Above average — CMS composite of the measures below.
Past the typical resurvey interval — a standard survey could occur at any time
Estimate from public CMS data, current as of July 2026. Survey timing is at the state agency's discretion.
Citation history
Health deficiencies cited at Merry Heart Nursing Home during CMS and state inspections, most recent first.
A resident with severe cognitive impairment and fall risk was injured when a CNA failed to follow the facility's policy requiring two staff members for Hoyer lift transfers, resulting in the resident sustaining lacerations. The facility's policy and care plan specified the need for two-person assistance, which was not adhered to during the incident.
The facility failed to maintain the dignity of two unsampled residents during dining observations. A CNA and a HA were observed standing while feeding residents, which is a dignity concern. The HA acknowledged the issue, and the DON confirmed that staff should be seated when feeding residents.
Two residents reported receiving their mail opened and taped closed, causing distress. The Accounts Payable Manager admitted to mistakenly opening the mail and delaying its delivery for over four weeks. Both residents had intact cognition, and the administration confirmed that the mail should not have been opened.
The facility failed to identify and dispose of expired medications in two medication carts and improperly stored an unopened medication in one cart. An RN confirmed an expired Latanoprost was administered to a resident, and an LPN confirmed an expired Lantus was administered to another resident. Additionally, an unopened Lantus was found unrefrigerated. The facility's policies did not ensure proper medication expiration checks and storage.
The facility failed to ensure proper hand hygiene by a CNA and HA during meal service. Observations revealed that the HA did not lather soap for the recommended 20 seconds and turned off the faucet with bare hands. The HA was unsure of the correct handwashing procedure, and the DON confirmed the expectation for staff to perform hand hygiene before assisting residents.
Failure to Follow Fall Prevention Protocols
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to adhere to fall prevention interventions as outlined in the Individual Comprehensive Care Plan (ICCP) for a resident who was at risk for falls due to deconditioning, gait, and balance problems. The resident, who was severely cognitively impaired and dependent on staff for activities of daily living and transfers, was involved in an incident where a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) did not follow the facility's policy requiring two staff members for Hoyer lift transfers. Instead, the CNA attempted to transfer the resident independently, resulting in the resident sustaining three linear lacerations. The incident occurred despite the facility's policy and procedures clearly stating that a Hoyer lift requires two caregivers to operate. The resident's medical record and care plan specified the need for two-person assistance during transfers, which was not followed. The facility's fall investigation confirmed the CNA's failure to adhere to the policy, leading to the resident's injuries. The facility's Director of Nursing and other staff confirmed the requirement for two staff members during Hoyer lift transfers, and the CNA involved did not respond to attempts for an interview.
Failure to Maintain Resident Dignity During Feeding
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain the dignity of two unsampled residents during dining observations on the 1st floor. This deficiency involved two staff members, a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and a Hospice Aide (HA), who were observed standing while feeding residents during lunch meals. On two separate occasions, the surveyor noted the HA and CNA standing while feeding unsampled residents, which is a dignity concern. The HA acknowledged the issue during an interview, confirming that staff should be seated when feeding residents. The Director of Nursing (DON) also confirmed that staff should be seated during feeding to maintain resident dignity.
Failure to Deliver Unopened Mail in a Timely Manner
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to deliver unopened mail in a timely manner for two residents, resulting in a breach of privacy and confidentiality. During a resident council meeting, two residents reported receiving their mail opened and then taped closed, which caused them distress. The residents could not identify who delivered the opened mail. One resident's daughter, who is also the Power of Attorney, confirmed that the mail was opened and delivered more than a month after the postmarked date. The resident's medical records indicated that both residents had intact cognition, with BIMS scores of 15 and 13, respectively. Interviews with facility staff revealed that the Accounts Payable Manager (APM) sometimes mistakenly opened residents' mail and failed to apologize for the error. The APM admitted to keeping the mail for over four weeks due to being busy, which delayed its delivery to the residents. The Director of Activities and the Concierge confirmed the mail handling process, stating that personal mail should be distributed by the activities staff without being opened. The administration acknowledged that the APM should not have opened the residents' mail.
Medication Storage and Expiration Deficiencies
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to identify and dispose of expired biologicals in two of three medication carts and improperly stored an unopened biological in one of the three medication carts inspected. During an inspection of a medication cart on the third floor, a surveyor found an opened bottle of Latanoprost Solution 0.005% for a resident that was expired. The Registered Nurse (RN) confirmed the expiration and noted that it was the only supply available for administration. The electronic Medication Administration Record (eMAR) showed that the expired medication had been administered multiple times in the previous days. The RN stated that the night shift nurse was responsible for checking expiration dates, and the nurses who administered the doses should have verified the dates before administration. On the first floor, a surveyor found an opened bottle of Lantus insulin for another resident that was not labeled with an expiration date, despite the manufacturer's instructions to discard it after 28 days at room temperature. The Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) confirmed the expiration and noted it was the only opened bottle available. The eMAR indicated that the expired Lantus had been administered several times. Additionally, an unopened bottle of Lantus was found unrefrigerated, contrary to the manufacturer's storage recommendations. The LPN acknowledged that the nurse who received the medication should have refrigerated it. The facility's Medication Administration policy did not include a process to ensure medications were not expired, and the Medical Storage policy required clear labeling and appropriate storage temperatures, which were not adhered to in these instances.
Inadequate Hand Hygiene During Meal Service
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to adhere to appropriate infection control practices during meal service, specifically concerning hand hygiene. During observations on two separate occasions, a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and a Hospice Aide (HA) did not perform hand hygiene while assisting residents with meal setup. The surveyor noted that the HA applied soap to her hands but did not lather for the recommended 20 seconds before rinsing, and she turned off the faucet with her bare hands, which is against proper hand hygiene protocol. The HA admitted to being unsure of the correct handwashing duration, indicating a lack of awareness of the proper procedure. The Director of Nursing (DON) confirmed that staff are expected to perform hand hygiene before assisting residents and should wash their hands for a full 20 seconds outside the stream of running water. The CNA was unavailable for an interview, and the concerns were discussed with the DON, Licensed Nursing Home Administrator (LNHA), Assistant LNHA, and Administrator in Training (AIT).
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Resident with a documented fall history left unattended on the patio; found on the ground with a hip fracture.
Walk-in cooler logs missing for 12 days; expired supplements in the medication room fridge.
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Nursing homes near Succasunna
How nearby facilities compare on the same public inspection record.
| Facility | Distance | Overall rating | Citations, 12 mo | Serious (J–L) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwelling Place At St Clares | 4.4 mi | ★★★★★ | 0 | 0 |
| Excel Care At Dover | 5.2 mi | ★★★★★ | 4 | 1 |
| Holly Manor Center | 5.2 mi | ★★★★★ | 0 | 0 |
| Morris View Healthcare Center | 6.9 mi | ★★★★★ | 20 | 1 |
| Heath Village | 9.2 mi | ★★★★★ | 8 | 0 |
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Trusted data, never guesswork. Every citation, penalty, rating and Plan of Correction on this page is sourced from public CMS records (latest release July 2026) and official state health department websites.