabama average46.9%
- Registered nurse turnover54.2%
- Alabama average39.5%
- Administrators who left1
Quality measures
CMS calculates these from residents' assessments and Medicare claims. They are shown as published, next to the Alabama and national averages. marks the measures CMS uses in its quality star rating; for those, the rating gives more points for a lower rate.
Long-stay residents
| Measure | This home | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| ★ Percentage of long-stay residents whose need for help with daily activities has increased | 12.3% | 12.0% | 13.9% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who lose too much weight | 4.2% | 5.4% | 5.2% |
| ★ Percentage of long-stay residents with a catheter inserted and left in their bladder | 0.7% | 1.0% | 0.8% |
| ★ Percentage of long-stay residents with a urinary tract infection | 0.3% | 2.4% | 1.6% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who have depressive symptoms | 6.8% | 1.4% | 12.8% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who were physically restrained | 0.0% | 0.6% | 0.1% |
| ★ Percentage of long-stay residents experiencing one or more falls with major injury | 1.4% | 3.3% | 3.2% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the pneumococcal vaccine | 99.7% | 92.2% | 93.6% |
| ★ Percentage of long-stay residents whose ability to walk independently worsened | 18.2% | 12.1% | 14.1% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antianxiety or hypnotic medication | 16.4% | 24.5% | 19.5% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the seasonal influenza vaccine | 100.0% | 94.8% | 95.5% |
| ★ Percentage of long-stay residents with pressure ulcers | 1.8% | 5.4% | 4.6% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with new or worsened bowel or bladder incontinence | 13.3% | 12.8% | 19.0% |
| ★ Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antipsychotic medication | 12.9% | 21.2% | 15.4% |
| ★ Number of hospitalizations per 1000 long-stay resident days | 0.86 | 1.96 | 1.90 |
| ★ Number of outpatient emergency department visits per 1000 long-stay resident days | 0.65 | 1.70 | 1.78 |
Short-stay residents
| Measure | This home | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of short-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the pneumococcal vaccine | 99.3% | 85.3% | 82.0% |
| ★ Percentage of short-stay residents who newly received an antipsychotic medication | 6.2% | 2.0% | 1.6% |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who were assessed and appropriately given the seasonal influenza vaccine | 87.8% | 80.3% | 79.8% |
| ★ Percentage of short-stay residents who were rehospitalized after a nursing home admission | 10.9% | 24.8% | 23.8% |
| ★ Percentage of short-stay residents who had an outpatient emergency department visit | 4.6% | 11.3% | 12.0% |
Measure periods: April 2025 to March 2026 for most measures; July 2024 to June 2025 for the flu vaccine measures; January to December 2025 for the hospital and emergency department measures, which CMS risk-adjusts. See the measures on Medicare.gov
Inspection history
Inspectors cited 17 health deficiencies in the three most recent inspection cycles. Of these, 5 were at the immediate jeopardy level and 1 involved actual harm; the rest were graded as no actual harm. 9 were cited in connection with a complaint investigation. The most recent citation at the harm level or above was on Oct 17, 2024: Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
| Standard inspection | Health | Fire safety |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2024 | 8 | 6 |
| Mar 3, 2020 | 7 | 2 |
| Dec 13, 2018 | 2 | 2 |
Alabama homes averaged 4.0 health deficiencies in the latest cycle; the national average is 9.2. Each cycle's health count covers the standard inspection on that date plus the complaint and infection-control citations CMS assigns to that cycle.
Health citations, three most recent inspection cycles (17)
-
GActual harm, isolated
Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
Complaint investigation · Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation · Deficient, Provider has plan of correction (Nov 12, 2024)
-
LImmediate jeopardy, widespread
Administer the facility in a manner that enables it to use its resources effectively and efficiently.
Complaint investigation · Administration · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Sep 26, 2024)
-
LImmediate jeopardy, widespread
Set up an ongoing quality assessment and assurance group to review quality deficiencies and develop corrective plans of action.
Complaint investigation · Administration · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Sep 26, 2024)
-
JImmediate jeopardy, isolated
Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
Complaint investigation · Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Nov 12, 2024)
-
JImmediate jeopardy, isolated
Develop and implement policies and procedures to prevent abuse, neglect, and theft.
Complaint investigation · Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Sep 26, 2024)
Show 12 more
-
JImmediate jeopardy, isolated
Respond appropriately to all alleged violations.
Complaint investigation · Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Sep 26, 2024)
-
FPotential for more than minimal harm, widespread
Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Complaint investigation · Nutrition and Dietary · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Sep 26, 2024)
-
FPotential for more than minimal harm, widespread
Dispose of garbage and refuse properly.
Complaint investigation · Nutrition and Dietary · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Sep 26, 2024)
-
CPotential for minimal harm, widespread
Electronically submit to CMS complete and accurate direct care staffing information, based on payroll and other verifiable and auditable data.
Complaint investigation · Administration · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Sep 26, 2024)
-
FPotential for more than minimal harm, widespread
Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Nutrition and Dietary · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Apr 1, 2020)
-
DPotential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Immediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
Resident Rights · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Apr 1, 2020)
-
DPotential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Ensure a licensed pharmacist perform a monthly drug regimen review, including the medical chart, following irregularity reporting guidelines in developed policies and procedures.
Pharmacy Service · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Apr 1, 2020)
-
DPotential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Implement gradual dose reductions(GDR) and non-pharmacological interventions, unless contraindicated, prior to initiating or instead of continuing psychotropic medication; and PRN orders for psychotropic medications are only used when the medication is necessary and PRN use is limited.
Pharmacy Service · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Apr 1, 2020)
-
DPotential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Apr 1, 2020)
-
CPotential for minimal harm, widespread
Post nurse staffing information every day.
Nursing and Physician Services · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Apr 1, 2020)
-
EPotential for more than minimal harm, pattern
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Quality of Life and Care · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jan 17, 2019)
-
DPotential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jan 17, 2019)
What severity letters A to L mean
Each sentence above is the requirement that was not met, in CMS's wording. For the inspection results as Medicare publishes them, open this home's page on Medicare.gov and look under "Health inspections".
Penalties, past three years
| Date | Type | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2024 | Fine | $182,968 |
| Sep 1, 2024 | Payment Denial | 42 days |
Alabama homes averaged 0.3 fines and $12,315 in fine amounts; the national averages are 0.9 and $30,972.
Cost
Not in the public data. CMS does not publish what a nursing home charges.
Ask the home for its daily private-pay rate and whether a bed is open for your coverage. See what Medicare covers and how Medicaid pays for a nursing home.
Compared within Alabama
- Size87 of 224 by certified beds
- Alabama average residents per day98.1
- ChainGenesis Healthcare
- Chain average overall rating2.3 of 5
- Resident or family councilResident
- Homes in Elmore County4
Common questions
What is the CMS star rating for Merry Wood Lodge?
Merry Wood Lodge has an overall rating of 1 of 5 stars from CMS as of Sep 2026. Its health inspection rating is 1, staffing is 3 and quality measures is 4.
How many beds does Merry Wood Lodge have?
Merry Wood Lodge has 124 certified beds. It averages 98.6 residents per day, about 79.5% of its certified beds.
How much nursing care do residents get at Merry Wood Lodge?
The home reports 3.24 hours of nurse staffing per resident per day, including 0.78 hours from registered nurses. The Alabama average is 3.88 hours and 0.65 hours from registered nurses.
Has Merry Wood Lodge been fined?
Yes. CMS lists 1 fine totaling $182,968 in the past three years. It also lists 1 payment denial.
Does Merry Wood Lodge accept Medicare or Medicaid?
CMS lists its participation as "Medicare and Medicaid". Ask the home whether a bed is open for your coverage.
Guides for families looking at this home
- Understanding the recordWhat to ask on a nursing home tourQuestions that turn a home's public record into a useful conversation when you tour, plus what to look for yourself.
- Understanding the recordInspection severity letters A to LHow inspectors grade each deficiency by harm and by how many residents were affected.
- Understanding the recordHow to read CMS star ratingsWhat the overall, health inspection, staffing and quality measure ratings cover, and what they leave out.
Nearest nursing homes
- 1 of 5 Wetumpka Health and Rehabilitation, LLC 121beds 94.5%in use 3.72nurse hours a day
- 5 of 5 Charlton Place Rehab and Healthcare Center 65beds 94.8%in use 3.89nurse hours a day
- 1 of 5 Prattville Health and Rehabilitation, LLC 162beds 94.8%in use 4.11nurse hours a day
Sorted by straight-line distance. This is not a ranking or a recommendation. Compare all homes in Elmore County
Source: CMS Provider Data Catalog, nursing home datasets processed Sep 1, 2026. CMS Certification Number 015019. See this home's official record on Medicare.gov
See something shown incorrectly? Tell us. This site shows each record as CMS publishes it and cannot change the underlying record.