Life Care Center Of Merrimack Valley
LIFE CARE CENTER OF MERRIMACK VALLEY in BILLERICA, MA — inspection on August 14, 2025.
Found 1 citation. Severity: Standard violations.
Health inspections identify deficiencies that facilities must correct within required timeframes. Violations range from minor documentation issues to serious safety concerns and are subject to follow-up verification.
Inspection Findings
August 2025, indicated to administer the following;- Bupropion XL (Antidepressant) 300 milligram (mg) 24-hour tablet, start date 08/12/25, give one tablet by mouth daily for Depression;- Haloperidol (Antipsychotic) 10 mg tablet, start date 08/12/25, give one tablet by mouth at bedtime for Psychotic Disorders;- Hydroxyzine HCL (Anxiolytics) 25mg tablet, give one tablet by mouth at bedtime, andSertraline (Antidepressant) 100 mg tablet, start date 08/12/25, take two tablets by mouth at bedtime for Depression.Review of Resident #2's Medication Administration Record (MAR), for August 2025, indicated he/she had been administered one (1) dose of Bupropion HCL, and two (2) doses Haloperidol and Sertraline HCL.Review of Resident #2's Informed Consent for Psychotropic Administration Form, indicated that signed written consent for the administration of his/her psychotropic medications was not obtained until the day of Survey, on 08/14/25 (three (3) days after he/she had already been administrated the medications).3) Resident #3 was admitted to the Facility in August 2025, diagnoses included, but were not limited to, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Anxiety Disorder, Chronic Respiratory Failure and Emphysema.Review of Resident #3's Physician's Orders, dated Active Orders as of 08/12/25, indicated to administer the following;- Lorazepam (Anxiolytics) 0.5 milligram (mg), start date 08/12/25, give one tablet by mouth every 8 hours as needed for Anxiety;- Olanzapine (Antipsychotic) 2.5 mg tablet, start date 08/12/25, give one tablet by mouth twice a day for Anxiety; and- Olanzapine (Antipsychotic) 2.5 mg tablet, start date 08/12/25, give one tablet by mouth every six (6) hours as needed for Anxiety.Review of Resident #3's Medication Administration Record (MAR), dated August 2025, indicated he/she had been administered three (3) doses of Lorazepam and four (4) doses of Olanzapine.However, review of Resident #3's Informed Consent for Psychotropic Administration Form, indicated that signed written consent for the administration of his/her psychotropic medications was not obtained until the day of Survey, on 08/14/25 (three (3) days after he/she had already been started on the medications).
During an interview on 08/14/25 at 4:58 P.M., the Director of Nurses (DON) said there was no Informed Consent for Psychotropic Administration obtained related to Resident #1's Fluoxetine, Hydroxyzine and Trazodone, during his/her admission.The DON said Informed Consent for Psychotropic Administration for Resident #2's Bupropion XL, Haloperidol, Hydroxyzine HCL and Sertraline were not obtained upon admission or prior to administration.
The DON said Informed Consent for Psychotropic Administration for Resident #3's Lorazepam and Olanzapine were not obtained upon admission or prior to administration.The DON said that it is the Facility's expectation that the Nurse admitting each resident obtain informed written consents for psychotropic medication from either the resident or the resident's responsible party, prior to administering any psychotropic medications.
Facility ID: