Below average — CMS composite of the measures below.
A standard survey is most likely before around November 2026
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 North Country Nursing & Rehabilitation Center during CMS and state inspections, most recent first.
Menus were not consistently prepared in advance, followed, updated, or reviewed by a dietician, resulting in failure to meet the nutritional needs of residents as required.
Surveyors found that the facility failed to properly label and date food in the freezer, allowed improper hand hygiene and food handling during meal preparation, and did not ensure dishware was sanitized due to the dish machine not reaching required temperatures and incomplete sanitation logs. Staff acknowledged these lapses, and improperly sanitized dishes were used for meal service.
A brown, dried, odorous substance was repeatedly observed on the hallway floor in one unit, with staff interviews revealing inconsistent cleaning practices and unclear responsibilities between housekeeping and nursing staff for removing feces and sanitizing the area.
A resident with dementia, severe protein-calorie malnutrition, and significant visual impairment had repeated unplanned weight loss, with weights dropping from 172.6 lbs to 142.6 lbs over several months. RD notes documented significant weight loss and later added oral supplements, but the care plan was not updated, the MD was not documented as notified, and meal observations showed the resident struggling to self-feed without assistance or offered substitutes.
Improper Garbage Disposal and Dumpster Area Maintenance: Garbage and refuse were not properly managed because the dumpster area was not kept free of old food, trash, and dried debris. Surveyors observed a large amount of food waste and trash under the metal grates near the dumpster, with flies swarming around the area. The FSD said cooks took garbage out the back door and was unsure who cleaned around the dumpster, while the Maintenance Director said kitchen staff were supposed to monitor the area and maintenance handled trash in the parking lot.
Deficiency in Menu Planning and Nutritional Oversight
Penalty
Summary
Menus did not consistently meet the nutritional needs of residents as required. The menus were not always prepared in advance, were not consistently followed, and were not regularly updated to reflect residents' current needs. Additionally, menus were not always reviewed by a dietician, and there were instances where the dietary needs of residents were not met as outlined in their care plans. These deficiencies were identified through review of facility records and observations, which showed lapses in menu planning, preparation, and oversight by qualified dietary staff.
Deficient Food Storage, Preparation, and Dishwashing Practices
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified multiple failures in the facility's main kitchen regarding food storage, preparation, and dishwashing practices. Observations revealed that food items in the walk-in freezer, including sliced meat, a breaded product, and round patties, were not labeled or dated as required by facility policy. During food preparation, a personal beverage cup was found on the food preparation counter, and the Food Service Director handled food with an ungloved thumb and then donned gloves without performing hand hygiene. The Food Service Director acknowledged that hand hygiene was required when changing gloves and after soiling hands, and admitted to not receiving hand hygiene training. Dishwashing procedures were also found to be deficient. The high-temperature dish machine did not reach the required 180 degrees Fahrenheit for sanitization, with observed rinse temperatures between 150 and 155 degrees Fahrenheit. Logs for dish machine temperatures and three-bay sink sanitizer testing were not completed daily, and staff admitted to forgetting to perform and document these checks on the day of observation. Dishes that were not properly sanitized were used to serve lunch, and there were not enough dishes available to avoid reusing improperly sanitized dishware. Staff interviews confirmed awareness of the importance of proper sanitization and the failure to follow established protocols.
Unclean Hallway and Odor Due to Inadequate Cleaning Practices
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain a safe, functional, sanitary, and comfortable environment for residents, staff, and the public in Unit 200. Observations on multiple occasions revealed a brown, dried, odorous substance smeared on the hallway floor near the elevators and leading to the shower room. Facility housekeeping documentation indicated that hallways and nurse's stations should be dust mopped and wet mopped, but interviews with housekeeping and nursing staff revealed that hallways were not always mopped daily and that there was confusion regarding responsibility for cleaning up feces on the floor. Housekeeping staff stated that they did not always get to mopping the hallways and that feces should be cleaned by nursing staff, while the Infection Preventionist and a certified nurse aide confirmed that nurse aides were responsible for cleaning up feces and urine, with housekeeping sanitizing the area afterward.
Failure to Address Significant Weight Loss and Meal Assistance Needs
Penalty
Summary
Resident #11 did not maintain acceptable nutritional status and had repeated unplanned significant weight loss. The resident had diagnoses including dementia, severe protein calorie malnutrition, and glaucoma, and the 5/29/2025 MDS documented severely impaired cognition, significant visual impairment, supervision with touching assistance at meals, and unplanned significant weight loss in 6 months. The care plan documented cognitive loss with dementia, impaired vision, assistance with meals, and impaired nutritional status with significant unplanned weight loss, with interventions including a pureed diet with nectar thick liquids and weight monitoring as ordered. The resident’s weight declined from 172.6 pounds on 12/5/2024 to 157 pounds on 3/5/2025, then to 153.2 pounds on 5/6/2025, 150.4 pounds on 6/6/2025, and 142.6 pounds on 8/7/2025. The RD progress notes on 3/10/2025, 5/8/2025, 6/12/2025, and 8/11/2025 documented significant, unplanned, undesirable weight loss related to variable intake and dementia, with recommendations including weight maintenance, monitoring weekly weights, encouraging intake, meeting food preferences, and later Boost Plus or Ensure Plus twice daily, then three times daily. The record did not show updated nutritional interventions added to the care plan, and there was no documented evidence that the medical provider was notified of the significant weight loss. During meal observations, Resident #11 was seen trying to eat with a fork but was unable to get very little food into the mouth, used the hands to feel cups, and made repeated up-and-down motions to stab food. The resident was not assisted with meals on either observed occasion, consumed very little food, and no substitutes were offered when the tray was removed. Physician progress notes from multiple dates did not document weight loss, and during interviews the RD and LPN UM described processes for notifying the physician and implementing interventions, while the physician stated being unaware of documented weight loss for the resident.
Improper Garbage Disposal and Dumpster Area Maintenance
Penalty
Summary
Garbage and refuse were not disposed of properly because the facility did not maintain the garbage area to prevent attraction and harborage of pests. The facility policy on Pest Control, dated 9/1/2019, stated the facility would maintain an ongoing pest control program to keep the building free of insects and rodents, and that garbage and trash were not permitted to accumulate and were to be removed daily. During an observation on 8/13/2025 at 10:32 AM, there was a large amount of old food, old food containers, and trash on the ground under the metal grates next to the outside dumpster, along with old, dried food debris on the grates and flies swarming around the dumpster and the old food. The Food Service Director stated cooks took garbage out the back door and were not sure who was responsible for cleaning around the dumpster, while the Maintenance Director stated the kitchen staff was supposed to clean and monitor the trash near and around the dumpster, but maintenance was responsible if trash was in the parking lot.
What surveyors are citing around you — mapped
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Repeat citations, what's rising near you, and quality measures — ranked so department heads know exactly where to look first.
Illustrative
What surveyors actually found near you
We read the 39 citations issued within 25 miles in the last 12 months — including the 1 immediate-jeopardy cases — and tell you exactly what happened, in plain English, matched to your record.
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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Risk indicators are statistical estimates from public CMS data — not predictions, findings, or compliance advice.
Nursing homes near Massena
How nearby facilities compare on the same public inspection record.
| Facility | Distance | Overall rating | Citations, 12 mo | Serious (J–L) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massena Rehabilitation & Nursing Center | 2.2 mi | ★★★★★ | 39 | 1 |
| United Helpers Canton Nursing Home | 27.6 mi | ★★★★★ | 0 | 0 |
| Alice Hyde Medical Center | 29.5 mi | ★★★★★ | 15 | 0 |
| St Josephs Home | 34.5 mi | ★★★★★ | 10 | 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.