Strafford County, New Hampshire · Nursing home
Birch Healthcare Center
2 of 5 overall from CMS
62 Rochester Hill Road, Rochester, NH 03867
At a glance
- Overall rating 2 of 5 Below the state average of 3.1
- Nurse time per resident, per day 3.52 hours Below the state average of 3.90
- Nursing staff who left in a year 47.6% Above the state average of 44.1%
- Health citations in 3 years 10 1 at the harm level or above
- Fines in 3 years $10,655 1 fine
- Certified beds in use 87.7% of 79 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.
Birch Healthcare Center is a 79-bed nursing home in Rochester, New Hampshire (Strafford County). CMS rates it 2 of 5 stars overall as of Aug 2026. It reports 3.52 nurse staffing hours per resident per day, below the New Hampshire average of 3.90. CMS lists 1 fine totaling $10,655 in the past three years.
- Certified beds
- 79
- Residents per day (average)
- 69.3
- Certified since
- 1997 (29 yrs)
For profit - Limited Liability company Participates in Medicare and Medicaid
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.
Questions to ask Birch Healthcare Center
Chosen from this home's public data.
- CMS lists 1 fine totaling $10,655 in the past three years. What changed after the most recent one?Penalties in CMS data
- Nursing staff turnover is 47.6%, above the New Hampshire average of 44.1%. How often would the same aides care for my relative?Turnover in CMS data
- Registered nurse time is 0.57 hours per resident per day; the New Hampshire average is 0.78. Is an RN on site overnight?RN staffing in CMS data
More in what to ask on a nursing home tour.
CMS star ratings
- Overall 2 of 5 New Hampshire average 3.1
- Health inspections 3 of 5 New Hampshire average 2.9
- Staffing 1 of 5 New Hampshire average 3.3
- Quality measures 4 of 5 New Hampshire average 3.2
The vertical line marks the New Hampshire 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 3.52 h New Hampshire average 3.90
- Nurse aides 2.38 h New Hampshire average 2.34
- Licensed practical nurses 0.56 h New Hampshire average 0.78
- Registered nurses 0.57 h New Hampshire average 0.78
- All staff, weekends 3.28 h New Hampshire average 3.47
How much nurse staffing is enough? All bars share one scale, 0 to 6 hours. The vertical line marks the New Hampshire average; the national average for all nursing staff is 3.86 hours.
- Nursing staff turnover47.6%
- New Hampshire average44.1%
- Registered nurse turnover55.6%
- New Hampshire average40.9%
- Administrators who left1
Inspection history
Inspectors cited 10 health deficiencies in the past three years. Of these, 1 involved actual harm; the rest were graded as no actual harm. 1 followed a complaint investigation. The most recent citation at the harm level or above was on Apr 16, 2024: Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
| Inspection date | Health | Fire safety |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 18, 2025 | 3 | 2 |
| Aug 29, 2024 | 2 | 7 |
| Jul 26, 2023 | 5 | 5 |
New Hampshire homes averaged 3.9 health deficiencies in the latest cycle; the national average is 9.3.
Health citations, past three years (10)
-
DPotential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Ensure that residents are fully informed and understand their health status, care and treatments.
Resident Rights · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Oct 30, 2025)
-
DPotential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Oct 30, 2025)
-
DPotential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Provide safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services.
Quality of Life and Care · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Oct 30, 2025)
-
DPotential for more than minimal harm, isolated
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.
Pharmacy Service · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Sep 13, 2024)
-
DPotential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Infection Control · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Sep 13, 2024)
Show 5 more
-
GActual harm, isolated
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Complaint inspection · Quality of Life and Care · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (May 8, 2024)
-
DPotential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Aug 16, 2023)
-
DPotential for more than minimal harm, isolated
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.
Pharmacy Service · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Aug 16, 2023)
-
DPotential for more than minimal harm, isolated
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 (Aug 16, 2023)
-
DPotential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
Environmental · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Aug 15, 2023)
Penalties, past three years
| Date | Type | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 16, 2024 | Fine | $10,655 |
New Hampshire homes averaged 0.6 fines and $8,016 in fine amounts; the national averages are 0.9 and $31,093.
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 New Hampshire
- Size49 of 73 by certified beds
- New Hampshire average residents per day81.3
- ChainNone listed
- Resident or family councilResident
- Homes in Strafford County6
Common questions
What is the CMS star rating for Birch Healthcare Center?
Birch Healthcare Center has an overall rating of 2 of 5 stars from CMS as of Aug 2026. Its health inspection rating is 3, staffing is 1 and quality measures is 4.
How many beds does Birch Healthcare Center have?
Birch Healthcare Center has 79 certified beds. It averages 69.3 residents per day, about 87.7% of its certified beds.
How much nursing care do residents get at Birch Healthcare Center?
The home reports 3.52 hours of nurse staffing per resident per day, including 0.57 hours from registered nurses. The New Hampshire average is 3.90 hours and 0.78 hours from registered nurses.
Has Birch Healthcare Center been fined?
Yes. CMS lists 1 fine totaling $10,655 in the past three years.
Does Birch Healthcare Center accept Medicare or Medicaid?
CMS lists its participation as "Medicare and Medicaid". Ask the home whether a bed is open for your coverage.
Nearest nursing homes
- 2 of 5 Rochester Manor 108beds 76.9%in use 3.20nurse hours a day
- 5 of 5 Riverside Rest Home 215beds 76.7%in use 4.30nurse hours a day
- 4 of 5 Dover Center for Health & Rehabilitation 112beds 88.9%in use 3.31nurse hours a day
Sorted by straight-line distance. This is not a ranking or a recommendation. Compare all homes in Strafford County
Who to call in New Hampshire
These offices serve residents of every nursing home in New Hampshire.
- Long-term care ombudsman Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman 1-800-442-5640 A free advocate for residents and their families.
- File a complaint about a nursing home Health Facilities Administration, Health Facility Certification Unit 603-271-9049 The state agency that inspects nursing homes.
New Hampshire staffing, bed-hold and Medicaid rules · Residents' rights in every state
Source: CMS Provider Data Catalog, nursing home datasets processed Aug 1, 2026. CMS Certification Number 305081. Check the official record on Medicare.gov
See something shown incorrectly? Tell us. To change the underlying record, the home must contact CMS or its state survey agency.